Tuesday, November 1, 2011

The Great Debate: Does God Exist?

I came across this quote in a theological debate from 1985 at the University of California, Irvine entitled, "The Great Debate: Does God Exist?" The third point to the opening case for the existence of God, Dr. Greg Bahnsen (Christian theist) argues with Dr. Gordon Stein (atheist) the "Transcendental Argument" (transcendental--something is comparatively beyond other things):
When we go to look at the different world views that atheists and theists have, I suggest we can prove the existence of God from the impossibility of the contrary. The transcendental proof for God's existence is that without Him it is impossible to prove anything. The atheist world view is irrational and cannot consistently provide the preconditions of intelligible experience, science, logic, or morality. The atheist world view cannot allow for laws of logic, the uniformity of nature, the ability for the mind to understand the world, and moral absolutes. In that sense the atheist world view cannot account for our debate tonight.
What Dr. Bahnsen is saying is that it is impossible for God not to exist even in an atheist's world view. The atheist is dependent on the "laws of logic, the uniformity of nature, the ability for the mind to understand the world, and moral absolutes," each of which God is responsible for. No God? Then no debate.

2 comments:

  1. "Every Thought Captive" by Richard Pratt Jr. is a great presuppositional apologetics study for youth.

    http://www.amazon.com/Every-Thought-Captive-Defense-Christian/dp/0875523528

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  2. Hey thanks, Lee. I have also benefitted from "Apologetics to the Glory of God" by John Frame and "Always Ready" by Greg Bahnsen. Always Ready has one of the best defenses to the apparent problem of evil that I've ever come across. There is always so much more to learn and put to use on this topic. Pray for opportunities to defend the faith this holiday season!

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