Theology

So I'm reading through Wayne Grudem's Intro to Systematic Theology, and just came across "4 Traditional Proofs for the existence of God." I learned these back in an apologetics (defense of christianity) course that I took and thought they might be helpful for those of you who've never heard them before.

First, there's the cosmological argument. Basically, everything ever known to have happened in the universe has had a cause. Therefore reason must say that the universe also must have a cause. The cause of the universe can only be God.

Second, teleological argument, states that the design of the universe (the harmony, order, etc...) gives evidence of intelligent purpose. Thus there must be an intelligent and purposeful God who created it.

Third, the ontological argument begins with the idea of God, who is defined as a being greater than which nothing can be imagined. It then argues that God must exist because the characteristic of existence is greater than not existing (basically since God is the greatest thing we can imagine he must exist).

Finally, there's the moral argument. Since all men and women have an inner sense of right and wrong, we must have been given this sense of justice from Someone (God).

These are intellectual arguments that have been used as "proof" for the existence of God.

Josh