Does God
Exist? by William Lane Craig
Dr. William Lane
Craig is arguing for the existence of God philosophically. He is employing five
different types of argument, each independent of one another. However, he also
shows the connecting link between one after another so that the reader will find
enough evidence for believing or affirming in the existence of God. Indeed, the
reader will acknowledge that it is reasonable to believe the existence of God.
However, all the arguments he employs can be used by other theistic groups.
These arguments do not carry the message of the Gospel. It does not point to
the God of the Bible. Therefore, these arguments may not be fruitful for
evangelism, yet it will challenge the minds of people who do not care that
God exists. Definitely, these arguments will strengthen the faith of believers as we see the world has been campaigning for the anti-theistic society.
In chapter 1,
Professor William Lane Craig presents the Cosmological Arguments which are
defended today by philosophers such as Timothy O’ Connor and Richard Swinburne and others. The tenets of these arguments are 1. Everything that exists has an
explanation of its existence. In other words, nothing exists without the
explanation of its existence. 2. Granting the fact that the universe exists, the
argument follows, the explanation of its existence is God. Because such a
universe has to be originated from the immaterial and infinite One. This argument
presents God as the uncaused God whose explanation of His existence is Himself.
In chapter 2, Dr.
Craig presents his favorite argument, the Kalam Cosmological Argument.
Philosopher such as Stuart Hackett and others defend this argument against
criticism and counter-views. 1. The main argument of this is that everything that
begins to exist has a cause. This rule out God because God does not begin to
exist. He is eternal. He is uncaused being. The argument goes on to say that
nothing comes out from nothing. 2. Drawing from scientific evidence and the
affirmations of the scientific community, he proves that the universe has its own
beginning. Granting these two premises, it is logical to come to the conclusion
that the universe has its own cause. The cause of it is God, the creator.
In chapter 3, he
presents the Teleological Argument which is defended by scientists and
philosophers such as William Dembski, Michael Denton, Paul Davies, and others.
This is also the most favorite argument of Intelligent Design’s Proponents. The
argument is that the universe is intelligible beyond comprehension. It is not
because of physical necessity or by chance. Therefore, it points to the
designer who designs this universe. Evolutionist like Richard Dawkin questioned
who design the designer. Craig rightly pointed out that one doesn’t need an
explanation of the explanation. Or else, it will lead to infinite regression.
Thus this argument points toward the designer or Creator.
In chapter 4, Dr.
Craig presents the Moral Argument. This is defended by people like Paul Coplan,
Stephen Evans, Robert Adams, and others. This argument is by far the most
touching one for humankind because of the sufferings, pains, sorrows, and so
on. The argument is that, only in the framework of theism, can one establish
the existence of absolute moral values and duties. If one denies the existence
of God, there can be no absolute moral values and duties. Witnessing the fact
of the existence of moral absolutes in everyday life, it is therefore, God, the
moral law-giver exist.
In chapter 5, Dr.
Craig presents his last argument, the Ontological Argument which was propounded
by Anselm and is defended today by philosophers like Alvin Platinga, and
others. One can appreciate the uniqueness of this argument. It is the argument
of possibilities. Intuitively, everyone can grant the possibility of the
existence of “maximal greatness” which means God, who is logically coherent in
attributes like perfectness, omniscience, omnipotent, and so on. The argument
follows, it is possible for God to exist. This argument though,
thought-provoking and interestingly put up has to find good reasons for it to
be accepted. Thus, evidence or arguments from other sources (it could even be
cosmological and teleological arguments too) are brought in to support the
second premise of this argument. This argument presents God as the maximal
being, the Supreme Being.
Dr. Craig
acknowledges that all the arguments he employs in this book do not build a case
for the God of the Bible, though they give much for the ground of it. And
therefore, he recommends one of his books, “Did Jesus Rise from the Dead” for
anyone who wants to know more about Christianity, and the God of the Bible.
21st November 2014