Introduction
God can simply be defined as a supernatural being believed to be perfect, omnipotent and omniscient. Most monotheistic religions, such as Christianity and Islam, believe that God is the creator and ruler of the universe of which human beings are part of. They are only supposed to utilize the resources on God’s creation and at the same to time take care of it. In other words, they are God’s envoy with two main roles, i.e. utilizing natural resources and steward everything found in the universe).
This essay critically criticizes William Paley’s argument about the existence of God. Paley argues that God is real and he exists by suggesting that existences of some of the natural resources, God’s creation, are enough proof that he exists. He compares this with a watch and a watch maker in that, many people use a watch but they never consider the fact that the watch was made by someone/ some people whom they have never met and have no idea how they look like (Paley 4).
They only consider the fact that the watch is perfect and reliable, unless it is broken or not functioning, in telling the time as expected. Paley’s argument on the existence of God, the way he compares and contrasts God and his creation with a watch and a watchmaker, is relevant and to some extent realistic. On the other hand, this is only a concept about God and does not provide enough evidence of his existence as discussed below. In other words, it makes one suspect that God exists but does not fully convince an individual that this is true.
Concept of God
The introductory part of this essay explains how the monotheistic religions believe that God is the ruler and creator of the universe. Paley’s argument focuses on only one aspect, the creator and not the ruler aspects. He suggests that everything that exists in the universe must have been made by something or someone at one time.
This is supported by his example of a stone found laying on the grass in field you and a watch lying on the same field. One may suggest that the stone was probably there since the beginning. The same person would give a different explanation about the watch, e.g. one may say that the watch may have dropped off from someone’s wrist but originally the watch was made by a watchmaker.
Anyone who agrees with Paley’s argument agrees with the suggestion that, ‘if the watch was made then a stone was a’. On the other hand, a person who disagrees with Paley’s argument may argue out that, the watchmaker did not create the watch because he just utilized materials from the earth and made the watch. Arguing from this point of view makes Paley’s argument irrelevant in that, God created the universe, but the watchmaker just utilized raw materials, already existing, and developed a new gadget.
Comparing the design and the designer of the watch and with God and his creation also helps in supporting Paley’s point. The general idea is, for anything to that exists there must be someone or something that developed a design and design something that would serve an intended purpose.
God designed the universe to support all forms of life if used sustainable, but if the resources are over exploited (messing with the original design), life on the universe is threatened. In the case of a watch, the watch maker designed the watch in a way that it would assist people in telling them the time but if miss handled it stops working (Paley 3).
Conclusion
Paley suggests that one believes that the designer exists if he/she sees the design. But the question that people who do not believe in the existence of God need to ask themselves is, how did God design the universe if he is non-existent? In a nutshell, the designer has to exist before developing a design.
Works Cited
Paley, William, Natural Theology: Evidences, of the Existence and Attributes of the Deity, 9th Ed, London, R. Faulder, 1805. Print