The Cumulative Case for God Evidence for God’s Existence Phil Fernandes, Ph.D. Institute of Biblical Defense

The Cumulative Case for God The Criminal Courts—must prove case beyond reasonable doubt The Civil Courts—must prove case based on the preponderance of the evidence Theism vs Atheism—use preponderance of evidence

The Cumulative Case for God I treat Christian Theism as a hypothesis I argue it is more reasonable to believe in God than it is to be an atheist Theism offers a more adequate explanation than atheism does for common aspects of human experience

The beginning of the universe 2nd law of thermodynamics (entropy) Big Bang Model Time had to have a beginning From nothing, nothing comes Either “in the beginning God” or “In the beginning nothing”

Continuing Existence of Universe All existence cannot have the possibility of non-existence, for then nothing would have existed in the past From nothing, nothing comes Something must be eternal & have no possibility of non-existence (a Necessary Being)

Design & Order in Universe Single celled animal contains enough genetic information to fill 20,000 volumes of encyclopedia Explosions in a print shop—dictionary Explosions do not cause more order & complexity (go from order to disorder) Tornado in a junkyard—Boeing 747

Types of Intelligent Design Design & Order (2) Types of Intelligent Design Specified Complexity (William Dembski) Irreducible Complexity (Michael Behe) Anthropic Principle (Hugh Ross)

Possibility of human knowledge (human reason) Could consciousness & our thinking ability randomly evolve from matter? It is more reasonable that we were created by a Rational Being & in His image Atheism cannot account for the validity of human reason

Universal, Eternal, Unchanging Truths Laws of logic & mathematics Most atheists are materialists (only matter exists—what about thoughts & values & truth?) If atheism is true than there is no truth; then atheism cannot be true

Universal, Eternal, Unchanging Moral Laws moral standard not from the individual Not from societies Not from world consensus Even atheists try to build a better world Even atheists condemn the past & try to build a better future

Moral Laws (continued) Their actions appeal to a standard above all individuals, societies, & world consensus; it doesn’t change with time This implies a Moral Lawgiver above all individuals, all societies, & any world consensus This Moral Lawgiver is eternal & unchanging

The Meaning of Life (Purpose) Life is absurd if there is no God & no life after death Corrie Ten Boom & Adolph Hitler No eternal difference between them without God & life after death

Other Common Aspects A reason to be optimistic about the future (hope) A guarantee that evil will be defeated Feelings of guilt Fear of death (call for a priest/preacher)

Final Two Aspects Human Rights (respect for human life) In a world without God, there are no human rights Free Will & Human Responsibility (the existence of the human, non-material soul)

Conclusion of the Cumulative Case Mere molecules in motion, combined with time & chance, cannot explain any of these factors The atheist must either deny the reality of these aspects of human experience or say “they are just there” (but, then atheism becomes a non-explanation)