Can the existence of God be argued for or against by reason, and how strong are the classic arguments?
The Existence of God: the cosmological, teleological (design) and ontological arguments, the case from religious experience, and challenges from atheism and the problem of evil.
An SQA Higher RMPS answer on the Existence of God, covering the cosmological, design and ontological arguments and the argument from religious experience, the main objections, and the challenge from atheism, with the skills to evaluate them.
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What this dot point is asking
The Existence of God is a topic in the Religious and Philosophical Questions area, examined in Question Paper 2. It asks whether God's existence can be argued for or against by reason. The SQA wants you to explain the classic arguments for God (cosmological, design, ontological and from religious experience), to know the objections, and to evaluate how convincing they are, reaching a judgement.
The cosmological argument
- It appeals to the intuition that things do not come from nothing and that there cannot be an infinite regress of causes, so there must be a first or uncaused cause.
- Objections: why must the first cause be God (rather than an impersonal cause)? If everything needs a cause, what caused God? And Hume argued we cannot reliably infer a cause for the universe as a whole.
The teleological (design) argument
- The modern version points to the fine-tuning of the physical constants that make life possible, arguing this is better explained by design than by chance.
- Objections: Darwinian evolution explains apparent design in living things without a designer; the multiverse could explain fine-tuning; and the world also contains disorder and suffering, which a good designer would seem to avoid.
The ontological and experiential arguments
- Ontological argument. A purely logical argument: God is by definition the greatest conceivable being; a being that exists in reality is greater than one that exists only in the mind; so the greatest conceivable being must exist. Objection (Kant): existence is not a property that makes a thing greater, so the argument does not work.
- Argument from religious experience. The widespread human experience of God (visions, conversion, a sense of the holy) is best explained by God's reality. Objections: experiences may be psychological or cultural, they conflict between religions, and they cannot easily be checked.
Atheism and the case against
- An atheist argues the arguments for God fail and that there is no good evidence for God, so the rational default is disbelief.
- An agnostic holds that we cannot know either way. A believer may reply that the arguments make God's existence reasonable, or that faith does not depend on proof.
- A strong answer weighs the arguments and the objections, and reaches a judgement rather than simply listing them.
Try this
Q1. State the cosmological argument in three steps. [3 marks]
- Cue. Everything that begins to exist has a cause; the universe began to exist; so the universe has a cause (God).
Q2. Give one objection to the design argument. [1 mark]
- Cue. Evolution explains apparent design without a designer; or the multiverse explains fine-tuning; or the world contains disorder and suffering.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of SQA exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
SQA Higher specimen8 marksExplain the design (teleological) argument for the existence of God.Show worked answer →
An 8-mark "explain" question rewards a developed account of the argument and its reasoning.
Set out the argument: the universe shows order, regularity and apparent purpose (for example the fine-tuning of physical constants, or the way parts of organisms work together). This order looks designed; design implies a designer; therefore there is a designer, namely God. Use Paley's watch analogy (finding a watch implies a watchmaker, so the design in nature implies a designer). Develop the steps and you can note the modern fine-tuning version. Explaining the logic clearly, not just naming the argument, reaches the top band.
SQA Higher specimen10 marksHow convincing is the cosmological argument for the existence of God?Show worked answer →
A 10-mark evaluation needs argument on both sides and a judgement.
Set out the argument briefly: everything that begins to exist has a cause; the universe began to exist; so it has a cause, which is God. Argue it is convincing: it fits the intuition that things do not come from nothing, and the Big Bang suggests the universe had a beginning. Then weigh the objections: why must the cause be God rather than an impersonal cause; if everything needs a cause, what caused God; and Hume's point that we cannot infer a unique cause for a unique event. Bring in a non-religious view. Reach a supported judgement, for example that it raises a real question but does not prove a personal God.
Related dot points
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