The Philosophy Page

Colossians 2:8

1. This Cosmological argument can trace its roots to Plato and Aristotle. Basically, it states:

1. Every finite and contingent being has a cause.
2. Nothing finite and contingent can cause itself.
3. A causal chain cannot be of infinite length.
4. Therefore, a First Cause (or something that is not an effect) must exist.

2. The Kalam cosmological argument has a number modern supporters, most notable is Dr William Lane Craig and this web site. The argument simply stated is

1. Everything that begins to exist has a cause.
2. The universe began to exist.
3. Therefore, the universe must have a cause.

3. The Ontological arguments for God include philosophies like Avicennism which argues that "existence can not be inferred from or accounted for by the essence of existing things and that form and matter by themselves cannot interact and originate the movement of the universe or the progressive actualization of existing things. Existence must, therefore, be due to an agent-cause that necessitates, imparts, gives, or adds existence to an essence. To do so, the cause must be an existing thing and coexist with its effect" (quote from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avicennism#Metaphysical_doctrine)

4. The Teleological argument basically states:

1. X is too complex, orderly, adaptive, apparently purposeful or beautiful to have occurred randomly or accidentally. This is the fine tuning principle, see the Anthropic Principle section.
2. Therefore, X must have been created by a sentient, intelligent, wise, or purposeful being.
3. God is a sentient, intelligent, wise, or purposeful being.
4. Therefore, God exists.

5. The Transcendental_argument (TAG) argues that because humans have morals and logic, God must exist.