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(replies to those who refute this article, below)

There's no meaning to life if there is no God. There is no ultimate right or wrong if there is no God. And there would be no hope, just despair. Do you disagree? Write and say why.

Test-tube experiments won't prove or disprove God's existence. So do I have blind faith? No! The evidence is obvious. All I need is eyes that can see and a brain that works. My faith is based on what I know, not on what I don't know. And it's an unscientific assumption that everything is just some form of matter or energy.

Insisting there's 'no God' is an absolute non-provable statement by one who must know everything. But no one has all knowledge. The Bible says, God is Spirit (Jn.4:24), transcending human thought (Isa.55:8-9), outside the created order (Heb.1:10-12). Without the Bible God can’t be comprehended, without His revelation how can we know One we can’t see or touch? And so -

ARGUMENTS FOR GOD’S EXISTENCE

1 The Cosmological Argument.

(A) The existence of an effect indicates the existence of a cause.

The atheist or agnostic at best, can only say a first cause for the universe is uncertain or unknown. And before the Cosmic Egg is more uncertainty. Which is a non-answer. Yet we know of nothing in this world without a cause behind its existence, so there must be a cause behind the world and universe. Things everywhere are explained by a cause lying outside them. We are forever inquiring into causes. We can’t make sense of anything without a cause behind its existence. All science, history, & law enforcement would collapse if 'cause and effect' are denied. The fact the universe exists at all, is proof, why is there 'nothing' instead? Because we know from nothing, comes nothing.

(B) Only God is self-existent and eternal so everything else must be subject to the law of 'cause and effect' and must have as its source an independent and must be traced back to a first cause, the Creator

So the 'cause and effect' argument looks into the past and inquires as to the origin, the ‘whence’ of all existence. It says “here’s a book someone must have written it” (books don’t write themselves). The First Cause must have intelligence because there are intelligent beings in the universe and the universe is intelligible, capable of being studied and described intelligently. And moral and spiritual realities are not self-produced, since we are aware of such, its certain the First Cause must be both moral and spiritual in an exceedingly high degree.

2 The Teleological Argument

The Teleological Argument looks into the present and considers the ‘how’ of all existence. It argues from design, order, laws, purpose, beauty, and complexity. The world not only exists, it has these in abundance. Even snow-flakes, blades of grass, finger prints etc., are significant yet different. We KNOW every building, car, plane, boat etc has a design. Every watch has a design. Our minds always link design to construction and a product of a mind, not chance. It would be silly to talk of “Random design”. Design must have a Designer. The earth is astonishingly well suited for highly conscious beings like men. It's not outrageously impossible that design is the reason. The odds of a naturalistic development of design are virtually infinity to one. So belief in a God is not a religious idea based on a nebulous 'faith', but based on what we know. When I say, "I believe there is a God" its a statement based on the facts.

Not only is there design there’s order. You can’t have order without putting things in order. The human mind won’t accept that order comes any other way. The components of the earth indicate a purpose for their role. The earth is constructed for a specific purpose (life). (i.e. ozone, its rotation, its seasons, water, the oxygen level, balance in nature, distance from sun, etc.) Life is dependant on order. If there's no God, there's no way to deduce from atheism that the universe is (or should be) orderly. Yet there are laws which govern the earth and universe. All set in place, many relating to each other, many which are so complicated we don't know how they work.

Information exists as well as design, order and laws. All living things have an information code to reproduce life. Non-living things have no code so must have an intelligent source. If you can say how information comes into existence then you can say how life came into existence. 'There is information written on the DNA code. The existence of information is one of the strongest evidences of God's existence. Information is not matter, and matter or energy cannot generate information. Information is a non-material thing. There can be no information without a code. No information without a sender. No information without a will' (Pro. Werner Gitt).

Atheistic evolution teaches information develops of its own accord. But it cannot!

(1) The laws of nature show it doesn’t. There are no exceptions or half-laws. Its impossible for information to develop by itself. Eg., Chemicals always follow strict laws - harmless chemicals brought together explode - dangerous chemicals brought together are safe to eat ie ‘salt’. In fact, many laws of nature are strict mathematical laws independent of the external world (How does one explain these without a law-maker ?)

(2) Life forms require information to be written on the DNA before life can exist.

We apply the use of information, design, order and laws every day and we understand them in our mind. This argues they are the product of a Greater mind. An intelligence who also has a mind and understands information, design, order and laws better than we. 'Do you insist on seeing the builder before you believe that the house you are in was built? Is that your criteria for belief? The building is ample proof that there was a builder' (Ray Comfort www.raycomfort.com ).

3. The Anthropological Argument

So what does it mean to be human? What value is placed on a human life? What makes man different from a horse or rat? These are not silly questions in our cultural climate of evolutionary philosophy. What it means to be human changes for the worse without God. The sanctity of life is a religious or transcendental concept without meaning otherwise. If there is no God human life cannot have sanctity. The knowledge of God somehow lifts man out of the dust and ashes as something valuable and meaningful. Transcendent values give man dignity, meaning and life sanctity.

Man’s special on earth, he’s separate from the animals. Man's not only skilfully and wonderfully made, but the finest looking ape can’t compare to man in his total being. Beasts have no knowledge of God, no moral judgment, conscience reflection, no sense of accountability and no appreciation of information, beauty, design, order or laws. Only humans shed emotional tears and weep or laugh. Animals don’t reason but act by instinct (Man’s instinct is subject to a higher power). All other creatures don’t know 'love', a dog has loyalty but not love (Love is a transcendent quality as the sacredness of life). Animals lick their young but when grown, they are forgotten. They don't communicate intellectual ideas in language, or understand words intellectually, if they had intellect it would be expressed by language. They have no rules of behavior as to their kind.

Without the revelation of the bible, what is man? Just an animal. The Bible teaches human life has greater value than animal. Men are unique, yet made in God’s image (Gen.1:26). So its shameful when men stoop to behave like animals. Just as God creates, so men create. Men have plans, vision, imagination, but animals don't. Hence the rise of science and technology.

The Bible says “God formed the spirit of man within him” Zech.12.1 And “the body returns to dust but the spirit returns to God who gave it” God gave man dominion over the beasts because his spirit can commune with God.

Men have a free will to believe and act, but if there's no God we don't really have any free will. Mind or thoughts don't exist, just chemicals instead, reacting in the realm of matter. But man is clearly not only an communicating intelligent being, he has a free will. This is evidence of God's existence. If there is 'no God' it can't exist, it could only be the product, outcome or result of genes, chemicals & circumstances. Man would just be an animal. If we argue free will doesn't exist , how can man be accountable for crime? So by implication free will is more evidence of God's existence.

4. The Ontological Argument.

'Science' is not the only source of knowledge, many things are unproven by science yet exist and are true. Love is better than hate, but we can't prove it with a test-tube. Man's perception is that some things are more important than things demonstrated by science. This information is extrasensory, beyond our ability to touch, taste, hear, see and smell. Yet based on what we know is true. So believing there is a God is no less reasonable than physics or chemistry.

"Science can only be created by those who are thoroughly imbued with the aspiration toward truth and understanding. This source of healing, however, springs from the sphere of religion. To this there also belongs the faith in the possibility that the regulations valid for the world of existence are rational, that is comprehensible to reason. I cannot conceive of a genuine scientist without the profound faith" Albert Einstein

Furthermore, man has an intuition about 'a God'. Intuition is an understanding and knowledge without the process of reasoning or dependant on IQ or education.

Man knows intuitively there’s a God. He’s born with this knowledge, part of his nature. It’s called the “religious instinct” it makes men worship something or someone. Men generally believe in a god or gods and if they don’t find or accept the true God, they make their own to worship, to satisfy their intuitive knowledge. If the deity doesn’t have Personality, Power and Perfection man is unsatisfied. When men live in denial of their intuitive knowledge they are forever trying to satisfy the spiritual vacuum in their lives. If denying the One true God eventually they discover it takes an infinite number of lesser deities to fill His shoes.

Men know intuitively there’s a God particularly in the fox-hole and death-bed. Millions worldwide (rich, poor, clever, young, old) insist there is a God, to them it's common sense.

5. The Moral Argument.

(A) If there is no God, there are no absolutes, no ultimate moral law. Nothings really absolutely good, right or wrong but just opinion. "If nobody made us, nobody owns us or sets the rules. We make and break rules as we please". But when absolutes are ignored, nations, business, society, and families break-down and we cry out for justice.

Atheist: “There are no absolutes”

Christian: “Are you sure ? “

Atheist: “Yes”

Christian: “Are you 100% sure?

Atheist: “Yes absolutely”

If 'there are no absolutes' or ultimate values, the worlds a mad-house, because billions pursue them everyday. Man needs absolutes or universals by which to judge. If one has no basis on which to judge then reality falls apart, fantasy is indistinguishable from reality, there's no value for the human individual and right and wrong have no meaning. Atheists say, 'all truth is relative'. If that statement is true, it must include itself. So it cannot be certain or true. So while atheists and agnostics can describe how physical strength works, what it involves, and it's effects, they can't derive any idea as to how it ought or ought not to be used. Atheists have a 51% view of morality - the majority must be right (even if they are wrong).

(B) A sense of absolutes makes man a moral being. He has a sense of right and wrong, a desire to pursue a greater right and avoid the wrong. Men everywhere recognize that 'good' is better than 'bad' and 'right' is better than 'wrong'. They intuitively know there is a difference between right and wrong, even though they may disagree about precise definitions. The Bible describes this as a conscience given by God, commonly inherited in man. It tells us what we are and ought to be and if we don’t measure up we feel guilt & fear punishment. It's the clearest and simplest expression of the exalted character and dignity of human life. It touches upon that which makes man above the animals.

Therefore, even the existence of evil in the world argues for God's existence. If there is no God, there cannot be such a thing as 'evil'. Evil is the reason men can behave worse than animals. And the most convincing atheist with their most persuasive argument will fail, to the person who realises their guilt before God when they did something evil.

Ethics then are not testified by science but transcendental and everyone has a standard of morality. When two argue each will claim to be right and have an ultimate standard they’re closer to than the other. The Creator then, isn’t an inanimate force but a moral being and must have standards. Moral consciousness can be explained only in terms of the First Cause with a great moral consciousness. If there's no God, then nature becomes God. If no absolutes, then the media rules, the elite, the 51%, the dictator, or gun rules. If man is nothing but chemical material, the product of an 'up-bringing' then he's not responsible nor should he be punished for doing wrong. So if one kills another, it's what's right for them.

6. The Biological Argument.

Its a scientific fact, life can only come from pre-existent life not from matter alone. The bases for atheism is that matter and chance produced life. And what’s the matter with that? The problem with matter, is that its not eternal. Matter must have originated some time in the past by a method equivalent to creation. You must either say, in the beginning "God", or in the beginning nothing. While it's difficult for some to think God could make everything out of nothing, it's even more unthinkable that nothing should turn itself into anything.

How can nothing produce matter and matter produce life? Even the simplest living things are amazingly complex. How can non-living matter jump the many hurdles required to form living cells? The atheist has no explanation for life, because without God life has no sense. It makes more sense to believe that “in the beginning God created the heavens and earth” than in the beginning nothing produced something. And then millions of atoms fell together by themselves without a blueprint and made a simple cell.

There must be an intelligence to start with, to direct the atoms. All things left to themselves fall apart, not together. Computers don’t happen by chance and matter, it takes intelligence to produce something intelligent. How can matter and chance (both void of intelligence) ultimately produce something as complex as the human brain?

Information is stored on DNA code, but the code itself is not intelligent nor improved by random chance. Genetic defects or accidents never improve DNA only destroy or damage it. The problem with chance is that the odds are too great. Chance is a non-answer, chance is something we apply to something we don’t have a sensible explanation for.

7. The Historical Argument.

History points to an unseen hand, guiding the destinies of the nations ie., Israel, Egypt, Babylon, Persia and Assyria. The Bible accurately describes historical events even to the smallest details. And history attests to Scripture. Eg., the rise and fall of great empires like Greece and Rome (Dan.2:39-40) and the destruction of cities (ie Tyre, Sidon Isa.23). Tyre's demise is recorded by ancient historians who tell how Alexander the Great lay siege to the city for 7 months. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had failed in a 13-year attempt to capture the seacoast city and completely destroy its inhabitants.

So the Bible has 100% accurate prophecy regarding history and nations. The rebirth of the modern state of Israel today is another fulfillment of Scripture. Verses which foretold a return to the land after captivity in Babylon/Assyria have come alive since 1984 when Israel again became a nation and Jew's returned to their ancient land. The Jewish people were the ones to whom the Scriptures were given.

Historically every Easter and Christmas points to God existence. Historically the lives of people point to God’s existence. Multitudes worldwide have testified to answered prayer and demonstrated changed lives. And willing to live or die in the consolation of their assurance. God's actions in history are central to Christianity and all Christian theology is rooted in history. This is the one thing that sets Christianity apart from all other world religions and validates its truthfulness.

8. The Christological Argument.

He never wrote a book, yet more books are written about Jesus Christ than anyone in history. This in itself demands attention. The life of Christ is a historical fact, He has changed the lives of millions. One of the greatest evidences that God exists is the fact of Jesus Christ. He divides history into BC and AD. He’s central to the whole argument. Over 300 Old Testament prophesies about Christ came true and fulfilled in His life time. His life and person are unexplainable if God doesn’t exist. Even those who have no regard for Him, will take His name in vain. All he said, was, is, and did, points to God’s existence.

The claims of Christ are unique compared to the claims of all the religious founders of the world. Mohammed didn't claim to be God; Buddha was silent about God; Confucius refused to discuss God. And Moses was only a prophet. But only Jesus claimed to be God incarnate. People have described Him as more than a 'great master' for "Never a man spoke like this man". He has been the subject of relentless study, his words have been analyzed with endless scrutiny, revealing a flawless character and unselfish nature. But it wasn't just His words, he healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, raised the cripple and the dead. He walked on water, spoke to the wind and waves and they obeyed. These miracles which were seen were regarded as genuine and authentic. The crowds followed and marveled at his wisdom. And the ancient writings (OT) foretold his coming and spoke of Him as Deity in the flesh. Try to understand God apart from Him results in an incomplete picture of God. As Jesus said, "no man comes to the Father but by me".

9. The Bibliological Argument.

If there’s a God with all power, could He inspire the formation and preservation of at least one book? He has. It’s the most influential book, it has the most beautiful literature, and the best moral code ever devised. Anyone seriously investigating the Bible finds the claim of divine inspiration (over 3,000 times) justified. There's evidence of a higher intelligence who guided its writers. It surpass’s other writings in inspiration. Written by over 30 different authors, in 3 different languages, and over 1600yrs, yet books, chapters, verses, words, dovetail together in patterns and themes with remarkable unity. One does not need to believe it blindly. There are good and sufficient reasons for seeing that it is true. Its the key that fits the lock of what we know about ourselves and the universe around us. Today there are thousands of ancient documents by which we can check it -

5300 Greek manuscripts.

267 uncials (written in capital letters)

2768 minuscule manuscripts (small letters)

2146 Greek lectionaries

81 papyri portions of New Testament text

But more, 'During the first generation of Christian leaders, referred to as the Church Fathers, we find numerous quotes of the New Testament (NT) from their personal correspondence. Eg, Clement of Alexandria, who lived about AD150 - 212, has 2,406 quotes from all but three books of the NT. Tertullian, who was an elder of the church in Carthage and who lived around AD 160 - 220, quotes the NT 7,258 times. Of these quotes, around 3,800 are from the gospels. Other quotes from Church fathers include Justin Martyr, 330 quotes; Irenaeus, 1,819 quotes; Origen, 17,922 quotes, Hippolytus, 1,378 quotes; and Eusebius, 5,176 quotes, making a total of 36,289 quotes of the NT' (Dave Hunt).

The quotes of the Church Fathers show us that if one destroyed all manuscripts of the NT, and all bible versions, we could reproduce all but 11 verses of the NT. So, when it comes to checking and cross checking the readings of the NT, it is the most historically attested work of the ancient world. Also, many large manuscripts were laboriously engrossed by hand (proving the existence of the originals) and the high regard which they were held.

In 1886 scholars could list 767 distinctively NT words with no parallels in any known Greek literature. The list in 1986 was under 50 and today is still shrinking. Today we have less reason then ever before for not believing the bible as accurate.

The Bible then, is the 'genuine article' and has been closely, carefully and critically examined yet survived with greater dependability. Its accuracy is not waiting to be verified by science, yet it remains open to verification by historical study. In fact, geological research is a slow and devious method when testing the Bible. Science changes, man’s knowledge is limited and men misread facts, yet the Bible has proven true prophetically, geographically and historically. It's rooted in history. It's historical accuracy is far superior to the written records of Egypt, Assyria, and other early nations. Luke for example, has been described by experts as one of the greatest historians that has ever lived.

Usually those who don’t believe the Bible is true, are those who have never studied it. And usually those who don't know much about the Bible, don't know much about God. Ignorance of it has caused most of the scepticism concerning it. It solves the question of truth, meaning to life and the problem of man. Revealing information to man that is not provided by any other natural reference source of human investigation.

Another reason we know God exists is because He has revealed Himself and told us about His character, and plans in the Bible. It also describes man as different from the animals, explaining the reason why there is sickness, suffering and death, and why man is confused in himself, about life and right and wrong. It provides answers to the inner most cry of the heart, it strengthens, guides and gives hope.

Voltaire, French philosopher wrote, "Another century and there will not be a Bible on earth" (1694-1778). Jesus said, "Heaven and earth will pass away but my words shall not pass away" (Mt.14:35). Today just the 'Bible Society' alone circulates over 600 million Bibles, in over 1200 languages, in over 60 countries. And they spend over $100 million on translation work each year.

10. The Congruity Argument.

The nine previous arguments are all in agreement. They blend together in harmony. If God doesn’t exist they’re inexplicable. Belief in God’s existence is in harmony with history, mans mental and moral nature, as well as the nature of the material universe. Its the most logically and feasible world view there is. Atheism solves no problems and answers no questions, but God's existence is like a magical key that fits the facts of Scripture, knowledge and science. So its easy to prove God exists but impossible to prove He doesn't.

Men who ignore or reject God do so not because science or reason requires it, but purely and simply because they want to. "They did not like to retain God in their knowledge"... "Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man" (Rom.1:22-23,28). For those who desire to know God, however, He has revealed Himself perfectly through His Son. "No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him." Jn 1:18.

"Atheism is asking us to believe -

1. Matter is eternal
2. Matter without life created life
3. Matter without mind created mind
4. Matter without intelligence created intelligence
5. Matter without morals created morals
6. Matter without conscience created conscience
7. Matter without purpose created purpose and order

Chesterton's dictum is right. 'When people stop believing in God, they do not believe in nothing they believe in anything'. Atheism is a universal negative and rationally impossible, to be an atheist -

1. You must prove there is no God
2. Refute all the evidence for the existence of God
3. Explain away the reality of Christ
4. Remove the evidence for the resurrection of Christ
5. Disprove all the prophecies in the Bible
6. Demonstrate the Bible is a fraud
7. Establish the credibility of atheism". -- Steve Kumar

"It takes no brains to be an atheist. Any stupid person can deny the existence of a supernatural power because man's physical senses cannot detect it. But there cannot be ignored the influence of conscience, the respect we feel for the Moral Law, the mystery of first life….or the marvelous order in which the universe moves about us on this earth. All these evidence the handiwork of the beneficent Deity... That Deity is the God of the Bible and Jesus Christ, His Son." --Dwight Eisenhower

I should like to see a man sober in his habits, moderate, chaste, just in his dealings, assert that there is no God; he would speak at least without interested motives; but such a man is not to be found. -- L.A BRUYERE.

An Atheist-laugh's a poor exchange For Deity offended! -- BURNS.

By night an atheist half believes a God.--YOUNG.

I have faith and belief myself. I believe that the universe is comprehensible within the bounds of natural law and that the human brain can discover those natural laws and comprehend the universe. I believe that nothing beyond those natural laws is needed.’ ‘I have no evidence for this. It is simply what I have faith in and what I believe.’ (atheist - ISAAC ASIMOV)

No one is so much alone in the world as a denier of God.--RICHTER.

When men live as if there were no God, it becomes expedient for them that there should be none; and then they endeavour to persuade themselves so. --TILLOTSON.

Atheism is the result of ignorance and pride, of strong sense and feeble reasons, of good eating and ill living.--J. COLLIER.

Atheism can benefit no class of people, --neither the unfortunate, whom it bereaves of hope, nor the prosperous, whose joys it renders insipid. --CHATEAUBRIAND.

"Without God everything is permissible and crime is inevitable." -- DOSTOEVSKY

"Those people who will not be governed by God will be ruled by tyrants" W PENN

If you don't believe the book of Genesis then you are left with the incredible notion that nobody times nothing equals everything. J MACARTHUR

Atheism is a belief, an Agnostic is an ignoramus

'Atheism is only intelligible in a theistic context. It can only be seen as real where God has been seen as real' It is much more reasonable to believe that the words you are reading here had no writer, than to believe that there is no God. Who in his right mind would ever believe that no one wrote them, no one put the letters together, and no one typed them. The writing happened by chance... from nothing. There was no processor, no hands involved, no keyboard, and no mind. The words just came into being (from nothing), then fitted themselves into perfectly sorted slots. They all fell into place, forming coherent sentences, and then the colour background appeared. And any pages would fall into numerical order, and finally a book would appear.

The fact that there was a writer is axiomatic (self-evident), so it would be intellectually insulting to even begin to argue for the case of the writer's existence. For the same reason, the Bible does not enter into the case for God's existence. It simply begins by stating, "In the beginning God”. (Gen.1:1).

How shameful for atheism, so few defend it -

[1] Click Here [2] Click Here [3] Click Here [4] Click Here [5] Click Here [6] Click Here

[1] Bronte - a 'genuine atheist'? [2-3] Jason defends atheism. (popular) [4] Review of Prof Lloyd Geering's book . [5-6] To Unbelief.org. & their reply.

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mpp@xtra.co.nz