Argument Construction
Nowadays, several moral arguments are used by those who believe in God’s presence. One of these is the Classical Cosmological Argument, which has two main objections. My conversation will be based on this argument. Moreover, some notions of naturalism will also be included. Naturalism is a claim which constitutes two main factors, namely that there are only natural causal entities with natural causal powers, and science is a tool to identify them. I hope to use the lines of argumentation in the conversation in a manner to ensures the interlocutor in the historical reliability of pieces of evidence.
Thus, I will note that people have been trying to find the connection between nature and humans along with the religious implications throughout history, with particular scrutiny in the nineteenth-century. Moreover, I will mention that naturalism offers a broad spectrum of possibilities to deal with the problem of disenchantment. Besides, it is worth mentioning the main objectives of my argument and how I will address them.
The first possible objection lies in the claim that if God exists, there can not be evil, but evil exists, and according to the second one, nothing which is accounted for by a few principles can not be created by many. These objectives may be dealt with by using several counterarguments. One of these is the principle of initial motion: every process should have its primary reason, something, which would launch it, and God is considered to be this force. Additionally, the name of God is believed to be the first initial cause, without which there is no possibility for the universe to exist and any physical process to occur.
Besides, during the conversation, I will note the concept that connects the scientific approach and religious views on the existence of the world. Scientific naturalism is the scholarly apprehension of nature and philosophical demand as continuous with science. It will contribute to ensuring the collocutor in the scientific background of the religion, as naturalism is connected with it. Certainly, among my arguments would be the fact that cosmologists try to throw light on the numerous questions about the universe. However, new issues always appear. It formulates the infinite process of solving tasks and appearing new ones, although the atheistic approach tends to explain everything. In addition to this, it is worth mentioning that even quantum cosmology does not solve the cosmic measurement problem. All these articulate a variety of issues and problems that science cannot solve despite the technological revolution.
The conversation
The conversation was conducted in a manner of a dispute with arguments, counterarguments, and objectives from both parties. My interlocutor asked me different questions and tried to persuade me of his perspective using relevant scientific evidence, and so did I. Moreover, both of us applied our logical reflections to resolve the proposed issues. Generally, the conversation was performed at a reasonable pace with the possibility of posing ideas peacefully.
The reflection
In detail, the conversation went at a comfortable pace, with respect to each other. My partner’s reaction during the presentation of the argument was formulated by attentive listening, and after the argument was posed, I noticed a reflective thinking process. I might have presented my views more subsequently. However, I feel that the statement was strong as it has a solid historical and scientific background.
Bibliographies
Copan, P., and Craig, W. L. “The Kalam Cosmological Argument, Volume 2: Scientific Evidence for the Beginning of the Universe”. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. (2017).
Crosby, D. A., and Stone, J. A. “The Routledge Handbook of Religious Naturalism”. Routledge. (2018).
Erasmus, J. “The Kalām Cosmological Argument: A Reassessment”. Springer. (2018).
Holden, J. M. “The Harvest HandbookTM of Apologetics”. Harvest House Publishers. (2019).
Oppy, G. “Naturalism and Religion: A Contemporary Philosophical Investigation”. Routledge. (2018).
Rutten, E. “A Critical Assessment of Contemporary Cosmological Arguments: Towards a Renewed Case for Theism”. Amsterdam. (2012).
Sweis, K. A. “Christian Apologetics: An Anthology of Primary Sources”. Zondervan Academic. (2012).
Wyhe, J. “Phrenology and the Origins of Victorian Scientific Naturalism”. Routledge. (2017).