Exploring the Existence of the Abrahamic God Through Logic
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Chapter 1: Understanding the Divine
How can we be sure of God's existence? More importantly, how do we ascertain the presence of one specific interpretation of God amidst a multitude of religions?
Focusing on the Abrahamic God as depicted in the Hebrew Scriptures, often referred to as the Old Testament, we can explore this question. What distinguishes this particular God from others?
The defining characteristic of the Abrahamic God is monotheism. He is portrayed as the singular, true deity—limitless and unchallenged. This God exists independently; He creates by choice, embodies love, and invites us into joy, life, and peace, as He is the source of all these virtues.
With this understanding of God, how can we demonstrate His existence? The answer is rather straightforward.
The undeniable proof lies in the world around us—every aspect of our lives and everything we can perceive or study through science. All of these elements share a crucial characteristic: they are finite.
Our universe and everything within it is bounded by finite parameters of time, space, matter, and energy. There is no aspect of infinity to be found in our universe. The entirety of existence is indeed finite.
This reality serves as compelling evidence for the existence of God.
How does this work? It's quite simple.
Our finite universe operates within a finite chain of causation—finite causes leading to finite effects. Even the Big Bang, the most significant finite cause known to us, was finite in nature. This enormous cause gave rise to an equally enormous effect: the universe itself. Every component of it remains finite.
Everything within our universe adheres to this finite cause-and-effect structure.
Now, let's trace this back to its origin. What initiated the first finite cause? What existed before any finite cause or effect could manifest?
Something infinite. Something immensely powerful. Something capable of creation.
Logic dictates this. If there were nothing prior to the first finite entity, then that entity could not have been brought into existence. There would be no existence to trigger the first finite entity's existence.
There must be something infinite and uncaused that exists outside the finite causal chain that governs our universe and everything contained within it. This infinite entity must precede the first finite cause so that it can bring it into existence.
This First Cause must be infinite and, by its nature, uncaused. If it were finite, it could not exist outside the finite causal chain. It would simply be a part of it and unable to initiate it.
We are searching for the origin of the entire finite causal chain. It cannot be composed solely of finite causes; that would contradict both logic and physics.
It doesn't matter how far we trace this finite causal chain back. Whether it aligns with the Big Bang or if there were countless Big Bangs before it, one truth remains: no matter how far back we go to identify the first finite entity, an infinite, uncaused First Cause must predate it to enable that entity's existence.
The existence of a finite causal chain inherently suggests the necessary presence of an infinite, uncaused Creator.
Thus, we arrive at our conclusion.
Our finite universe, situated within a finite causal chain, stands as undeniable evidence for the existence of the Abrahamic God—a singular, powerful, infinite Creator.
However, objections arise. Let's examine a few.
Section 1.1: Common Objections to God's Existence
Objection 1: The universe could be infinite!
Response: It is not. Every component of our universe, from the Big Bang to the smallest particle, is finite, constrained by limits of space, time, matter, and energy. If you disagree, provide an example of infinite matter, energy, or spacetime. There is nothing within our universe that can be measured as infinite.
Objection 2: The universe might expand infinitely!
Response: This merely affirms its finitude. While the universe is expanding, it does so with a finite quantity of matter that is moving outward at a finite speed and acceleration. Even if it expands for trillions of years, it will still encompass a finite distance.
Objection 3: We lack knowledge of what occurred before the Big Bang, so we can't assert the existence of an infinite Creator.
Response: Evidence suggests multiple possibilities about the state before the Big Bang. Since the Big Bang itself is finite, it cannot be infinite and thus cannot have existed forever. Consequently, it is part of the finite causal chain and requires an infinite First Cause for explanation.
Objection 4: A quantum field fluctuation could be responsible for the universe's origin without invoking a deity.
Response: Quantum fluctuations are finite. They exist within the finite causal chain and cannot serve as its origin. Moreover, they depend on an existing universe, requiring energy and physical laws, thus cannot exist outside of it.
Objection 5: You still need to clarify God's origins.
Response: By definition, something infinite has no beginning. An infinite God exists eternally, without a cause.
Objection 6: It's unfair to assert the universe needs an explanation while God does not.
Response: We apply the same criteria to both. If the universe were infinite, it would not require an explanation, as it would always exist. However, since the universe is finite, it necessitates an explanation.
Objection 7: This source could be any entity, not necessarily the Abrahamic God.
Response: The characteristics align perfectly with the Abrahamic God. From a finite universe, we can derive several attributes about its necessary source—it must be infinite, uncaused, and omnipotent, aligning with biblical descriptions of God as the eternal Creator.
Objection 8: Faith in God implies uncertainty.
Response: While faith does require certainty in truth, it does not require direct visibility. We cannot observe the universe's beginning firsthand, but we can analyze and reason from its finite nature to achieve logical certainty regarding God's existence.
Ultimately, God intended for His creation to reveal His existence. As stated in Romans 1:19–20, the evidence of His eternal power and divine nature has been apparent since the world's inception, leaving humanity without excuse.
Chapter 2: The Implications of a Finite Universe
Our universe is undeniably finite, operating within a finite causal chain. Tracing this chain back reveals that before its inception, an infinite Creator must exist to initiate the first finite entity.
The undeniable conclusion is that our finite universe provides clear evidence for the existence of an infinite, uncaused, and all-powerful Creator.
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