Robert Lawrence Kuhn (host of PBS' "Closer to Truth") asks philosopher and theologian William Lane Craig about whether God's existence can be demonstrated or not. Questions explored: Can you demonstrate God's existence mathematically? Does an argument have to convince everybody in order for it to be valid? What are some of the best arguments for God's existence? What is the Cosmological Argument? What is Leibniz's argument for God's existence? Does the contingency argument depend on a universe having a beginning? What is the Teleological Argument? What is meant by Fine-Tuning and Intelligent Design? Can the universe be "designed" by chance? What is the moral argument for God? Is the moral argument just an assumption? What is the difference between an assumption and intuition? Do all cultures really have different morals? What is meant by "objective morality"? How does Jesus' resurrection demonstrate God's existence? What are some of the evidences of Jesus' death that the majority of historical scholars agree with? What is the ontological argument? What is meant by necessary existence? What is meant by possible worlds? Are religious experiences philosophically valid? Does everything must have evidence (and arguments) prior to acceptance? Can you disprove with arguments and evidences that you are nothing more than a brain in a vat? Can you disprove with arguments and evidences that you were just made five minutes ago with built-in memories that gave you the illusion of being made longer than that? What is meant by a properly basic belief? How are they not arbitrary? What is a "defeater"? Is there an absolute psychological profile for religious people? Is God just a Freudian projection? What is something that is self-authenticating?
- Nelis
That was a lot of great stuff packed into 16 minutes, and it was a delight to hear Dr. Craig describe how his personal revelation of God was the most important reason for his belief - and not the other arguments. Still, concerning the Cosmological argument, Dr. Craig says that if the universe began to exist it follows logically that the universe had a cause, and of course, he thinks it was God who created it. But - and I was surprised - the interviewer never asks Dr. Craig why he beieves that it was God, instead of natural or materialistic causes. I suppose the answer for Dr. Craig is based in the idea of an eternal, uncaused first cause. Would you agree with that conclusion, Pastor Dennett? I suppose, in the end, the question answers itself. Nonetheless, I'd like to read your input. God bless.
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