New Proofs for the Existence of God

by Spitzer, Robert J.

• ISBN13: 9780802863836
• ISBN10: 0802863833
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-04-15
• Publisher: Eerdmans Pub Co

Summary

Responding to contemporary popular atheism, Robert J. Spitzer's New Proofs for the Existence of God examines the considerable evidence for God and creation that has come to light from physics and philosophy during the last forty years. An expert in diverse areas, including theology, physics, metaphysics, and ethics, Spitzer offers in this text the most contemporary, complete, and integrated approach to rational theism currently available.

With the incredible popularity of recent books championing agnosticism or atheism, many people might never know that such books almost completely ignore the considerable evidence for theism uncovered in both physics and philosophy over the past four decades. New Proofs for the Existence of God responds to these glaring omissions.

From universal space-time asymmetry to cosmic coincidences to the intelligibility of reality, Robert Spitzer tackles a wealth of evidence. He considers string theory, quantum cosmology, mathematical thoughts on infinity, and much more.

This fascinating and stunning collection of evidence provides solid grounding for reasonable and responsible belief in a super-intelligent, transcendent, creative power standing at the origins of our universe.

Author Biography

Robert J. Spitzer, S.J., former president of Gonzaga University, is founder and president of the Magis Institute for Faith and Reason, Irvine, California, and host of a popular series on EWTN. His other books include Healing the Culture, The Spirit of Leadership, and Five Pillars of the Spiritual Life.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	p. xiii
Introduction	p. 1
The Contemporary Theistic Scene	p. 3
Why are These Proofs New? A Brief History of the Five Approaches	p. 4
The Rest of the Book	p. 10
Indications of Creation and Supernatural Design in Contemporary Big Bang Cosmology	p. 13
Introduction to Part One	p. 13
Indications of Creation in Big Bang Cosmology	p. 14
Introduction	p. 14
The Big Bang Theory	p. 14
Can Science Indicate Creation?	p. 22
Arguments for a Beginning of the Universe in Big Bang Cosmology	p. 24
The Second Law of Thermodynamics	p. 24
Why a Bouncing Universe Cannot Have Been Bouncing Forever	p. 27
Space-Time Geometry Arguments for a Beginning of Time	p. 30
Quantum Cosmology	p. 32
The Borde-Vilenkin-Guth Theorem's Boundary to Past Time	p. 33
Conclusion	p. 43
Metaphysical Implications	p. 44
Indications of Supernatural Design in Contemporary Big Bang Cosmology	p. 47
Introduction	p. 47
Universal Constants	p. 52
Constants of Space and Time	p. 53
Energy Constants	p. 55
Individuating Constants	p. 55
Large-Scale and Fine-Structure Constants	p. 56
The Extreme Improbability of Our Anthropic Universe	p. 57
Many Universes or Supernatural Design?	p. 67
Conclusion to Part One	p. 73
Inflationary Cosmology and the String Multiverse	p. 75
Introduction	p. 75
All Inflationary Cosmologies Must Have a Beginning and a Transcendent Cause	p. 75
String Cosmologies Entail a Beginning and a Transcendent Cause	p. 77
A Primer on String Theory	p. 77
Steinhardt-Turok Cyclic Ekpyrotic Universes Require a Beginning and a Transcendent Cause	p. 80
Gasperini-Veneziano Pre-Big-Bang Scenarios Require a Beginning and a Transcendent Cause	p. 81
Deflationary Intermezzo for Strings	p. 83
A Preliminary Assessment of Inflationary Cosmology	p. 84
All Inflationary and Non-Inflationary Cosmologies Appear to Require a Beginning and Transcendent Cause	p. 86
Inflation and Cosmological Fine-Tuning	p. 87
Fine-Tuning and String Cosmology	p. 90
Conclusion	p. 102
Three Philosophical Proofs for the Existence of God	p. 105
Methodological Presuppositions of Philosophical Proof: Reasonable and Responsible Belief	p. 105
A Metaphysical Argument for God's Existence	p. 110
Introduction	p. 110
Proof of the Existence of at Least one Unconditioned Reality	p. 111
Complete Disjunction Elucidating the Whole Range of Possibilities for All Reality	p. 111
Definitions	p. 111
Consequences of the Complete Disjunction	p. 112
Proof That "Hypothesis F" Must Be False for Any Conditioned Reality	p. 114
Proof That "Hypothesis
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