Reasons for belief in God:
Big Bang theory confirms that there had to be a first cause –
Genesis 1v1: “In the beginning, GOD created the heavens and the earth.”
This is endorsed by Professor John Lennox in his debate with Richard Dawkins on the ‘God
Delusion.’
Morality – if there is no God then there is no moral standard to which we can appeal for
justification, there is just personal choice or emotional preference and yet we all “believe”
that actions such as paedophilia, domestic abuse, human trafficking are wrong – it is not
merely a matter of personal preference or cultural orientation.
A belief in Ultimate Justice – can only happen if there is an ultimate Judge and an eternal
place of justification.
Religious Experience – there are countless examples of near-death experiences, religious
visions, and miracles recorded today – the wealth of which cannot be simply discounted as
delusional or fanatical nonsense.
Fine Tuning Argument - The DNA code informs, and programs a cell's behaviour
https://www.everystudent.com/features/isthere.html
The writer of Ecclesiastes referred to God as having "set eternity in the hearts of men"
(Ecclesiastes 3:11).
Reasons against belief in God:
Stephen Fry’s interview with Gay Byrne – disputes God’s existence on the basis of evil and
suffering.
Refer also to other atheists: Christopher Hitchens, Richard Dawkins (Books: God Delusion,
Climbing Mount Improbable, the Blind Watchmaker etc.), Peter Atkins (‘Science is the only
route to truth’).
Psychological disposition: Freud argued that belief in God was merely the result of
psychological trauma –
“the universal obsessional neurosis of mankind.”
Current natural and moral disasters.
Interesting interview with the agnostic David Attenborough.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3266680/Why-believe-God-Religion-just-
way-fulfilling-16-basic-human-desires-scientist-claims.html - revelation is necessary?
, The Defence of Faith
Apologists:
The early church apologists fulfilled an important role in helping explain Christianity
to their contemporaries in a manner that made it acceptable and coherent. Writers
such as Justin Martyr and Tertullian challenged the irrationality and unfairness of
state persecution and also appealed to their readers to form their own opinion about
Christianity.
There is always a need for writers who can explain the relevance and coherency of Christian
faith and morals within contemporary society. Two examples of Northern Ireland
connections are C.S. Lewis and Alister McGrath.
Lewis was born in Belfast and became a Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford where
he wrote his famous Chronicles of Narnia including the first book in that series, The
Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. He was also famous for several radio talks in
which he explained the relevance of Christianity.
McGrath was born in Belfast and is currently a Professor of Divinity at Gresham
College, Oxford. In his research into the relationship between science and religion
and in his many publications and public debate, McGrath explores how Christian
theology is relevant to our modern culture.
The Relevance of Theological Issues
Christian Theology provides a framework for a system of belief that attempts to make sense
of life. It addresses the big questions like:
Who are we?
Why are we here?
Where are we going?
The message that there is a supreme Creator God who seeks a relationship with us is a
monumental message for all humanity and theological issues are the fundamental issues of
life.
Big Bang theory confirms that there had to be a first cause –
Genesis 1v1: “In the beginning, GOD created the heavens and the earth.”
This is endorsed by Professor John Lennox in his debate with Richard Dawkins on the ‘God
Delusion.’
Morality – if there is no God then there is no moral standard to which we can appeal for
justification, there is just personal choice or emotional preference and yet we all “believe”
that actions such as paedophilia, domestic abuse, human trafficking are wrong – it is not
merely a matter of personal preference or cultural orientation.
A belief in Ultimate Justice – can only happen if there is an ultimate Judge and an eternal
place of justification.
Religious Experience – there are countless examples of near-death experiences, religious
visions, and miracles recorded today – the wealth of which cannot be simply discounted as
delusional or fanatical nonsense.
Fine Tuning Argument - The DNA code informs, and programs a cell's behaviour
https://www.everystudent.com/features/isthere.html
The writer of Ecclesiastes referred to God as having "set eternity in the hearts of men"
(Ecclesiastes 3:11).
Reasons against belief in God:
Stephen Fry’s interview with Gay Byrne – disputes God’s existence on the basis of evil and
suffering.
Refer also to other atheists: Christopher Hitchens, Richard Dawkins (Books: God Delusion,
Climbing Mount Improbable, the Blind Watchmaker etc.), Peter Atkins (‘Science is the only
route to truth’).
Psychological disposition: Freud argued that belief in God was merely the result of
psychological trauma –
“the universal obsessional neurosis of mankind.”
Current natural and moral disasters.
Interesting interview with the agnostic David Attenborough.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3266680/Why-believe-God-Religion-just-
way-fulfilling-16-basic-human-desires-scientist-claims.html - revelation is necessary?
, The Defence of Faith
Apologists:
The early church apologists fulfilled an important role in helping explain Christianity
to their contemporaries in a manner that made it acceptable and coherent. Writers
such as Justin Martyr and Tertullian challenged the irrationality and unfairness of
state persecution and also appealed to their readers to form their own opinion about
Christianity.
There is always a need for writers who can explain the relevance and coherency of Christian
faith and morals within contemporary society. Two examples of Northern Ireland
connections are C.S. Lewis and Alister McGrath.
Lewis was born in Belfast and became a Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford where
he wrote his famous Chronicles of Narnia including the first book in that series, The
Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. He was also famous for several radio talks in
which he explained the relevance of Christianity.
McGrath was born in Belfast and is currently a Professor of Divinity at Gresham
College, Oxford. In his research into the relationship between science and religion
and in his many publications and public debate, McGrath explores how Christian
theology is relevant to our modern culture.
The Relevance of Theological Issues
Christian Theology provides a framework for a system of belief that attempts to make sense
of life. It addresses the big questions like:
Who are we?
Why are we here?
Where are we going?
The message that there is a supreme Creator God who seeks a relationship with us is a
monumental message for all humanity and theological issues are the fundamental issues of
life.
