Proof God Exists Why Or How Is It Even Relevant To Us?

I was asked a question recently: “If God exists why or how is it even relevant to us? Why does it even matter?”

While a person asking you this may be intentionally trying to belittle what you believe, or perhaps even demeaning your intelligence, nevertheless at the heart of this question is a valid concern. Let’s explore that concern and see if we can understand it a little better. Once you do, perhaps you’ll be able to build a bridge between someone’s life of antipathy towards God and their need for a relationship with Him. In this article I’m going to attempt a difficult task. I’m going to try to prove that the God of universe is not only real, but do so using only philosophy.

Why does it matter if I believe in God?

Sure, Christians are always trying to convert people to their beliefs but that’s because they believe in a personal God, Heaven and Hell, the great judgment against sin, etc. But what about all of the other religions, like Hinduism or Buddhism for example, that speak about God more as a transcendent, unknowable, unconscious being or life essence? What if they are right about the nature of God? In that case, maybe it doesn’t matter what we think, believe, or feel to be true. What if God isn’t relevant to human beings unless we want him to be?

Is there any reason to believe in ANY GOD AT ALL without even reading the Bible or some other religious book? Some type of evidence that one could arrive at based just on experiential evidence alone or basic philosophical thought that even a child could arrive at without any external influence from other people, religion, politics, etc?

I’ve thought about this and I’d like to share with you a few thoughts that you could share when you’re asked this question by someone or talking with someone who feels as though it doesn’t really matter. And for those non-religious types, I wanted to construct an argument that is purely philosophical without using ANY Bible verses or Christian teachings. They don’t believe in the Bible or even in organized religion so we can’t begin there and use sources that they don’t believe to be authoritative anyway to prove our point. We must begin where they are right now. And assuming you’ve already ruled out other concerns (belief in evolution, abuse in the name of religion, personal attacks by other Christians, heart issues like a hatred of God, etc.) we must begin with philosophy.

No religion talk.. let’s just get philosophical!

Let’s say there are many gods, as was thought by many ancient religions. If there were proven to be many gods then we would be wise to appeal to each of them for favors in whatever they have dominion over in our reality.

However, since these many gods would’ve laid waste to humanity for worshipping the non-gods or different gods we now do, I think its safe to make the assumption that many of the gods of the past weren’t actually gods at all. They would’ve certainly made themselves known over the last few millennium. Or, perhaps these gods do still exist, and would therefore have desired to make themselves known, but over the past 2,000 or so years a stronger being has suppressed and silenced them to a great degree. Even so, it would still be in our best interest and be wiser to worship whatever stronger being who also desires our worship, rather than those inferior beings that are subject to his authority and power.

Either way, since no gods of dominion can be evidenced or proven, then we owe our universe, life, existence and pleasure to whatever god gave us our life and these other things in life to enjoy. Assuming that a person is reasonable enough to already be convinced (or willing to consider) that it is a scientific impossibility for everything to come from nothing, then SOMETHING outside of space and time caused there to become space and time, as well as everything within space and time, including all of us living beings. It will be our job to argue that this “something” is god – and then to at a later point argue that this god MUST be the God of Christianity.

Logical Presupposition

Whatever causes something to begin to exist has to be exceedingly greater than its creation. If you begin with nothing, and nothing happens upon it, it is illogical to think it might eventually become something. Its illogical to think that an utter absence of information can somehow produce information. Further, its illogical that complexity can come out of simplicity, intelligence can come out of brainlessness, or meaningful organization can come out of utter chaos. One plus one will never equal 500 million. An intelligence so low that it cannot comprehend one plus one equaling two will never comprehend algebra or newtonian physics. If we fill up a box with various colored marbles and dump it onto the floor so that they all scatter they won’t eventually organize themselves based on color. Whatever we can observe and conclude about the universe and our origins and existence must be explainable, and adhere to, these basic principles of logic and reason.

Let’s consider this logically and chronologically:

1. If we exist,

   and it is illogical that we created ourselves, then it is reasonable to conclude that we owe our existence to a Creator who created us to exist. Natural evolutionists may assert that life originally existed as a very basic single cell, or less just some amino acids, and then in an effort to survive gradually evolved through natural selection to where we are now living creatures with, in the case of humans 37.2 trillion cells. But this has multiple, serious philosophical flaws. For one, why do the laws in the universe desire life at all? And if life did exist why does it care to keep existing? And even further, why does life, that desires to keep existing, even desire to, let alone have the ability to, become more advanced? And finally, even if all this were explainable why do the natural laws (and materials) support it?

   The original argument that we evolved only makes sense if you start from where we are right now and look backwards making lots of assumptions. It makes no sense from the other way around, from ground zero, but this is precisely where it all started. Even if we grant that all things are possible (which they aren’t) – but even if they were, just because something is possible doesn’t mean its probable. Just because something is possible doesn’t mean that its reasonable. It is much more reasonable to conclude that we owe our existence to a Creator who himself existed who created us to also exist.

2. If we think,

   and it is illogical to assert that an unthinking universe, or an unthinking supreme being/essence can create thinking beings, then our Creator must also be a thinking being.

3. If we are personal,

   and can relate to and interact relationally with other personal beings, and it is illogical to assert that an impersonal being can create personal beings, then our Creator must also be a personal being.

4. If we feel,

   and can have a wide range of inner emotions, even those that conflict with each other at times, and it is illogical to assert that an unfeeling being can create feeling beings, then our Creator must also be a feeling being.

5. If we love,

   and can both give love and receive love, and it is illogical to assert that an unloving being, incapable of giving or receiving love, can create loving beings that can, then our Creator must also be a loving being capable of both giving and receiving love.

6. If we can recognize good and evil,

   and can discern that there is both good and evil within ourselves, and in others, and in the world; and we recognize that our desire to do good for others, or to fight evil for others, sometimes trumps our desire for our own self-preservation or our thoughts or our feelings; then we must conclude that we live in a world where there is good and evil, good and evil beings, and good and evil outcomes.

7. If we can be just,

   and can recognize what is good about justice, and can hate injustice, then we must ponder where this sense of justice comes from. Though it is subjective and we may not agree at times about what is just and what is unjust, we nevertheless still hold that somewhere there exists an objective standard of morality. The very existence of laws, of justice, of right and wrong action, and the notion that living beings have certain, unalienable rights, even those based on circumstances, demand that we are always evaluating and adjusting what is just and unjust, what is right and what is wrong. And since it is illogical to assert that an unjust being can create just beings, then our Creator must be a just being.

8. If we desire meaning and purpose,

   and even if it were possible for us to evolve from nothing, (or from extremely simple life) into something, it would be for living itself. It would be devoid of any deeper meaning or purpose than that – to merely survive to exist. But we do have a desire for more than just existence and survival. We seek transcendent meaning, happiness, fulfillment, pleasure, sacrificial love, connection with others, connection with the spiritual. We seek wisdom and meaningful purpose and to leave a legacy behind, and so much more. It is therefore reasonable to conclude that we owe our existence to a Creator who created us with a desire for meaning and purpose so that we may also share in the enjoyment of seeking, discovering, and fulfilling our meaning and purpose.

   Additionally, we must also acknowledge that if:

   1. The Creator gave to us, his creation, a desire for meaning and purpose
   2. Therefore he must already possess, himself, his own meaning and purpose
   3. Since the Creator decided to intentionally create us
   4. Then he must, therefore, have his own meaning and purpose for creating us

   Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that the reason the Creator created us, and gave to us our own individual desires for meaning and purpose, is ultimately a part of his plan that accomplishes HIS OWN meaning and purpose.

Philosophical Conclusions

Therefore, if we exist, think, are personal, can love, can recognize good and evil, can be just, and desire purpose, then our Creator must be an existent, thinking, personal, loving, just God with his own purpose.

1. Purpose –

   If the Creator had his own purpose for creating us, and created us to desire our own purpose, then its reasonable to conclude that he must desire our purpose to be aligned with his purpose. It is illogical to think that he created us to desire a purpose that goes against his purpose for creating us.

2. Thinking –

   If the Creator created us to think, to understand logic and reason, and to have a creative imagination and reasoning capacity capable of understanding the uniqueness of ourselves, the wonders of life itself and all of creation, and to seek to understand the wonders of their origins and the deeper meaning of life. Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that he wants us to think about Him and his purpose for us.

3. Personal –

   If the Creator created us to be personal, and to be able to relate to not only other people but also animals, nature, and all of creation then He must want us to relate to those things. However, by creating thinking, rational, logical beings that also desire meaning and purpose, love, goodness, and justice He made us capable of relating to more than just the natural. As beings that can think with not only logic and reason capability, but also imagination, creativity, and exploration. These qualities coalesce to create a being not only capable of thinking about the meaning of life, creation, death, justice, love, the afterlife, but a driven inclination to explore these things. And when personal beings driven by a purpose seek to understand and relate to the mysterious we seek a personal connection to this as well: a personal spiritual connection to the supernatural. Therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that He must want us to have a personal, spiritual relationship with Him.

4. Loving –

   If the Creator created us to:

   a. accomplish His purposes by creating us,
   b. desire our own purpose that also aligns with His purpose,
   c. be not only capable of, but intrinsically motivated to, think deeply about other things,
   d be not only capable of, but intrinsically motivated to, personally connect with other things,
   e. be not only capable of, but intrinsically motivated to, give and receive love to other things,
   f. and if the Creator also has Himself, highly esteems these attributes (purpose, thinking, personal connection, and giving and receiving love), and desired His creation, that He made to fulfill His purposes, to also possess to also possess and be driven by these attributes, then it is reasonable to conclude that He wants us to give love and to receive love from Him.

5. Good & Evil –

   If the Creator created us to recognize good and evil; and to think, personally connect with, and love others—and therefore to hate evil that hurts others and causes suffering—and He shares these same attributes with us, and esteems them highly, then it is reasonable to conclude that He must also hate evil that hurts others and causes suffering.

6. Justice –

   If the Creator created us to be just, and to love justice, and to hate injustice, then He must also love justice and hate injustice. The Creator is the originator of justice and the creator of morality in His created beings. And since our sense of morality fluctuates based on culture, thoughts, emotions, desires, etc. and can often be self-serving then it is reasonable to conclude that His sense of justice and morality is higher than ours, as His is not biased. He is above and higher than all of creation so there is no higher standard than His own. And even if He were to be biased, and choose to pardon one from committing an injustice, while condemning another for committing the exact same injustice, it would ultimately be just still, as both had committed the injustice. It would only be injustice to condemn an innocent person, or to not even trial at all and have utter apathy for those who commit injustice. The Creator may choose to have His own criteria with with He chooses to give unmerited favor and forgiveness to some (grace) while allowing others to receive the full penalty for their crimes. This is just, as there is no injustice in forgiveness – not when you are the highest and more unbiased judge. There is also no higher court. Since the Creator loves justice and hates injustice then WE WILL BE punished for the things we do in our lifetime that hurt others and cause suffering. For us to just cease to exist after we die would be a violation of our logical principle. Those who commit great injustice in this life CANNOT just die without receiving punishment for their crimes. This would be injustice. Therefore, BECAUSE God is just, and some who commit great injustice in their lifetime do not receive justice and equal punishment during their lifetime, then it is reasonable to conclude that justice and punishment for the crimes committed in ones lifetime MUST come after we die.

Conclusion

Therefore, it would be then of EXTREME IMPORTANCE AND RELEVANCE to establish a thinking, loving, personal relationship with God. The second most reason we exist would be FOR this very purpose. This is the second most reason we were created: TO KNOW AND LOVE GOD and have a personal relationship with Him.

However, the ABSOLUTE AND HIGHEST REASON, above even knowing and loving God, that we were created is to BRING GLORY TO GOD. Think about it. God created us to be living, thinking, personal, loving, just, and purposeful beings. These are attributes He has Himself that are good that He endowed us with so that we may become more like Him. But if God esteems these attributes, then who would embody the absolute highest and best of each one of these attributes? Who or what would be the absolute perfection for any and everything that is good in all of existence? It would be God Himself, of course!

God knows that He is the highest and best of any and everything and therefore deserves all glory from every lesser thing. Even those things that do not think or talk (for example all the stars in the heavens) still give their glory to God – because they are His creation, they are what He imagined and formed, and they are a reflection of Him. When we worship those stars as if they themselves are gods, it dishonors Him. But if we worship God as one so marvelous that He can create the stars, we bring Him glory. First because the star gives Him glory, and secondly because we do.

I said earlier that God has a purpose, and this is God’s ultimate purpose – to glorify Himself. This might sound selfish but who else deserves the highest glory? We have a new baby, or get married, or get a promotion, or win an award, or stop a tragedy, those around us give us praise. They celebrate us, they give us glory, for our accomplishment. We receive glory from both the award itself and the praise of our peers. But is it not God who has given us our existence and our intellect and our skills and the very ability to accomplish any of those things? Does not everything begin with Him?

If my child were to do great things they would get some glory for those things, however wouldn’t their success come forth from my efforts? My child’s existence, the good parenting, discipline, and character-building when they were younger were things I had a part in that helped them become what they became and do what they’ve accomplished. While a lesser part, this is so much greater when it comes to God because He sustains all of creation. He didn’t only create it and leave it. He governs it. He takes care of it. He answers prayer. He intervenes. He guides and helps and motivates people and events to happen.

So, knowing the two reasons why God created us, to bring God glory and to know Him and love Him, gives us a rule for how we should live our lives and align our purpose with His purpose. We would also want to live in a loving, just way towards others, and seek to understand and live by the laws of justice based on God’s standard, rather than our own or society’s standard. If He will be our judge we need to know what He determines to be good and evil. In fact, given that we were created for the very purpose of knowing God and serving His purposes, our denial of Him and His purpose would be quite unjust and evil. If you really consider the two reasons why He created us is it not more evil to deny Him than even to murder? God can give life back, but He cannot (chooses not to) make you love Him or love His purpose.

For ultimate human happiness and fulfillment it is reasonable to conclude that we should rely on the closeness of our relationship with God, and our desire to please Him, and rest in His love and mercy and grace towards us, to forgive us of those times when we will fall short and inevitably hurt others or bring dishonor to Him.

In the end, everything that happens (whether good or bad) will ultimately contribute to the glory God receives from creating the creation the way He did and intervening in it the way He has. That which gives Him glory will continue to forever do so. That which dishonors Him will ultimately give Him glory when He judges it with His sovereign justice and takes His wrath out upon it. We can find assurance in the fact that God is loving and just, so whatever happens will eventually show great justice and great love. Let that motivate us to walk this journey alongside Him, for His purposes, and learn to become more like Him, as we discover great depths to our own purpose.