Response to H.J. Mccloskey
In his 1968 article, On Being an Atheist, H.J. McCloskey attempts to refute the arguments of God’s existence and explain how “atheism is a much more comfortable belief than theism.” (McCloskey 1968) He first attempts to discredit the Cosmological and Teleological arguments for God’s existence, then he turns to the existence of evil as “proof” that God does not exist, and finally closes his article back where he began- claiming that atheism is a more comforting belief than theism. Here I intend to explain how McCloskey is incorrect in his arguments and beliefs. McCloskey actually changes the “arguments for” God’s existence to “proofs of” God’s existence. He claims that the individual “proofs” cannot provide a definite proof of God’s strength, security, or existence. (McCloskey 1968) I first want to argue his claim but stating that theists do not claim to prove God’s existence, theists argue for God’s existence with the cumulative case approach. Taking all of the possible explanations regarding the universe, design of the universe, and moral values theists find that God is the best explanation. A common example of this approach (the best explanation), as given in the Approaching the Question of God 's Existence presentation, is in the field of science regarding magnetic fields. Scientists have no empirical evidence that the magnetic field exists but it is the best explanation for the way magnets behave the way they do; just as a personal, moral (moral argument), intelligent (teleological argument) creator (cosmological argument) of the universe is the best explanation for the universe we experience. McCloskey attempts to dismantle the cosmological argument, the argument of existence, by claiming the “mere existence of the world constitutes no reason for believing in such a being [i.e. a necessarily existing being].” (McCloskey 1968) However, the universe is contingent -which means all of the objects within it do exist but might easily have not existed. (Evans
Bibliography: Craig, William Lane. "The Absurdity of Life without God." Reasonable Faith: Christian Truth and Apologetics, 2008, 3rd ed. Evans, C. Stephen, and R. Zachary Manis. Philosophy of Religion: Thinking about Faith. 2nd. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2009. McCloskey, H. J. "On Being an Atheist." Question One, February 1968: 62-69.