Re: [asa] Apologetics Conference

Certainly it's true that many people who argue for an eternal universe do so because they don't want to believe in divine creation (or in God - the 2 aren't exactly equivalent). However -

1) Even if one accepts the principle of sufficient recent (which one need not do) then the only conclusion that can follow from "The world had a beginning" is that something caused the world to have a beginning. Whether or not that cause should be labelled "God" is a separate question.

2) It is certainly not true (as some, both Christians and atheists imagine) that "The world did not have a beginning" implies "God does not exist."

Shalom
George
http://web.raex.com/~gmurphy/
  ----- Original Message -----
  From: Janice Matchett
  To: David Opderbeck ; D. F. Siemens, Jr.
  Cc: drsyme@cablespeed.com ; d.nield@auckland.ac.nz ; gbrown@euclid.colorado.edu ; dickfischer@verizon.net ; asa@calvin.edu
  Sent: Friday, November 17, 2006 9:13 AM
  Subject: Re: [asa] Apologetics Conference

  At 08:11 AM 11/17/2006, David Opderbeck wrote:

    "....It's a matter of consistency with other assertions, not a matter of proof. .." ~ David

  @ Exactly. If p, then q p therefore, q

  Until we add in personal bias / individual psychological make-up:

  Hypothetical argument:

  p = IF the world had a beginning, then q = God exists.
  p = The world had a beginning.
  q = Therefore, God exists.

  (The antecedent of a hypothetical statement is the "if" clause and the consequent is the "then" clause.)

  The world contains individuals who are more strongly committed to the falsity of the conclusion than they are to the truth of the antecedent.

  In such cases, it isn't enough that these individuals accept the logical connection between the antecedent and the consequent. Their rejection of the conclusion will lead them also to reject the antecedent, ie:

  If the world had a beginning, then God exists.
  But God does not exist.
  Therefore, it is false that the world had a beginning.

  If you like going in circles, hop in the boat with these one-armed-boat-rowers. :)

  ~ Janice

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Received on Fri Nov 17 09:49:54 2006