 | The Reverend Amy Baumgartner is the Associate Pastor of First Presbyterian Church, 525 N. Broadway, Wichita, KS. Amy was ordained at First Presbyterian Church of Wichita, Kansas in June 2008. She earned a Masters of Divinity from Denver Seminary. Before attending seminary, Amy graduated from Ball State University with a degree in Landscape Architecture and worked several years for an architectural firm in Indianapolis, Indiana. You may contact Rev. Baumgartner by email AssociatePastor@firstpresbywichita.org, or by phone at (316) 263-0248.
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Religion
2013-03-25 13:53:00
God's existence
Q-What is the evidence for God’s existence, apart from the Bible?
A-God has not left his name etched upon the universe; however, there are several evidences that point to God outside of the Bible. First, there is the evidence of God based on design. When we investigate anything that has a purpose from a mousetrap to a skillet, we can conclude that it had a designer. For instance, someone designed a mousetrap to eliminate the problem of rodents in a space or a skillet to cook food. The universe and humans reveal an incredible amount of design. The complexity of the design points to a Designer. The universe is incredibly complex. Scientists have determined that the size of our universe is perfect for life to happen. I would encourage those who can grasp intricacies of scientific details to look further into excess quarks, the size of universe, the right laws of physics, and other such concepts that reveal evidence of an amazing Designer behind the world and life as we know it.
Similar to design, everything we can encounter or think of has been caused by something else. Every effect has a cause. The immensity of the universe is no different. Many scientists will point to the Big Bang Theory as explaining the effect of the universe’s existence; however, the Big Bang still requires a cause.
More evidence for God’s existence focuses on human beings themselves. We are complex creatures with personality. It seems improbable that such complexity would have emerged from nothing with no cause behind it. It is more probable that human personality was created or designed by a Being with a similar or greater level of complexity. In addition, throughout most cultures, there are some common “morals” that are common. For instance, in most cultures it is not culturally acceptable to murder (although in all cultures individuals deviate from the culture as a whole on these morals). Due to the fact that most humans are “wired” with certain morals points to a Moral Lawgiver as the Designer.
Others will point to history as evidence of God’s existence. The Jewish race is the prime example. Throughout ages, the Jewish people are known as “God’s people.” Despite many campaigns to eradicate the Jews, they have survived as a people group while other people groups have not survived. This historical perspective reveals a Being protecting the Jews.
None of these perspectives on their own (or even collectively) can “prove” God’s existence; however, taken together, they provide a beginning point to accept that there is likely a Higher Being (God) that was and is behind the creation of the universe and human beings within the universe.
