The Existence of God

Introduction

Naturally, human beings have instincts that push them to find reasons behind phenomena which knowledge cannot explain. These mysteries seem to point at the existence of a supernatural being known as God which can be the only probable answer to the many questions that linger the mind of the human race. Several philosophers have dedicated much of their time trying to prove either the existence or non-existence of God. Anselm and Pascal are among the philosophers that have attempted to prove God’s existence (Williams 2007). This essay argues for the existence of God while using the contributions made by both Pascal and Anselm as the basis of its arguments. The paper criticizes the position taken by Sam Harris in which he tends to disapprove the existence of God as evident in his argument with Warren in “The God Debate”.

Arguments

Pascal’s Wager is an argument that seeks to justify the existence of God with regards to self-interest rather than appealing to evidence to prove the point. The argument attempts to justify the faith of Christians by outlining consequences that would possibly arise from believing or disbelieving in God of Christianity. If we believe in God of Christians, then greater is our reward in heaven in case this God truly exists, but we have nothing or little to lose if we have a belief in Christian God yet he does not exist. On the other hand, if we do not believe in God yet he exists, then we cannot escape the wrath of this God which is damnation in hell, but we will gain nothing or little if he does not exist. Gauging on balance, one who believes in the God of Christians is better placed than the other who chooses not to believe in him.

That is, a believer is better placed as he can either receive God’s reward, lose nothing or little as compared to the fate of a non-believer who can gain little or nothing and the worst can suffer God’s wrath in hell. At this point we can expressly say that even if God of Christians does not exist, believing him still remains a rational course of action. It is of great importance that we exercise our belief in God of Christians so as to be safe in all circumstances. Surely, all of us ought to believe that Christian God exists (Holt 2008).

In his attempt to prove the existence of God, Anselm employs a method known as “Faith seeking understanding”. He defines God as he who is exceedingly great and no greater being to him can be conceived. If a particular individual has this concept that there is no one greater than God exists, then he exists in the understanding of such an individual. Essentially, this means that the concept of God’s existence resides in minds of human beings. It is possible that God is a being and therefore in reality he might be in existence. That is, since the concept of God in our minds lacks internal contradiction, it is possible that God exists. Whatever exists in reality is considered to be much greater than that which exists in the mind or understanding alone.

At the same time, what exists in our minds alone might have been in existence in reality as well and the same might have been greater. The reason is that perfect is the one which exists in real sense. The argument is therefore that if God exists only as a concept in the human mind rather than reality, then he is not perfect and someone greater than he is possible. It seem ridiculous since God is defined to have no greater being then he is. Moreover, this is a contradiction of the common knowledge and therefore the perception that God exists only in understanding and not reality is false. Thus, God exists both in our understanding as well as in reality. The above study clearly depicts God as a perfect being and therefore proves that God exists. There is no doubt in this because a being can only be considered as God if the same exists in all circumstances. God whose existence spans only a few circumstances, but fails in others is a being that is less perfect (Williams 2007).

The position taken by Harris in the “God debate” and in “Christian” by Pastor Warren, is quite misplaced. Harris argues that God do not exist and asserts that all men are atheists. His argument portrays an individual who knows the truth but adamantly refuses to live by it. Although he accepts that scientists only understand a fraction of the universe, he denies the existence of a supreme being behind these mysteries. He seems to suggest that he would believe God exists if the Bible would contain all that is about human life and the universe. Harris does not believe in the creation theory, on the contrary, he believes in the evolution theory. However, it is true that evolution by natural selection has never given a satisfactory explanation on the coming into being of living things. Harris argues that answered prayers can become the only evidence of the existence of God. Being a supreme creature, God must not implement the mind of men so as to prove his existence (Harris, and Warren 2007).

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is a fact that almost everyone has questioned the existence of God at some point in life, in most cases when things fail to work out in the way they expect. Despite this, nearly everything that surrounds men seems to originate from God. In fact, we do not have to read religious books to know that God exists, his works form part of our lives and whoever refutes this, only lives in denial.