Divine Existence Proven by Reason Alone
Offline Of Necessity and Deity
A god is a being which exists without owing its existence to another being (that is, a self-existent being). Any god must be able to serve as the source of existence (e.g. its own) (by definition of self-existent).
QUESTION - Whether there is a god.
PRIMARY ASSUMPTION – The Law of Contradiction holds true universally; a thing cannot both “be” and “not be”, in the same manner and at the same time.
PRIMARY PRAXIS – If the conclusion to a line of thought violates the Law of Contradiction, it will be discarded (because to violate that Law is to reject its universal command, which we have assumed).
1. For a universe to exist, a god must exist. Because...
Whether a universe self-exists or exists without self-existing, it follows that a god exists. Because...
-If it self-exists, a god exists, as it itself is a god (by definition of god).
-If it does not self-exist, but still exists, a god exists. Because...
--If it exists by another (or, others), there must be an ultimate and self-existent “other”. Because...
---There is a result (namely, a universe that exists without self-existing).
---Any result requires an ultimate cause (by definition of result) (and an ultimate cause must be self-existent by definition of ultimate).
--It does exist by another (or, others) (by definition of exist without self-existing).
---To exist without self-existing is to exist by another (or, others) (by definition of self)
--Therefore, an ultimate “other” exists which self-exists.
---This is a god (by definition of god).
- An existent universe must either self-exist or not – there are no other alternatives.
- Therefore, there is no option that does not require self-existence (and, thus, deity).
2. A universe exists – there are no other alternatives. Because...
For something to be an alternative, it must exist.
-Otherwise it would “be” (namely, an alternative) without “being” in the first place, which is a contradiction – following praxis, we will disregard such ideas.
Nonexistence does not exist (by definition of nonexistence).
Therefore, something exists – and the existence of something constitutes a universe.
3. Therefore, a god exists.
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I don't have a deep, thought-provoking signature......but I do love chocolate!
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I don't know if the argument goes that far. It's even more limited. In another post, the statement was that if a god were to exist, it would be its own universe. That's not necessarily our universe, and it's entirely hypothetical. I've seen the argument before, but I can't remember where.
It's difficult to take it seriously though, as it may or may not have to do with our universe ... which describes its relevance.
Saint Will: no gyration without funkstification.
fabulae! nil satis firmi video quam ob rem accipere hunc mi expediat metum. - Terence
Yes, that's what he might say.
Hamby: I didn't even think that was a trap until it was sprung, did you?
Saint Will: no gyration without funkstification.
fabulae! nil satis firmi video quam ob rem accipere hunc mi expediat metum. - Terence
Please note that your question is whether or not there exists a being which exists without owing its existence to another being. All you have to do is produce such a being.
In fact, it's not even a "being", since you've dispensed with consciousness. It's just "something". So you're attempting to prove that there exists something can "self-exist". My point is that pantheism isn't being discussed here, and your definition is misleading.
If, in fact, self-existence is possible, which you have not demonstrated.
"Where did the universe come from?" is a legitimate question, and a fascinating mystery. Equating the universe with an entity arbitrarily in order to prove that the entity exists isn't helpful in answering the question.
Saint Will: no gyration without funkstification.
fabulae! nil satis firmi video quam ob rem accipere hunc mi expediat metum. - Terence
Your definition of 'being' omits a critical attribute, self awareness. If it isn't self aware, then an object is not a being.
For your argument to be valid, you must also show that the universe is self aware, otherwise it could be an un-caused OBJECT, not a being.
LC >;-}>
Christianity: A disgusting middle eastern blood cult, based in human sacrifice, with sacraments of cannibalism and vampirism, whose highest icon is of a near naked man hanging in torment from a device of torture.
I'm still curious on what grounds you're basing that the universe doesn't self-exist. Besides, I thought God was the universe.... I'm confused with all this equivocation.