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Originally Posted by Mark Lapierre  I really would like to see how anyone could use logic to support the existence of God. |
Okay Mark since you seem to want the actual logical argument for the existence of God I'll give you some philosophical points of view (my own views are a combination of many philosophical and esoteric views).
From St. Thomas Aquinas:
"It is necessary to assume something which is necessary of itself, and has no cause of its necessity outside itself but is rather the cause of necessity in other things. And this all men call God."
Here is a modern cosmological argument by Tom Morris:
1. The existence of something is intelligible only if it has an explanation.
2. The existence of the universe is thus either:
a. unintelligible or
b. has an explanation
3. No rational person should accept premise (2a) by definition of rationality
4. A rational person should accept (2b), that the universe has some explanation for its being.
5. There are only three kinds of explanations:
a. Scientific: physical conditions plus relevant laws yield the Event explained.
b. Personal: Explanations that cite desires, beliefs, powers and intentions of some personal agent.
c. Essential: The essence of the thing to be explained necessitates its existence or qualities.
6. The explanation for the existence of the whole universe can’t be scientific because there can’t be initial physical conditions and laws independent of what is to be explained.
7. The explanation for the existence of the universe can’t be essential because the universe cannot exist necessarily. The universe is not the sort of thing that exists necessarily.
8. A rational person should believe that the universe has a personal explanation.
9. No personal agent but God could create an entire universe.
10. A rational person should believe that there is a God.
To me George Washington said it most simply:
"It is impossible to account for the creation of the universe without the agency of a Supreme Being."
For a totally different perspective and probably more in line with your views see the article on
Epicurus under this month's philosopher and his views on death and annihilation.
Also for Shamou - note that Anthony Robbins was not the first one to talk about pain and pleasure.