Colton Clemens
Dr. Mayra Valadez
Philosophy 101
December 7, 2017
Causal Theist
1. Conclusion: Causal theists have adopted the belief that there is sufficient evidence to prove that a deity exists. They take most of their arguments directly from Thomas Aquinas, the original causal theist.
2. Premises: They believe that they have several solid pieces of evidence, but probably their strongest case comes in the form of Thomas Aquinas’ Summa Theologica.
a. One of the premises of causal theists beliefs is actually fairly close to a scientific law, they say that things only change when made to change by something else. That is similar to Isaac Newton’s first law of motion which states that an object in motion tends to stay in motion unless acted …show more content…
The second premise is somewhat similar to the first, and it’s covered comprehensively in the Christian holy book, but with more detail and storytelling flair in Milton’s Paradise Lost, it’s the implication of an all loving, all powerful God creating a human species and giving them the gift of free will, and allowing them to practice that free will.
3. Consequences: If theodicies are right then there isn’t much implication for the right now. Theodicies, I think, have adopted their views as a means of avoiding reckoning with their beliefs, so their beliefs obviously have to be flexible around reality, meaning that nothing would change if everyone believed their conclusions.
4. Problems: This ideology was created as a way to deflect from valid criticism without actually using any sort of logic, so the criticism of it is limited. There is, however, a very good case against this, summarized as the myth of the God of the Gaps. This ideology spears theodicies and any other religious criticism deflector by showing that as science has progressed and atheism has gained valid ground to stand on in terms of criticizing religion, religious people have distorted and shrunk their God in order to not conflict with these criticisms, which is identified as a fallacy by religious
Dr. Mayra Valadez
Philosophy 101
December 7, 2017
Causal Theist
1. Conclusion: Causal theists have adopted the belief that there is sufficient evidence to prove that a deity exists. They take most of their arguments directly from Thomas Aquinas, the original causal theist.
2. Premises: They believe that they have several solid pieces of evidence, but probably their strongest case comes in the form of Thomas Aquinas’ Summa Theologica.
a. One of the premises of causal theists beliefs is actually fairly close to a scientific law, they say that things only change when made to change by something else. That is similar to Isaac Newton’s first law of motion which states that an object in motion tends to stay in motion unless acted …show more content…
The second premise is somewhat similar to the first, and it’s covered comprehensively in the Christian holy book, but with more detail and storytelling flair in Milton’s Paradise Lost, it’s the implication of an all loving, all powerful God creating a human species and giving them the gift of free will, and allowing them to practice that free will.
3. Consequences: If theodicies are right then there isn’t much implication for the right now. Theodicies, I think, have adopted their views as a means of avoiding reckoning with their beliefs, so their beliefs obviously have to be flexible around reality, meaning that nothing would change if everyone believed their conclusions.
4. Problems: This ideology was created as a way to deflect from valid criticism without actually using any sort of logic, so the criticism of it is limited. There is, however, a very good case against this, summarized as the myth of the God of the Gaps. This ideology spears theodicies and any other religious criticism deflector by showing that as science has progressed and atheism has gained valid ground to stand on in terms of criticizing religion, religious people have distorted and shrunk their God in order to not conflict with these criticisms, which is identified as a fallacy by religious