Logic and theism: arguments for and against beliefs in God

674 Pages·2009·2.59 MB·English

by  Sobel, Jordan Howard

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LogicandTheism
ArgumentsForandAgainstBeliefsinGod
This is a wide-ranging book about arguments for and against belief
in God. Arguments for the existence of God analyzed in the first six
chaptersincludeontologicalargumentsfromAnselmthroughGo¨del,
the cosmological arguments of Aquinas and Leibniz, and arguments
fromevidencefordesignandmiracles.Followingthesechaptersaretwo
chaptersconsideringargumentsagainstthatexistence.Thelastchapter
examinesPascalianargumentsforandagainstbeliefregardlessofex-
istence.TherearediscussionsofCantorianproblemsforomniscience,
of challenges to divine omnipotence, and of the compatibility of ev-
erlastingcompleteknowledgeoftheworldwithfreewill.Forreaders
withatechnicalbackgroundinlogicthereareappendicesthatpresent
formalproofsinasystemforquantifiedmodallogic,atheoryofpos-
sible worlds, notes on Cantorian set theory, and remarks concerning
nonstandardhyperrealnumbers.
This book will be a valuable resource for philosophers of religion
andtheologiansandwillinterestlogiciansandmathematiciansaswell.
Jordan Howard Sobel is Professor Emeritus in the Department of
PhilosophyattheUniversityofToronto.

Logic and Theism
Arguments For and Against Beliefs in God
JORDAN HOWARD SOBEL
UniversityofToronto
cambridge university press
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Published in the United States of America by Cambridge University Press, New York
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© Jordan Howard Sobel 2004
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without the written permission of Cambridge University Press.
First published in print format 2004
isbn-13 978-0-511-18742-1 eBook (ebrary)
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formyparents
GertrudeBarmashandGeorgeSobel

ThereisNoGod
‘ThereisnoGod,’thewickedsaith,
‘Andtrulyit’sablessing,
Forwhathemighthavedonewithus
It’sbetteronlyguessing.’
‘ThereisnoGod,’ayoungsterthinks,
‘Orreally,iftheremaybe,
Hesurelydidn’tmeanaman
Alwaystobeababy.’
‘ThereisnoGod,orifthereis,’
Thetradesmanthinks,‘twerefunny
Ifheshouldtakeitillinme
Tomakealittlemoney.’
‘Whethertherebe,’therichmansays,
‘Itmattersverylittle,
ForIandmine,thanksomebody,
Arenotinwantofvictual.’
Someothers,alsotothemselves,
Whoscarcesomuchasdoubtit,
Thinkthereisnone,whentheyarewell,
Anddonotthinkaboutit.
Butcountryfolkswholivebeneath
Theshadowofthesteeple;
Theparsonandtheparson’swife,
Andmostlymarriedpeople;
Youthsgreenandhappyinfirstlove,
Sothankfulforillusion;
Andmencaughtoutinwhattheworld
Callsguilt,infirstconfusion;
Andalmosteveryonewhenage
Disease,orsorrowsstrikehim,
InclinestothinkthereisaGod,
Orsomethingverylikehim.
AnthurHughClough
DoverBeach
Theseaiscalmto-night
Thetideisfull,themoonliesfair
Uponthestraits;–ontheFrenchcoastthelight
Gleamsandisgone;thecliffsofEnglandstand,
Glimmeringandvast,outinthetranquilbay.
Cometothewindow,sweetisthenight-air!
Only,fromthelonglineofspray
Wheretheseameetsthemoon-blanchedland,
Listen!youhearthegratingroar
Ofpebbleswhichthewavesdrawback,andfling,
Attheirreturn,upthehighstrand,
Begin,andcease,andthenagainbegin
Withtremulouscadenceslow,andbring
Theeternalnoteofsadnessin.
Sophocleslongago
HearditontheAegean,anditbrought
Intohismindtheturbidebbandflow
Ofhumanmisery;we
Findalsointhesoundathought,
Hearingitbythisdistantnorthernsea.
TheSeaofFaith
Wasonce,too,atthefull,androundearth’sshore
Laylikethefoldsofabrightgirdlefurled,
ButnowIonlyhear
Itsmelancholy,long,withdrawingroar,
Retreating,tothebreath
Ofthenight-wind,downthevastedgesdrear
Andnakedshinglesoftheworld.
Ah,love,letusbetrue
Tooneanother!fortheworld,whichseems
Toliebeforeuslikealandofdreams,
Sovarious,sobeautiful,sonew,
Hathreallyneitherjoy,norlove,norlight,
Norcertitude,norpeace,norhelpforpain;
Andwearehereasonadarklingplain
Sweptwithconfusedalarmsofstruggleandflight,
Whereignorantarmiesclashbynight.
MatthewArnold