God
Outline · 2 ›
1.The existence of God and the arguments for it
Blaise Pascal, ThoughtsVol. 48
- p. 77–78Blindness of those who seek Him not proves God, as does the zeal of seekers.read · scan
- p. 84–85Wager that God is.read · scan
- p. 233–234Seeks whether God has left a sign of himself.read · scan
- p. 285–286If there is a God, faith in Him must exist on earth.read · scan
Blaise Pascal, Minor WorksVol. 48
- p. 395–396Either God exists and is the sovereign good, or is uncertain and so is the good.read · scan
1a.The argument from the idea of a perfect Being
Saint Augustine, The Confessions of St. AugustineVol. 7
- p. 84He holds that God exists and that human affairs are governed by Him.read · scan
- p. 85He believes God exists and cares for us, though ignorant of His substance and of the way to Him.read · scan
- p. 151–152They ascend from bodily things to the Self-same, God as Wisdom and Truth, source of all things.read · scan
Sir Walter Raleigh, Preface to the History of the WorldVol. 39
- p. 100Ancient philosophers converge on one eternal, infinite Being and Providence, called God; human reason ends in infinite powerread · scan
Thomas Hobbes, Of Man, Being the First Part of LeviathanVol. 34
- p. 374–375Inquiry into causes leads to belief in one eternal God, though men can have no idea of his nature.read · scan
- p. 377Belief in one eternal, infinite God derives from tracing causes to a first mover, not from fear; fear breeds many gods.read · scan
René Descartes, Discourse on the Method of Rightly Conducting the Reason and Seeking the Truth in the SciencesVol. 34
- p. 4The fourth part establishes the existence of God by reasoning.read · scan
- p. 29Argues God's existence: the idea of a more perfect Being cannot come from oneself, so a perfect Nature must have placed it in him.read · scan
- p. 31Existence is contained in the idea of a Perfect Being as equal angles are in a triangle; God's existence as certain as geometry.read · scan
- p. 32Certainty of clear and distinct ideas rests on God's existence and perfection; falsity comes from our imperfection.read · scan
John Milton, Paradise LostVol. 4
- p. 246–249Adam reasons from his existence to a great Maker and asks how to know and adore him.read · scan
Blaise Pascal, ThoughtsVol. 48
- p. 155–156Contingent existence of the thinking self points to a necessary Being.read · scan
George Berkeley, Three Dialogues Between Hylas and PhilonousVol. 37
- p. 232Philonous claims a direct demonstration of God's being from the existence of sensible things, which must be perceived by an infinite Mind.read · scan
- p. 234–235Ideas not of my making must exist in another Mind whose Will exhibits them to me; in God we live and move.read · scan
Immanuel Kant, Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysic of MoralsVol. 32
- p. 320The conception of God as supreme good derives from the a priori idea of moral perfection; Christ measured against the ideal.read · scan
Edmund Burke, A Philosophical Inquiry into the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and BeautifulVol. 24
- p. 103Chain of causes links to the throne of God, beyond human industry.read · scan
1b.The argument from the order and design of the world
Epictetus, The Golden Sayings of EpictetusVol. 2
- p. 140–141The harmonious order of the vast universe implies an Administrator, not blind chance.read · scan
Nicolaus Copernicus, Dedication of the Revolutions of the Heavenly BodiesVol. 39
- p. 53–55The universe is set up by the best and most law-abiding Architect of all things.read · scan
Sir Thomas Browne, Religio MediciVol. 3
- p. 265–266God as first cause whose wisdom and providence appear in nature's ordering, even in the smallest creatures.read · scan
William Penn, Some Fruits of SolitudeVol. 1
- p. 322Creation bears the mark of its Maker; eternal wisdom, power and goodness are visible in it.read · scan
- p. 324Considering the body's fabric would give a reverent sense of God's power, wisdom and goodness.read · scan
- p. 329The usefulness of common things shows the wisdom and goodness of the Lord of the world's family.read · scan
George Berkeley, Three Dialogues Between Hylas and PhilonousVol. 37
- p. 230Fixed laws are set by the unseen Author of nature; an all-perfect Mind is displayed in endless forms.read · scan
- p. 235–236From the variety and order of sensible impressions, Philonous infers an infinite Spirit, wise, powerful and good, as their author.read · scan
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Profession of Faith of a Savoyard VicarVol. 34
- p. 243A supreme disposer of all things, as Clarke describes, is the simplest, most consoling system, less absurd than rival ones.read · scan
- p. 248–249Conceives some force or hand that urges the sun or turns the earth.read · scan
- p. 249–250Asserts a Will animating all nature as his first article of faith.read · scan
- p. 251–252Regular laws of motion show intelligence, his second article of faith; such a being is seen in heavens, animals and falling stones.read · scan
- p. 252The visible arrangement and harmony of the universe display the supreme intelligence of its author, against the sophistry of combinations.read · scan
- p. 253Argues that the harmony of the whole implies an intelligent cause; blind matter could not produce thinking beings.read · scan
- p. 254–255Vicar infers a wise, powerful, good Being from the order of the world, yet cannot comprehend his essence.read · scan
Edmund Burke, A Philosophical Inquiry into the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and BeautifulVol. 24
- p. 40The Creator bound men by sympathy and strengthened the bond with delight where most needed.read · scan
- p. 78Providence displays wisdom and goodness by working infinite diversity from few similar organs.read · scan
- p. 85The wise and good Creator often joins beauty to useful things, yet this does not make them the same.read · scan
Robert Burns, Poems and SongsVol. 6
- p. 242–244Masonic invocation to powers who formed the frame of the world with beneficent aim, whose statute is order.read · scan
William Ellery Channing, On the Elevation of the Laboring ClassesVol. 28
- p. 324The universe was meant by God to stir thought; ordered harmony leads to veneration of the Infinite Father.read · scan
George Long, The Philosophy of AntoninusVol. 2
- p. 331Antoninus, like Socrates, infers the existence of divine powers from their works and the order of the universe, though the gods are unseen.read · scan
1c.Criticism of the arguments for God
See also: Nature 4d · Reasoning 6c · Cause 2e · Hypothesis 6a
Blaise Pascal, ThoughtsVol. 48
- p. 82Nature shows too much to deny God and too little to be sure; wishes nature testified clearly.read · scan
- p. 82–83It is incomprehensible that God should exist and equally that He should not.read · scan
- p. 84'God is, or He is not' cannot be settled by reason.read · scan
- p. 90Criticizes proving God from nature to infidels; only those with living faith see all existence as God's work.read · scan
- p. 91Nature proves God only for souls to whom God gives the light, not the majority.read · scan
- p. 173–174Metaphysical proofs of God are remote and fleeting; knowing God without a mediator breeds pride.read · scan
- p. 174Without the Mediator, God cannot be absolutely proved.read · scan
David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human UnderstandingVol. 37
- p. 390–391Even ascribing a miracle to an Almighty Being does not make it more probable, since His attributes are known only through nature's course.read · scan
- p. 395Denying providence and a future state undermines not society; religious philosophers' design argument from the universe's order is granted for argument's sake.read · scan
- p. 396The design argument from nature's order to a divine workman is granted but limited to what the effects justify.read · scan
- p. 396–397Gods as authors of the universe possess only the power, intelligence and benevolence visible in their work; further attributes are exaggeration.read · scan
- p. 397–398Philosophers' gods, imagined as perfectly wise and benevolent, are offspring of the brain; gods must fit the imperfect present appearances of nature.read · scan
- p. 398–399The religious hypothesis only accounts for phenomena and yields no inference about further facts; the gods' power and benevolence are presumed.read · scan
- p. 399Divine existence may be granted but nothing about the cause can be known beyond what appears in the effect.read · scan
- p. 400Denies we can ascribe to the gods attributes or purposes beyond what the present world exhibits; the idea of deity should match observed phenomena.read · scan
- p. 401Inferring a superior intelligence ordering the universe and a more finished plan in another time or place.read · scan
- p. 403The Deity, known only by his productions and unique, permits inference only of attributes exactly proportioned to observed effects.read · scan
- p. 403–404We wrongly reason from human intentions to those of a remote, incomprehensible Supreme Being; ascribing unseen perfections is flattery, not sound philosophy.read · scan
- p. 405The universe is a unique effect and the Deity a unique cause, so the argument for a Deity faces difficulty.read · scan
- p. 410–411Appealing to God's veracity to prove the senses is a strange circuit, since the external world's doubt undermines proof of God.read · scan
John Stuart Mill, AutobiographyVol. 25
- p. 29–31Mill's father held the origin of the world unknowable; 'Who made God?' undermines a creator answer, and believers' worship is of their own ideal, not the God they imagine.read · scan
- p. 47Deism's worship of the order of Nature and Providence is criticized as contradictory and morally perverting.read · scan
Charles Darwin, The Origin of SpeciesVol. 11
- p. 184Questions whether the Creator works by intellectual powers like man's; the Creator's works surpass man's.read · scan
- p. 199Sets the Creator's purposes beyond the scope of scientific discussion.read · scan
- p. 296Questions why a designing power would permit hybrids then stop them by irregular sterility.read · scan
- p. 433Questions naturalists' claim that classification reveals the Creator's plan, saying it adds nothing to knowledge unless specified.read · scan
1d.Atheism and the denial of God
See also: Religion 3d
The Book of JobVol. 44
- p. 102–103The wicked say to God 'Depart from us' and ask what profit there is in serving the Almighty.read · scan
The Book of PsalmsVol. 44
- p. 153The wicked deny or scorn God, believing he has forgotten; the psalmist calls on him as king and helper of the fatherless.read · scan
- p. 156–158The fool says there is no God; Jehovah looks down to see who seeks him; the psalmist takes refuge in God as his only good.read · scan
- p. 206–207The fool says there is no God; God looks down on men, destroys the wicked, and saves his people.read · scan
Plato, The Apology of SocratesVol. 2
- p. 16Socrates insists he believes in gods, since belief in divine offspring implies the existence of the gods.read · scan
Virgil, The AeneidVol. 13
- p. 152–165Dido accuses him of making heaven accessory, doubting gods care for human fate.read · scan
Epictetus, The Golden Sayings of EpictetusVol. 2
- p. 126Five views on the gods, from denial to universal providence; Socrates cries 'I move not without Thy knowledge'.read · scan
Pliny the Younger, Letters of PlinyVol. 9
- p. 288Some lift hands to the gods, but most believe there are no gods and that final night has come.read · scan
Dante Alighieri, HellVol. 20
- p. 45Violence against God includes denying and blaspheming him in the heart.read · scan
- p. 57–58Capaneus defies Jove and blasphemes; Virgil says his unquenched pride is his own worst punishment.read · scan
- p. 58Capaneus holds God in disdain and sets His omnipotence at naught.read · scan
Francis Bacon, Essays, Civil and MoralVol. 3
- p. 42Bacon would rather believe all legends than that the universal frame lacks a mind; God's ordinary works refute atheism.read · scan
- p. 42Atheism is more on the lip than in the heart; even savages have the notion of God, siding against atheists.read · scan
Christopher Marlowe, The Tragical History of Doctor FaustusVol. 19
- p. 218–219Faustus claims God loves him not; the god he serves is his own appetite.read · scan
- p. 224–227Mephistophilis refuses to say who made the world; Faustus vows never to name God or pray to him.read · scan
Thomas Hobbes, Of Man, Being the First Part of LeviathanVol. 34
- p. 402The fool also says there is no God, removing fear of divine punishment.read · scan
René Descartes, Discourse on the Method of Rightly Conducting the Reason and Seeking the Truth in the SciencesVol. 34
- p. 47Denying God's existence is the gravest error, already refuted.read · scan
Blaise Pascal, ThoughtsVol. 48
- p. 69God will reproach those, like Miton, who are untroubled.read · scan
- p. 73Denial of a God who watches our actions offers no ground for confidence.read · scan
Blaise Pascal, Minor WorksVol. 48
- p. 391Montaigne attacks atheists who judge the infinite Being without revelation.read · scan
John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's ProgressVol. 15
- p. 137–138Atheist denies the heavenly city Christian affirms, disputing God's promised world to come.read · scan
John Dryden, Dedication of the AeneisVol. 13
- p. 29–30Cudworth's objections against God and Providence mentioned as a case of fairly stating the adverse party.read · scan
David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human UnderstandingVol. 37
- p. 407–408Notes many proofs of a Deity and refutations of atheists, though hardly anyone is truly a speculative atheist.read · scan
Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Profession of Faith of a Savoyard VicarVol. 34
- p. 276–277Without God the wicked man reasons rightly and the good man is a fool; God is the centre of moral order.read · scan
Robert Burns, Poems and SongsVol. 6
- p. 204–205Offending Deity is worse than atheist laughterread · scan
Alessandro Manzoni, I Promessi Sposi (The Betrothed)Vol. 21
- p. 321–322The Unnamed, who lived as though God did not exist, hears within him 'Nevertheless, I am' and sees His laws as bound to be fulfilled.read · scan
Thomas Carlyle, CharacteristicsVol. 25
- p. 344The Divinity has withdrawn; an iron circle of Necessity replaces Godhead, leaving youth thrall or rebel.read · scan
George Long, The Philosophy of AntoninusVol. 2
- p. 334Apparent disorders do not warrant hasty conclusions against God's existence and providence.read · scan
Ralph Waldo Emerson, WorshipVol. 5
- p. 276–277Richard I taunts God for forsaking him, and Chaucer confuses heaven and earth; modern journals say the question of God lacks actuality.read · scan
Elizabeth Barrett Browning, PoemsVol. 41
- p. 931–932Atheists who cannot sense God unseen are compared to her not sensing her beloved before meeting him.read · scan
Richard Henry Dana, Jr., Two Years Before the MastVol. 23
- p. 102Captain blasphemously says Jesus Christ cannot help the flogged man, only the captain.read · scan
Thomas Edward Brown, PoemsVol. 42
- p. 1148The gardener rebukes the fool who denies God; the speaker's garden is a sign that God walks there.read · scan
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