Common Consent Argument Analysis

The Common Consent Argument asserts that the belief in God as a Being worthy of reverence and worship is a common belief found among all groups of individuals throughout every era. The argument arrives at the conclusion that God does exists via a two faceted ideology; a large majority of these individuals’ attribute elements of their lives to this Being they worship, and that it is not plausible to believe that this significant number of individuals could be mistaken (Kreeft & Tacelli, 1994). One strength of the argument, is that the major component of the argument matches the belief itself. This specific strength derives a significant amount of its validity from the picture theory of meaning suggested by Ludwig Wittgenstein (Taliaferro, 2013). Many have also drawn as a strength of this argument, that the desire to identify and subsequently worship a higher authority which they equate to “maximum greatness” is an inherent desire and that a desire of this significance would not be based on a misconception or …show more content…
Calvinism, or the reformed theological movement instituted by John Calvin, asserts that this desire to identify and worship a higher authority is merely “instinctive” and that it alone does not lend support for the existence of God unless the desired outcome comes about as a result of the actions of those worshiping God (Kail, 2007). The added explanation by Calvin that “instinct” come about as a result of the influences that “institutes” have on individuals, also presents itself as a weakness of the article when the question “What about those individuals who are without the influence of any religious doctrine?” is asked in opposition of the argument (Kail, 2007). It would be as equally plausible that these individuals might relate their experiences to another power and not necessarily to