Traditional Proofs of God (Leaving Cert Religious Education): Revision Notes

Traditional Proofs of God

Introduction

Traditional proofs of God are philosophical arguments developed by key thinkers to demonstrate God's existence through reason and logic. These proofs remain essential reading for anyone studying the search for meaning and values, as they represent systematic attempts to prove divine existence using rational thought rather than faith alone.

Saint Anselm's Ontological Argument

Saint Anselm was a mediaeval theologian who became known as the father of Scholasticism - a system combining theology and philosophy that dominated mediaeval European universities. His approach merged Platonic and Aristotelian logic with Christian teachings.

The Argument Explained

Anselm's Ontological Argument begins with the concept of God as the greatest conceivable being. The logic works as follows:

• We can conceive of God as the most perfect being possible
• A being that exists in reality is greater than one that exists only in our minds
• Therefore, if God is truly the greatest conceivable being, God must exist in reality, not just in our thoughts
• To suggest God exists only in the mind would contradict the definition of God as the greatest possible being

This became known as the Ontological Argument because it moves from the idea or concept of God to God's actual existence. The German philosopher Immanuel Kant later named it this way, noting that the very idea of God necessitates that God exists.

Thomas Aquinas's Five Ways

Thomas Aquinas developed five proofs for God's existence in his famous work "Summa Theologica" (written between 1265-1274). Students need to understand at least two of these arguments.

The Prime Mover Argument

This argument is based on motion and change in the world:

• Our senses show us that things are constantly in motion and causing changes in other things
• Everything that moves must be moved by something else - nothing can move itself
• This creates a chain of movers, but this chain cannot go on infinitely
• Therefore, there must be a First Mover that started all motion without being moved itself
• This First Mover is God, who sets everything in motion and gives all things their potential

The Efficient Cause Argument

This proof focuses on causation:

• Everything we observe has been caused by something else
• Nothing can cause itself to exist
• Without a first cause, there would be no subsequent causes and therefore nothing would exist
• There must be a First Cause or Uncreated Creator that began the chain of causation
• This First Cause is God

Isaac Newton's Argument from Design

Isaac Newton, famous for discovering gravity, believed his scientific work revealed God's existence. His argument developed from his study of the universe's physical laws.

Newton's Reasoning

Newton observed that gravity explained planetary motion but raised deeper questions:

• Gravity explains how planets move, but not who originally set them in motion
• If gravity simply pulled everything together, why didn't all celestial bodies collapse into one mass?
• The careful positioning of planets and systems suggested deliberate placement
• The mathematical precision of natural laws pointed to an intelligent designer

Newton concluded that an intelligent, powerful being must govern the movement of planets and systems to make life possible. He wrote that "this most beautiful system of the sun, planets & comets could only proceed from the counsel & dominion of an intelligent and powerful being."

William Paley's Watchmaker Analogy

William Paley, an 18th and 19th century theologian, created one of the most famous design arguments using the Watchmaker Analogy.

The Analogy Explained

Paley presented this analogical argument in his "Natural Theology":

• Imagine finding a watch in a natural environment
• Due to the watch's order, complexity, and clear purpose, we would naturally conclude it had an intelligent designer
• We wouldn't need prior knowledge of how watches are made to reach this conclusion
• The universe displays the same characteristics: order, complexity, and purpose
• Therefore, the universe must also have an intelligent designer - God

Addressing Objections

Paley anticipated criticism and responded:

• Even if the universe contains imperfections (like a watch that occasionally breaks), this doesn't disprove design
• The existence of natural laws and mathematical principles suggests a law-giver
• The precise language of mathematics that governs the universe points to an intelligent author

This argument allows constructive dialogue between religion and science, as scientific discoveries of natural laws can be seen as revealing God's handiwork rather than disproving God's existence.

Contemporary Relevance

These traditional proofs remain relevant today as they provide rational frameworks for discussing God's existence. They appear regularly in Leaving Cert examinations, with questions asking students to:

• Outline specific arguments from Anselm or Aquinas
• Discuss how these ideas might help people searching for meaning today
• Explain the contemporary relevance of these philosophical approaches
• Compare different philosophers' approaches to proving God's existence