Dilemma of the Existence of God
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
From time immemorial man is unveiling mysteries. From an unspecific point in the past there exists a great mystery in the human minds viz. God. Human mind had always been baffled with the concept of God. Many curious seekers have tried to put their reasoning in black and white either to prove or disprove the existence of God. Still these intellectual arguments often prove inadequate; either to prove or disprove. Through this seminar I intend to compare two different stands on the existence of God; that of Thomas Aquinas, the medieval philosopher, and Richard Dawkins, the neo - Darwinist. Here we aim not to get involved in the vast world of metaphysics, theodicy or natural science but to logically analyse two different reasoning processes involved. While dealing with the same we must have the cultural and scientific contexts in which these two stands and arguments originate. The five ways to prove God’s existence proposed by Aquinas in Summa Theologiae came out during the medieval period which was the golden era of Christian philosophical thoughts but of lesser scientific developments. Richard Dawkins’ arguments in The God Delusion came out in 2006 which specifically was a time of advanced Science and declining period of philosophical arguments. Thus the two differ in scientific context. Again, Aquinas lived in the golden period of his religion and his intent was only to find a rational justification to his belief whereas Dawkins in a materialistic world where the creation theory - evolution theory clash prevails.
The issue whether or God exists is a relevant topic as humans are constantly involved in activities to get a grip of the purpose of their lives. Often the ethics and morality of the society is often guided by the ‘God concept’; mostly introduced by some religions. Once the non existence of God is proved, such religious and ethical aspects may collapse and if the existence of God is proved all such activities will prove to be much
From time immemorial man is unveiling mysteries. From an unspecific point in the past there exists a great mystery in the human minds viz. God. Human mind had always been baffled with the concept of God. Many curious seekers have tried to put their reasoning in black and white either to prove or disprove the existence of God. Still these intellectual arguments often prove inadequate; either to prove or disprove. Through this seminar I intend to compare two different stands on the existence of God; that of Thomas Aquinas, the medieval philosopher, and Richard Dawkins, the neo - Darwinist. Here we aim not to get involved in the vast world of metaphysics, theodicy or natural science but to logically analyse two different reasoning processes involved. While dealing with the same we must have the cultural and scientific contexts in which these two stands and arguments originate. The five ways to prove God’s existence proposed by Aquinas in Summa Theologiae came out during the medieval period which was the golden era of Christian philosophical thoughts but of lesser scientific developments. Richard Dawkins’ arguments in The God Delusion came out in 2006 which specifically was a time of advanced Science and declining period of philosophical arguments. Thus the two differ in scientific context. Again, Aquinas lived in the golden period of his religion and his intent was only to find a rational justification to his belief whereas Dawkins in a materialistic world where the creation theory - evolution theory clash prevails.
The issue whether or God exists is a relevant topic as humans are constantly involved in activities to get a grip of the purpose of their lives. Often the ethics and morality of the society is often guided by the ‘God concept’; mostly introduced by some religions. Once the non existence of God is proved, such religious and ethical aspects may collapse and if the existence of God is proved all such activities will prove to be much
Bibliography: AQUINAS, T, Compendium of Theology (trans. Cyril S.J, London, 21958) AQUINAS, T, Summa Theologiae, vol AQUINAS, T, Summa Theologiae, vol. 141a (trans. T C O’brien, London, 1965) BOETHIUS, A, The Consolation of Philosophy (trans BORCHERT, D et al. eds. , Encyclopedia of Philosophy, vol.9 (New York, 22006) CLARK, M, ed DAWKINS, R, The God Delusion (London, 2006) DELFGAAUW, B, Evolution: The Theory of Teilard de Chardian (New York 21970) KENNY, A, The Five Ways (New York, 1969) McGRATH, A-McGRATH, J, The Dawkins Delusion (Illinos, 2007) PAMPLANY, A, Cosmos Bios and Theos (Aluva, 32009) REITAN, E, Is God a Delusion (West Sussex, 2009) [ 6 ]. THOMAS AQUINAS, Compendium of Theology (trans. Cyril S. J, London 21958) 9. [ 7 ]. THOMAS AQUINAS, Compendium of Theology (trans. Cyril S. J, London 21958) 9. [ 21 ]. MARY T CLARK ed., An Aquinas Reader (New York, 1972) 182. [ 22 ]. RICHARD DAWKINS, The God Delusion (London,2006) 113. Hereafter this book is cited as GD. [ 32 ]. Cf. ANTHONY KENNY, The Five ways (New York, 1969) 10. Hereafter this book is cited as FW. [ 33 ]. Cf. THOMAS AQUINAS, Compendium of Theology (trans. CYRIL S. J, London 21958) 9. [ 34 ]. Donald Borchert et al. eds., Encyclopedia of Philosophy, vol.9 (New York, 22006) 432. [ 37 ]. ERIC REITAN, Is God a Delusion (West Sussex, 2009) 102. Hereafter this book is cited as IGD. [ 40 ]. THOMAS AQUINAS, De Ente et Essential as quoted by ANTHONY KENNY, The Five ways (New York, 1969) 82. [ 43 ]. Cf. BERNARD DELFGAAUW, Evolution: The Theory of Teilhard de Chardian (New York 21970) 75. [ 44 ]. Cf. BERNARD DELFGAAUW, Evolution: The Theory of Teilhard de Chardian (New York 21970) 39. [ 45 ]. ALISTER McGRATH-JOANNA McGRATH, The Dawkins Delusion (Illinos,2007) 28. Hereafter this book is cited as DD. [ 48 ]. Cf. AUGUSTINE PAMPLANY, Cosmos Bios and Theos (Aluva 32009) p.89