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A BIBLICALLY SOUND, PHILOSOPHICALLY COHERENT, AND SCIENTIFICALLY FAITHFUL METHODOLOGY FOR DEFENDING CHRISTIANITY AND THE EXISTENCE OF GOD. H OW TO A RGUE THE E XISTENCE OF G OD

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WHY DO APOLOGETICS? What do you mean by argument? What is your goal in apologetics? 1.Giving a rational defense for what you believe 2.Win the person, not the argument 3.Edification of the Saints a.Know your faith to be true & Show your faith to be true 4.Love, love, love

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METHODOLOGY Fideism Presuppositionalism Classical Apologetics Cumulative Case Offensive Apologetics v. Defensive Apologetics

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THE ARGUMENTS THE COSMOLOGICAL ARGUMENT 1.What we observe and experience in our universe is contingent. 2.A network of causally dependent contingent things cannot be infinite. 3.A network of causally dependent contingent things must be finite. 4.Therefore, there must be a first cause in the network of contingent causes

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THE ARGUMENTS THE FINE-TUNING ARGUMENT 1.Given the fine-tuning evidence, a life permitting universe (LPU) is very, very unlikely under the non- existence of a fine-tuner (~FT)that is, P(LPM|~FT & k) 1. 2.Given the fine-tuning evidence, LPU is not unlikely under FT (Fine-Tuner): that is, ~P(LPM|FT & k) 1. 3.Therefore, LPU strongly supports FT over ~FT.

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T HE F INE -T UNING OF THE L AWS OF N ATURE Electromagnetic Force Different atomic bonds and thus complex molecules needed for life could not form. No light, no life!

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T HE F INE -T UNING OF THE L AWS OF N ATURE Strong Nuclear Force The force that holds the atomic nucleus together. After all, protons are positively charged and like charges repel each other. Thus, shouldnt the nucleus fly apart? If stronger, no hydrogen, an essential element of life. If weaker, only hydrogen.

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T HE F INE -T UNING OF THE L AWS OF N ATURE Weak Nuclear Force If stronger, insufficient helium to generate heavy elements in stars. If weaker, stars burn out too quickly and supernova explosions could not scatter heavy elements across the universe.

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T HE F INE -T UNING OF THE L AWS OF N ATURE Principle of Quantization Proposed by Niels Bohr in 1910 Without it, an electron would be sucked into the nucleus of an atom. No atoms, no life! Pauli Exclusion Principle (Wolfgang Pauli, 1925), all electrons would fall into lowest orbital (no complex chemistry).

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T HE F INE -T UNING OF THE C ONSTANTS OF N ATURE Gravitational Constant Determines the strength of gravity via Newtons Law of Gravity F = Gm 1 m 2 /r 2 Actual value of G is 6.67 x 10 -11 Nm 2 /kg 2 m1m1 m2m2 r

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T HE F INE -T UNING OF THE C ONSTANTS OF N ATURE G 0 = Current Strength of Gravity Strength of Weak Force: 10 31 G 0 Strength of Electromagnetism: 10 37 G 0 Strength of Strong Force: 10 40 G 0 10 40 G 0 = ten thousand, billion, billion, billion, billion times the strength of gravity

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THE ARGUMENTS THE MORAL ARGUMENT 1.There are objective axiological/moral facts that obtain. 2.Either the world alone or the world and a perfectly moral person best explain these facts. 3.It is the case that the world and a perfectly moral person best explain these facts. 4.Therefore, the world and a perfectly moral person best explain these facts.

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CONCLUDING THE CUMULATIVE CASE 1.Spaceless 2.Timeless 3.Transcendent 4.Uncaused 5.Very intelligent 6.Morally Perfect Person

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KNOW WHO/WHAT YOURE ARGUING AGAINST Whats the topic of the discussion? Does God exist? Semantic quibbles? Science and Religion? Evolution? The Age of the Earth? Inerrancy? Pick your battles Stay on course, dont fish for red herrings

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WHAT TO AVOID Dont get emotional Go after the argument and not the person Stay calm Dealing with Internet Atheists You may offend them without even knowing it