God: A Multi-Part Series
This is a multiple-part series on “god” or “God.” Is there a God? If there is, who is he? What is God? From where did God come? How does God work in the world today? What does all of this mean for me?
In this discourse, I will not use weighty quotes or words. Instead, I will look to draw a polemic against the idea that there is not a God (modern-day secularism) with “matter-of-fact” and “common sense” logic. With that behind us, I may not provide any citations at all. I make no promise to have zero citations, but, at this moment in our journey, I do not see the need for them as the point of this endeavor is to use everyday language and proof for my viewpoint.
Part One: Is there a God?
Perhaps there is no more immanent question to man than, “Why am I here?” followed up by, “Is there a god?” The question all too frequently goes something like this, “if there is a god, where is he?” This dilemma haunts us humans and has haunted us for thousands of years. However, it may haunt us more today than ever before. In modern times, we are considered a secular society. We are a society based on exclusive humanistic ideas: there is no god; we are our own gods; we know this because we are able to know everything as science has revealed the world and its mysteries to us. In other words, there is no need for god. But this has left us with a gaping hole in our hearts. Why am I here? What is my significance? Under the assumption of today’s secular ideas, you and I are simply a conglomerate of chemicals. My writing this right now is no more than the random functioning of chemicals towards some form of evolutionistic goal. My writing has no inherent reason or significance, or feeling. Yet, I write this now with a heart full of feelings. I have no goal towards my survival with this writing. On the contrary, my writing is potentially unpopular and, therefore, not focused on gain, i.e., survival.
My first defense for God is one based on logic: humanity cries out for there to be a god. Through the God of the Bible specifically, we find purpose and significance. Without a god, science and all of the philosophies of this world cannot offer full purpose or significance. We can find purpose in temporal things such as our pets, our children, and our work, but all of those things are temporary: pets die, children grow up, and work ends. There is no ultimate purpose. Significance is even harder to find. If all we are is a random mix of chemicals and we exist out of random causation, there is zero significance to any of life. This reality, if true, leads one into absolute depression. One can deny the depression, but it is inevitable. The dog without an owner is unhappy. Every dog needs a master to love him. Perhaps the comparison to a dog is not appreciated, but why care if we are all random? What makes us better than a dog for the dog is random, and so are we.
Our emotions, the fact that we have them, is unable to be explained or understood by science. We can “observe” emotions that another person speaks of, but we cannot empirically observe emotions. Therefore, science should be thrown out of the window, so to say, when it comes to the philosophy of life (existential philosophy). If you are with me thus far, you see the problem with modern-day secularism: I desire for something that no one and no science can provide me. I experience things that no one and no science can explain or empirically study. If others cannot provide the answer to permanent purpose and significance, if science is unable to do so, we need something greater than these things: we need a god.
We are now at a place where we see the need for a god. But because we see a need for one does not mean that there is, in reality, a god. The proof I will put forward for a god is simple. In my belief, it is the simplest truths and ideas that are frequently the most satisfying. The more complex the idea, the more open it is to argument. Without adieu, this is my argument for the existence of a god: when we look around us, we see order to the most minute detail, even to the atom. There is balance in our placement in the universe, in night and day. There is extraordinary complexity and harmony in our bodies. In other words, there is intelligent design. One cannot look at a sign that says, “Welcome to Ohio,” and think it was placed there randomly. This is not how we think. Therefore, why would we believe that this perfectly ordered world is not made by an intelligent designer?
So, there we have it, an intelligent designer: a god. But this does but little to satiate our curious minds. Who is god? Is there one god or many gods? Is god personal or ambivalent? Is it pseudo-man or machine or something else? We have answered a few questions but are left with many more. If we are to find the God of the Judeo-Christian Bible, we have a lot of work left to do. This work I will cover in the upcoming posts. The next post will be Who is God?