THE MORAL PROOFFOR THE EXISTENCE OF

GOD

There are THREE possible explanations

1. Morality stems from God

2. Morality comes from the way we understand the world

3. Morality depends on the needs of society

1. Morality stems from God

Hugh Parry-Owen thinks that morality points to God.

If you have a command There must also be a commander.

So morality must point to a God!

1. Morality stems from God

Cardinal Newman 1801-1890

Conscience

The inner voice which guides our behaviour. The inner voice that reminds of our guilt and shame

That is God

2. Morality comes from the way we understand the world

Immanuel Kant 1724 - 1804Kant didn’t think you could logically prove God exists.

He felt there had to be a God but that was because of the way he understood people and the world around him.

2. Morality comes from the way we understand the world

Kant believed in the fairness of the universe

Everyone seeks complete happiness and virtue that’s the Summum Bonum for those that know about it

Because everyone seeks it, it must be achievable.

In our life on earth it is not achievable though.

So there must be a life after death where the will be a God.

2. Morality comes from the way we understand the world

For Kant then God is a sort of spin off from morality.

If you hold that the universe is fair

If you accept that everyone seeks virtue and happiness – the Summum Bonum.

Then God is a sort of inevitable consequence.

Kant’s phrase –

God is a postulate of practical morality

3. Morality depends on the needs of society

Emile Durkheim 1858 - 1917Morality is nothing to do with God. It is an essential part of society.

He also thought religion was an important part of society. It encouraged people to behave well.

3. Morality depends on the needs of society

Sigmund Freud 1856 - 1939

Freud was the founder of psychoanalysisHe didn’t believe in God, so he doesn’t link God and morality

Morality comes from within us – it’s our super ego (but that’s not good)

3. Morality depends on the needs of society

Freud believed we have deep subconscious desires such as sex and aggression.

These are self destructive and totally against what society would allow

So our conscious mind imposes on these primitive instincts a controlling influence and a sense of moral obligation.

3. Morality depends on the needs of society

• So morality is our conscious mind imposing itself on our primitive instincts.

• This super-ego strives to ensure that we live moral controlled lives.

1. Morality stems from God (Owen)

2. Morality comes from the way we understand the world (Kant)

3. Morality depends on the needs of society (Freud)

That’s it folks all you need to know about the moral

argument.