Does God Exist? A History of Answers to the Question
Digital Logos Edition
Overview
Does God exist?
Throughout the history of philosophical and theological reflection, this fundamental question has prompted a range of responses.
In one incisive volume, philosopher W. David Beck offers a narrative of pre-Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Christian, and Islamic arguments for God’s existence. Here, readers will encounter both classical and contemporary arguments, including cosmological, teleological, moral, and ontological arguments along with commentary from the author.
Explore the history of answers to an essential question and add your own reflections to this ongoing conversation.
- Offers a narrative of pre-Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Christian, and Islamic arguments for God’s existence
- Examines the cosmological, teleological, moral, and ontological arguments
- Explores the history of answers to an essential question
- Preface
- The Beginnings of the Arguments
- Cosmological Arguments
- Teleological Arguments
- Moral Arguments
- Ontological Arguments
- The End of the Story—for Now
Top Highlights
“Immanuel Kant’s seemingly devastating critique in his 1781 Critique of Pure Reason. He argued there that the ontological argument fails and that the cosmological argument depends on it and so fails as well.” (Page 48)
“I am convinced that this is a result of the fact that our global culture has given up on finding any truth that would unite us—any truth at all.” (Page xv)
“therefore something must have existed from eternity” (Page 42)
“The Summa theologiae is his culminating systematic treatise. The cosmological argument appears here right at the beginning as the initial and defining statement.” (Page 28)
“can think of no topic that demands greater attention in this global culture than the existence and reality of God” (Page xv)
There are lots of books available of the existence of God, but few, if any, that do a good job of presenting all the key arguments in a historical and contemporary way. Professor Beck’s book Does God Exist? is a rare exception. It is important to realize that, setting aside a disdain for old books, a careful study of an argument as it develops in the history of philosophy is more than a mere expression of intellectual curiosity. Much can be learned from the past that is of immense contemporary importance. Beck is a well-respected philosopher and brings decades of teaching and research to this book. I highly recommend it.
—J. P. Moreland, distinguished professor of philosophy at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University, and author of Scientism and Secularism
Finally! A single volume that contains as a historical narrative a compendium of arguments pertaining to God’s existence—pro, con, and from most religious perspectives—all under one cover. Fantastic! Highly recommended!
—Gary R. Habermas, distinguished research professor of apologetics and philosophy at Liberty University
In this herculean effort, David Beck has written a superb guide and rich resource on the major arguments for God’s existence. Not only does he astutely summarize the breadth of positions articulated by particular thinkers on the respective arguments—pro and con—but he includes much material from primary sources, which significantly enhances the value of this volume. A fine achievement!
—Paul Copan, Pledger Family Chair of Philosophy and Ethics at Palm Beach Atlantic University, coauthor of The Gospel in the Marketplace of Ideas