Lesson #2: Is God real?

Goal

The goal is to give the teens the tools to prove God exists through Saint Thomas Aquinas's arguments: The first cause argument and the design argument.

Key Concepts:
A] First Cause Argument: 

The first cause argument is based on cause and effect. The idea is that everything that exists has something that caused it; there is nothing in our world that came from nothing.

As human beings we are used to seeing cause and effect in our everyday lives, so this argument is easy to relate to. For example, if you push someone (cause) they fall over (effect).

Aquinas argued that our world works in the same way. Someone or something must have caused the world to exist. The cause is God, the effect is the world.

Aquinas argued that this first cause must have no beginning - that is, nothing caused it to exist because the first cause is eternal.

He argued that this first cause is God. God is eternal (has no beginning, was never started) and God caused the world and everything else to exist.

B] Argument from Design:

This is an argument for the existence of God.

It points to evidence that suggests our world works well - ie that it was designed in a specific way. The argument follows that if it was designed like this, then someone or something must have designed it.

There are many examples of how our world is designed in such a way that it works properly. For example:

  • Trees take in carbon dioxide and give out oxygen.

  • The Earth is uniquely placed in the solar system so that it can support life - not too close to the sun that we burn up, not too far from the sun that we freeze.

Summary of design argument:

  1. All things have an order or arrangement and work for an end. 

  2. The order of the universe cannot be explained by chance, but only by design and purpose.

  3. Design and purpose is a product of intelligence.

  4. Therefore nature is directed by a Divine Intelligence or Great Designer. 


    Small Group Questions

    1] What is the first cause argument?

    2] Can you think of any examples of a first cause?

    3] Who came up with the Big Bang Theory? Are you surprised the Church supports the Big Bang Theory? Why or Why not?

    4] What is the Big Bang Theory?

    5] Which example helped you to understand that everything needs a first cause?

    6] Is it reasonable to believe that God created the universe? Why or why not?

    7] What is the design argument?

    8] Is there evidence of intelligent design in humans or on the Earth? 

    9] What part of creation is astounding to you and why?

    10] Is it reasonable to believe God designed and fine-tuned the universe? Why or why not?