Did you know that there are 5 proofs of God's existence?

Question

The existence of God can be proved in five ways.

The first and more manifest way is the argument from motion. It is certain, and evident to our senses, that in the world some things are in motion. Now whatever is in motion is put in motion by another, for nothing can be in motion except it is in potentiality to that towards which it is in motion; whereas a thing moves inasmuch as it is in act. For motion is nothing else than the reduction of something from potentiality to actuality. But nothing can be reduced from potentiality to actuality, except by something in a state of actuality. Thus that which is actually hot, as fire, makes wood, which is potentially hot, to be actually hot, and thereby moves and changes it. Now it is not possible that the same thing should be at once in actuality and potentiality in the same respect, but only in different respects. For what is actually hot cannot simultaneously be potentially hot; but it is simultaneously potentially cold. It is therefore impossible that in the same respect and in the same way a thing should be both mover and moved, i.e. that it should move itself. Therefore, whatever is in motion must be put in motion by another. If that by which it is put in motion be itself put in motion, then this also must needs be put in motion by another, and that by another again. But this cannot go on to infinity, because then there would be no first mover, and, consequently, no other mover; seeing that subsequent movers move only inasmuch as they are put in motion by the first mover; as the staff moves only because it is put in motion by the hand. Therefore it is necessary to arrive at a first mover, put in motion by no other; and this everyone understands to be God.

The second way is from the nature of the efficient cause. In the world of sense we find there is an order of efficient causes. There is no case known (neither is it, indeed, possible) in which a thing is found to be the efficient cause of itself; for so it would be prior to itself, which is impossible. Now in efficient causes it is not possible to go on to infinity, because in all efficient causes following in order, the first is the cause of the intermediate cause, and the intermediate is the cause of the ultimate cause, whether the intermediate cause be several, or only one. Now to take away the cause is to take away the effect. Therefore, if there be no first cause among efficient causes, there will be no ultimate, nor any intermediate cause. But if in efficient causes it is possible to go on to infinity, there will be no first efficient cause, neither will there be an ultimate effect, nor any intermediate efficient causes; all of which is plainly false. Therefore it is necessary to admit a first efficient cause, to which everyone gives the name of God.

The third way is taken from possibility and necessity, and runs thus. We find in nature things that are possible to be and not to be, since they are found to be generated, and to corrupt, and consequently, they are possible to be and not to be. But it is impossible for these always to exist, for that which is possible not to be at some time is not. Therefore, if everything is possible not to be, then at one time there could have been nothing in existence. Now if this were true, even now there would be nothing in existence, because that which does not exist only begins to exist by something already existing. Therefore, if at one time nothing was in existence, it would have been impossible for anything to have begun to exist; and thus even now nothing would be in existence--which is absurd. Therefore, not all beings are merely possible, but there must exist something the existence of which is necessary. But every necessary thing either has its necessity caused by another, or not. Now it is impossible to go on to infinity in necessary things which have their necessity caused by another, as has been already proved in regard to efficient causes. Therefore we cannot but postulate the existence of some being having of itself its own necessity, and not receiving it from another, but rather causing in others their necessity. This all men speak of as God.

The fourth way is taken from the gradation to be found in things. Among beings there are some more and some less good, true, noble and the like. But "more" and "less" are predicated of different things, according as they resemble in their different ways something which is the maximum, as a thing is said to be hotter according as it more nearly resembles that which is hottest; so that there is something which is truest, something best, something noblest and, consequently, something which is uttermost being; for those things that are greatest in truth are greatest in being, as it is written in Metaph. ii. Now the maximum in any genus is the cause of all in that genus; as fire, which is the maximum heat, is the cause of all hot things. Therefore there must also be something which is to all beings the cause of their being, goodness, and every other perfection; and this we call God.

The fifth way is taken from the governance of the world. We see that things which lack intelligence, such as natural bodies, act for an end, and this is evident from their acting always, or nearly always, in the same way, so as to obtain the best result. Hence it is plain that not fortuitously, but designedly, do they achieve their end. Now whatever lacks intelligence cannot move towards an end, unless it be directed by some being endowed with knowledge and intelligence; as the arrow is shot to its mark by the archer. Therefore some intelligent being exists by whom all natural things are directed to their end; and this being we call God.

http://www.newadvent.org/summa/1002.htm

Answer 1

It would be nice if you made headings that paraphrased your paragraphs.

Answer 2

incorrect.
1) Your argument that some things in motion is hogwash, EVERYTHING is in the universe is in motion as a result of both gravity, and the Big Bang.
2) Your "cause" argument is EXTREMELY flawed. This argument is posted here at least once a day, and is ridiculous. You say that nothing can be without having a direct cause. Yet you also say that nothing created God. Well, YOU CAN'T HAVE IT BOTH WAYS! Either you have a God that did not have a creator, and therefore not everything has a cause, or you have a God that did have a creator, meaning your God is not all powerful and omnipresent....PICK ONE OF THE TWO!
3) This is the exact same as your second argument, which I just proved flawed an invalid.
4)Wow, I do not even know where to begin. basically NONE of what you said is true. The qualities you speak of are all relative. hot is not as compared to fire, "hot" is simply a made up word. There is not LIMIT to how hot something can be, temperature extends infinitely in possibility.
5)This argument is also completely ridiculous. Things that are not "alive", do not have intelligence, and they are not acted upon by intelligence. Are you going to sit there and tell me that volcanos, tsunamis, and other natural disasters are part of some God's master plan? If you are, then I sincerely feel sorry for your lack of logic.

Answer 3

A bit too complicated. There are simpler proofs, ie:

Darwinism died; God lives. Evolution is unable to account for the myriad complexities of organisms around us today. How did they come about by natural means?! DNA especially...

Of all the planets in the universe, ours is the only one which is suitable for life. The rest are in elliptical and irregular galaxies, which are inhospitable for life because of dangerous gamma radiation from supernovae, black holes, quasars, or otherwise their suns don't support life... Coincidence?

Earth is the only place where a solar eclipse can be viewed... though the sun is 400 times larger than the moon, it is also 400 times further away... Coincidence?!

The planet Venus traces a perfect 5-point star across the sky every eight years... This can only be viewed from the Earth... Coincidence?!?!

All this and more proves beyond reasonable doubt that God exists.

Answer 4

Yeah dude, I lost ya after The first one...in my opinion there are easier ways...Look at all the parts of the human eye, obviously proof that theres a God, Looking at nature...some stuff out there is too incredible for there to be no God.
Ummm, gee ever hear about this cool dude named Jesus Christ...Hes kindof the most absolute proof of God no matter how someone spins it...and plus, when you talk about Jesus people dont get so confused.
I think you have some good thoughts from what I understood though lol
Good luck and God Bless

Answer 5

That is correct, this is the "five-way" proof of st thomas Aquinas, based on Aristotle's writtings, especifically on his "Physica" and in his "methaphysica"

Put these proofs simply they go like this:

1. Inmovil mover.

Everything in the universe is in motion, and all motion is caused. We can't regress into infinity...therefore there must be an unmoved mover, this we call God.

2. First cause.

everything that is comes to be either thrugh itself or through something else, this is its efficient cause, everything created is not self-suffiecient but owes its being and existence to something else. We can't regrse into infinity in a chain of eccicient causes, because then there would be no first cause. this first cause of all that is, the being we call God.

3. Neccesary Being

Everything that is either has the possibility of not being or no. iof something hyas the possibility of being, then it has the possibility of not being. But everything that is must come from soething that is as well, we can't regress into0 infinity because then therrewould be that nothing could exist, which is absurd, therefore we need a neccesary being, who is being itself, and received being from nothing, this bieng we call God

4. The Summum Ens (Supreme Being)

in everything created, we see a hierarchy of being, there are lesser beings, only animated such as plants, and there are higher beings such as animal, man is the highest living thing because has rationality, but it follows that there must be a higher step on the scale, and these are angels, and the ultimum perfection of it all, who we call God.
5. The final cause.

Everything that is, is for something, has a purpose, and here we see rationality in the cosmos, the universal reason that governs all, and to which all things naturally tend to, and this we call God.

simple isnt; it? kidding

this requires a lot of insight and study to grasp.
However to believe in god, you don't need all this rationale, this is a trational proof that follows from existence itself. But faith in God must come before all rationality.


a note on "motion"
When st thomas talks about motion he doesn't mean such as an object being here and then there, he doesn't mean locomotion or locality. His concept of motion is totally aristotelic, meaning the passing from POTENTIALITY INTO ACTUALITY. that is motion in the first proof. When something is in potency and then is in actuality. Which is a deeper and more cosmologically inherent concept of motion, grounded on being and existence itself, uncontingent of our thinking it or of our perceiving it.



I admire St Thomas greatly, you know?

Try to read more of his writtings, such as the Summa theologica an Summa contra gentiles, that's where you got the whole text out of.


God bless

Answer 6

argument 1 begs the question what moved the mover?
argument 2 is just rambling
argument 3 is again circular ranting
argument 4 is purely based on what you perceive as good and noble and we all know morals and societies shift over time
argument 5 is saying because there are living things and nonliving things there must be a god?

What a load of crap. Have you ever thought about these things before you cut 'n pasted them?

Answer 7

Well, and then there is what the bible simply states..
Romans 1: 18-22: " 18 For God’s wrath is being revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who are suppressing the truth in an unrighteous way, 19 because what may be known about God is manifest among them, for God made it manifest to them. 20 For his invisible [qualities] are clearly seen from the world’s creation onward, because they are perceived by the things made, even his eternal power and Godship, so that they are inexcusable; 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God nor did they thank him, but they became empty-headed in their reasonings and their unintelligent heart became darkened. 22 Although asserting they were wise, they became foolish..."


We know God exists because we exist, you are right in that sense. I don't know about all the five proofs and such, but I think the basis of what you are saying is ...we exist because God exists.

Answer 8

So to paraphrase:

"Science, scientific theory, scientific proof, physics, thermodynamics, and that means God exists!"

Hey, let me try it just once!

The Earth is a rotating sphere. It is a planet in the solar system, and is the third one of eight rotating around an enormous ball of hydrogen & helium that has been producing nearly immeasurable energy through fusion for countless millions of years.

This planet has water and trees and over a hundred different elements that make up everything around us. There is ice in colder parts, and palm trees in the warmer parts. There are people and birds and lizards and cows.

Therefore, I conclude that my dog just turned purple with green polka-dots!

(Gee, that WAS fun!)

Answer 9

The clockwork in the desolate tract argument is my admired... it shows the abyss of denial wherein some fundie lives. strategies you, I´m an agnostic, yet I understand how idiotic those arguments are. There are arguments that make me suspect the existence of a few form of intelligence, yet in no way the christian god... I propose, heavily, a god that created 1500 billion galaxies, each and each with hundreds of billions of stars... And we are the middle of introduction? And he tests while and with who we've intercourse, strategies you... One could think of that for the duration of the form of vaste universe there he could discover something greater interesting than 2 or greater apes touching one yet another...

Answer 10

Your "Proofs" are theories. The problem is,you are building your theories around the possiblitiy that there is a god and that the very first thing can be nothing else.

Since no one knows who or what God is, how can you claim that these theories are proof?

Answer 11

I get the impression you don't have the slightest clue about the scientific principles behind the "proofs" you have just offered. Copy/paste job right? It probably originally came from some 16th century philosophical tract by Descartes, am I right?