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Philosophy of Religion The philosophical study of religious beliefs, doctrines, and history. Focused more on the whole and not any certain Religion.. What is God? Theology - study of nature of God and religious truth. Theology uses documents, philosophy uses reason.

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Old 07-13-2008, 12:50 PM
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A proof of God's self-evidence

I have an argument that God is self-evident:

Aquinas said that, because "The Fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God'" (Ps 14:1, NASB), the existence of God is not self-evident (Summa Theologica, Question 2, Article 1). Well, if there is no God, why, pray tell, is there a word for Him? Every concept can be described by a word (or words), and every word (or words) describe a concept. My paraphrase of Proposition 7 of Wittgenstein's Tractatus. For all x(C(x)<->W(x)). There exists a word for God. Therefore, there must be an associated concept for that word "God", namely God. This merely proves that God exists as an idea in our minds. Going one step further, since according to Hume all ideas are images of sense impressions (An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, part 2), our idea of God is a dim copy of the real God, something that our finite minds can grasp. But where did that sense-impression come from? It could be as simple as Ps 19:1, NASB -- "The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands." The universe is simply too fine-tuned, complex, and delicate to be anything but the product of an omnipotent Designer, and our idea of Him is but a mere copy of our sense-impression of Him, which is but a mere image of Him as He really is. So therefore, not only does God exist, he is much more than our conception of him. QED.

Is my symbolic logic correct?

Can anyone analyze or refute this? Am I echoing another philosopher?

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Old 07-13-2008, 05:19 PM
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Re: A proof of God's self-evidence

Let me clarify "words": anything that is descriptive and not a proper noun. And I meant that ideas come from combinations of sense impressions.
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Old 07-13-2008, 05:25 PM
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Re: A proof of God's self-evidence

Divinity, no mind has held it, no tongue has soiled it.

All words are qualifications and/or limitations.

Is your God limited? Can you qualify God?
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Old 07-13-2008, 05:31 PM
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Re: A proof of God's self-evidence

My God, the God of the Bible has these qualifcations: He cannot do anything that would make Him not God --He can't will Himself out of existence, will His omnipotence away, etc.-- and He can't go against His nature of perfectly just, merciful, holy, and loving. Read RC Sproul's Essential Truths of the Christian Faith for more clarification.
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Old 07-13-2008, 05:36 PM
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Re: A proof of God's self-evidence

You need to get out more.
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Old 07-13-2008, 05:43 PM
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Re: A proof of God's self-evidence

I get that a lot. You're not the first one. And, this is the philosophy of religion forum, is it not, and discussing the existence of God is a valid topic, correct?

Here's something interesting the guys at the TheologyOnline forums said: A proof that God exists - Page 2 - Theology Forum | Theology Online
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Old 07-13-2008, 05:48 PM
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Re: A proof of God's self-evidence

"Reason is the enemy of faith." Martin Luther

German theologian who led the Reformation; believed that salvation is granted on the basis of faith rather than deeds (1483-1546)

The devil made me do it!!
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Old 07-13-2008, 06:44 PM
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Re: A proof of God's self-evidence

Explain Isaiah 43:26 then.
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Old 07-13-2008, 06:58 PM
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Re: A proof of God's self-evidence

The burdon of proof lies with the one staking the claim.!

Deliver up this God!

I'll not trouble you further, there are many like minded here for you to discuss your beliefs with. Some welcome the mans says, well, it is a philosphy site.
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Old 07-13-2008, 07:06 PM
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Re: A proof of God's self-evidence

Quote:
Originally Posted by boagie View Post
The burdon of proof lies with the one staking the claim.!

Deliver up this God!

I'll not trouble you further, there are many like minded here for you to discuss your beliefs with. Some welcome the mans says, well, it is a philosphy site.
You weren't troubling me! You were challenging me! I like this!
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