(The information in this article is taken from interviews with Dr. William Lane Craig.)
1) God is the best explanation of the origin of the universe.
Watch these animated videos:
See the following explanations:
- Modern science believes that the universe isn't eternal in the past but has a beginning a finite time ago. See also The Big-Bang Model Revealed.
- All matter, energy, but also space and time, came into being in this beginning. It means that the universe came out of nothing. But out
of nothing, nothing can come without a cause. It's then reasonable that a transcendent
cause brought the universe into existence. One explanation has been that through
quantum mechanics, particles can be created from
quantum fluctuations in quantum vacuum, without a cause. But
quantum vacuum isn't nothing, it gets weaker with time and isn't
the origin of the universe. Quantum vacuum has a beginning in itself. - Why did the origin of the universe occur? What created the universe?
This points to a transcendent cause for the universe as the best explanation. A transcendent cause of the universe must be:
o Not-caused.
o Non-physical.
o Intangible.
o Non-temporal (timeless).
o Changeless.
o Powerful.
o A personal agent who freely chooses to create a new effect
without any predetermined conditions.
without any predetermined conditions.
2) God is the best explanation for the fine-tuning
of the
universe for intelligent life.
Watch the animated video: The fine-tuning of the Universe.
See the following explanations:
- The complex order of the universe points to an intelligent designer.
- The number of subatomic particles in the entire known
universe is
about 10⁸⁰. The following examples of fine-tuning requires
some sort of explanation, the best being a personal agent:
o In order for the universe to allow life, the gravity and week force
in the atom must be fine-tuned to the precision of 1∕10¹⁰⁰.
in the atom must be fine-tuned to the precision of 1∕10¹⁰⁰.
o The cosmological constant governing the accelerating expansion
of the universe is fine-tuned to the precision of 1∕10¹²⁰.
of the universe is fine-tuned to the precision of 1∕10¹²⁰.
o Roger Penrose, a well-known physicist, has estimated the
odds that the initial low-entropy state of the early universe would achieve by chance only to 1∕10^10¹²³ (1 chance out of 10 to the 10¹²³ power).
- There are three possible explanations for the fine-tuning of the universe:
o Physical necessity.
It depends on the laws of nature.
But there is nothing in the laws of nature that requires
these constants to have these values for life to exist.
But there is nothing in the laws of nature that requires
these constants to have these values for life to exist.
o Pure
coincidence only.
The chance that the laws of nature allow life is too small to be feasible.
The chance that the laws of nature allow life is too small to be feasible.
o Product
of intelligent design.
The only rational and remaining option.
The only rational and remaining option.
Many persons see the
fine-tuning of the universe as the most powerful proof
of God's existence ever to come out of science.
of God's existence ever to come out of science.
3) God is the best explanation of the existence
of objective
moral values and duties.
Watch these videos:
- Can Atheists be "Good" Without God? (from time 0:13)
- Can We Be Good Without God? Dr. William Lane Craig
- Atheists Trying to Have Their Cake and Eat It Too on Morality
(see especially time 12:44–15:34)
See the following explanations:
- If God doesn't exist, it's impossible to find an objective standard
of right and wrong, good and evil. - According to a naturalistic, atheistic view, there are
no objective moral values and duties, but they still exist.
God is the best foundation for these moral values and duties.
4) God is the best explanation for the historical facts
about Jesus of Nazareth.
If Jesus really rose from the dead, he must be who he claims to be.
This means that God has publicly confirmed his claims, and that God must exist.
This means that God has publicly confirmed his claims, and that God must exist.
5) God can be personally known and experienced.
For many people, God isn't an idea that has been assumed by the mind,
but an experienced reality that gives meaning to their lives.
This can be achieved in the following ways:
but an experienced reality that gives meaning to their lives.
This can be achieved in the following ways:
- Pray. Ask God to to prove to you that he exists.
- Read but also study the Bible, first and foremost about
Jesus’ life in the gospels in the New Testament. - Ask yourself if Jesus can be who he claims to be, could he have been God incarnate? Is it possible to come into a personal relationship with God?
- Make a commitment to Christ that you believe in him as your Savior
and Lord, that he was God incarnated, and that he rose from the dead.
Ask Jesus to come into your life, that he forgives you of your sins,
and that he makes you the person he wants you to be, see Salvation.
Summary.
Apostle Paul wrote: "For what can be known about God is plain to them,
because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely,
his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived,
ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.
So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened." (Rom 1:19–21). See also What is Information?
King David wrote: "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard." (Psalm 19:1–3 (2–4 in some translations)).
See also Scientific Proofs of the Bible.
