Are all arguments for God, an appeal to ignorance?

Question

"I can't explain X, therefore God must exist."

I don't think that they are, but I'm just trying to think of the ones that are not...

Answer 1

Most of them are arguments to necessary and sufficient conditions. You just make a few observations and ask, "What are the necessary and sufficient conditions for this" and if you come up with something like a description of God, then you have an argument for God that is based on what you DO know, not on what you do NOT know.

Answer 2

Take the time to visit the religion and philosophy section of your library sometime. You will discover that the arguments for God are many and well thought out. Whole volumes have been produced by some of the most brilliant minds in history about the nature and purpose of God and man.

There is a whole field of study, called theology, given to the subject. People regularly earn secular degrees in the study, including doctorials.

Plato, Aristotle, Thomas Aquaina, Immanuel Kent, Augustine, Beckett, CS Lewis (my favorite), and hundreds of others have made intelligent and thoughtful arguements for God and his place in the universe. Those ideas have formed most of what we know today as civilizations, served as a model for our laws and government, and formed the moral framework of most of mankind.

So while "god" has been used at times to explain the unexplained, not ALL arguments for God are an appeal to ignorance.

Answer 3

The same question could be asked the other way too and come to the same conclussion. The only thing that would stop this question is proof, and it's there people just don't want to see it. The bible said Israel would return and become a nation again, it has. It said they would relearn their old language, they have. It said men would in those last days be lovers of themselves and give in to their own lusts rather than be lovers of God. Look at these forums for proof of that. It says that nations would call for the destruction of Israel, Iran has several times and the other muslim nations agree with the hate spewing. These are just a few examples, but it said it would ONLY happen durin the last generation that saw Israel become a nation and BEFORE the tribulation began. That's now.

Answer 4

I most often get the argument from incredulity: "I can't imagine a god not existing, therefore {my god} must exist"

It's related to the argument from ignorance, but it is slightly different.

Answer 5

The idea of a god fills a space that some people need to explain why.

Answer 6

If you have experienced God in your life through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, then no argument is needed.

God does the calling anyway. We don't call anyone. WE can't save anyone, only God can. We simply offer them Jesus when the Spirit directs us to.

Answer 7

i won't agree with this cause in this world many things exist and happen for which you can't give or find any scienific explanation
for example consider our very own milky way galaxy.there exist a well established pathway for planets,and particular sequence of chemical reaction that makes the star burning
for all this the only possible explanation is a driving force exist and we call that as GOD.

Answer 8

the ONLY answers i've seen after asking this question numerous times is.

1. Faith - Based on no evidence
2. Bible - Contradictory and error filled (skepticsannotatedbible.com)
3. "I feel it" - warm fuzzies indistinguishable from nothing: Self Delusions.
4. I don't understand X - So they use god to fill in the gaps for their lack of intelligence

Answer 9

There are others, but they're all flawed, without exception.

Answer 10

*scratches head* yep that sound bout right.