The Existence of God 2

The Existence of God 2   

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How can God’s existence be rationally demonstrated? According to Saint Thomas Aquinas, 13^{th century philosopher and theologian and doctor of the Church, there are essentially five ways. I’ve been most persuaded by the third way, which goes a little something like this:}

Everything that exists must be either contingent or necessary. In other words, everything that exists must be such that it either has to exists, or such that it happens to exists but could, in the future or in the past, not exist. If we consult observation, everything we see in front of us fall into the second category. That is, it is logically possible for everything in the natural world, every tree, every person, every hillside, even the Earth itself, not to exist.

But here’s the thing: if everything we see I front of us contingent and has the logical possibility of not existing, that must mean that the existence of the entire natural universal is contingent as well. But this existence must therefore contingent on something. If it is merely contingent on some other contingent being, than what is that thing contingent on?

In order to avoid an infinite regress of contingent things, we must admit the existence of something whose existence is necessary, that is, something which cannot exist. This, Saint Thomas says, everyone understands to be God.

Are you confused? If so, let me try to explain it in the simplest possible terms: The universe does not have to exist. But it does exist. Therefore, there must be some answer to the question of why it exists. God is the only logically plausible answer to this question.