The ontological argument states that God is the perfect being. As He is perfect, He must have all perfections. If God lacked existence He would not be perfect, as He is perfect he must exist.
Reality vs. Illusion
Furthermore, Sigmund Freud, a psychologist, French philosopher and Mathematician Pascal Blaise and German philosopher Ludwig Feuerbach all put forward an argument that would appeal to agnostics.
Sigmund Freud claimed that all religious experiences are due to a mild form of mental illness and are a combination of delusion, hallucination and wishful thinking. Some people admire the concept of a powerful parent who looks after them and it is this they ‘project’ into a religious faith.
Pascal’s argument goes something like this:
God either exists or he does not. If we believe in God and he exists, we will be rewarded with eternal bliss in heaven. If we believe in God and he does not exist then at worst all we have forgone is a few sinful pleasures.
If we do not believe in God and he does exist we may enjoy a few sinful pleasures, but we may face eternal damnation. If we do not believe in God and he does not exist then our sins will not be punished.
Would any rational gambler think that the experience of a few sinful pleasures is worth the risk of eternal damnation?
Moreover, Feuerbach had similar points of view of that of Sigmund Freud; they saw the existence of god as a projection of human desires. Feuerbach considered that this stopped people and obscured their own divinity. He believes that God does not make man. Rather “God” is the invention of human consciousness. As he says:
“Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the sentiment of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people.”
Feuerbach sees God as a creation to comfort people in distress.
Other view points
View points for the existence of God:
Throughout the history of man, many people have said they believe in God. It can not be that they are all lying. Hence, according to the argument of numerous religious experiences God must exist.
Unlike any other beings in the world, the human race has the ability to appreciate art, music and culture. According to many people this must mean that humanity is here for a divine purpose and that that purpose was created by a divine being; God.
Just because we can not see something, it does not mean it does not exist. Scientists have said that everything around us is made up of particles and molecules. We can not see this however we still believe. This principle can be applied to the existence of God; just because we can not see God, this does not mean that he does not exist.
View points against the existence of God:
The concept of suffering can be applied as an argument against the being of God. God is said to be all mighty and all loving. However, suffering, death and disease still clouds this world. This insinuates that either God is not all loving and does not want to end suffering or God can not stop suffering and so is not all mighty. People do not want to believe in someone who is not all mighty or all loving. Consequently, they say that God does not exist.
Additionally, some people say that God does not exist because he does not answer to people’s prayers. In the same way that suffering still exists people refuse to believe in a presence that does not help or listen to them.
The first cause theory has been challenged. The theory states that everything has a cause and that the primary cause is God. However, if this is true than what is the primary cause of God?
Notably more and more people are beginning to believe that God does not exist because of science, technology and evolution. Throughout the last couple of centuries scientists have put forward many new ideas that do not support the existence of God and more people are turning to them in hope that they can attain answers as to why they are here. Science has given us the theory of evolution, which explains how human beings are here. This theory by Charles Darwin states that humans evolved from primates. They have also put forward the idea of the ‘big bang’ theory. In astronomy, the ‘big bang’ theory is the hypothetical `explosive' event that marked the origin of the universe, as we know it. The theory suggests that God played no part as to why the universe, the world and its people in it exist.
Ultimately, there are also the views that those who believe in God have no proof that he exists. People can not accept that something that they can not see exists. They believe that there is no reason why the world or the people in it are here. As well as this they believe, that people who welcome God have created a being in their imagination that they can turn to in a world filled with darkness, disease and death, for solace and hope that there is something good in this world that is worth living for.
My Personal Opinion
Many religions believe in a God. As a Muslim, I believe that Allah (God) exists. I believe Allah designed a purpose for every living organism and that that purpose is unique for every individual. I also agree with the ontological argument, which states that God is the perfect being. As He is perfect, He must have all perfections. If God lacked existence He would not be perfect, as He is perfect he must exist.