1. The Cumulative Case for God Evidence for God’s Existence
Phil Fernandes, Ph.D.
Institute of Biblical Defense

2. The Cumulative Case for God
The Criminal Courts—must prove case beyond reasonable doubt
The Civil Courts—must prove case based on the preponderance of the evidence
Theism vs Atheism—use preponderance of evidence

3. The Cumulative Case for God
I treat Christian Theism as a hypothesis
I argue it is more reasonable to believe in God than it is to be an atheist
Theism offers a more adequate explanation than atheism does for common aspects of human experience

4. The beginning of the universe
2nd law of thermodynamics (entropy)
Big Bang Model
Time had to have a beginning
From nothing, nothing comes
Either “in the beginning God” or “In the beginning nothing”

5. Continuing Existence of Universe
All existence cannot have the possibility of non-existence, for then nothing would have existed in the past
From nothing, nothing comes
Something must be eternal & have no possibility of non-existence (a Necessary Being)

6. Design & Order in Universe
Single celled animal contains enough genetic information to fill 20,000 volumes of encyclopedia
Explosions in a print shop—dictionary
Explosions do not cause more order & complexity (go from order to disorder)
Tornado in a junkyard—Boeing 747

7. Types of Intelligent Design
Design & Order (2)
Types of Intelligent Design
Specified Complexity
(William Dembski)
Irreducible Complexity
(Michael Behe)
Anthropic Principle
(Hugh Ross)

8. Possibility of human knowledge (human reason)
Could consciousness & our thinking ability randomly evolve from matter?
It is more reasonable that we were created by a Rational Being & in His image
Atheism cannot account for the validity of human reason

9. Universal, Eternal, Unchanging Truths
Laws of logic & mathematics
Most atheists are materialists (only matter exists—what about thoughts & values & truth?)
If atheism is true than there is no truth; then atheism cannot be true

10. Universal, Eternal, Unchanging Moral Laws
moral standard not from the individual
Not from societies
Not from world consensus
Even atheists try to build a better world
Even atheists condemn the past & try to build a better future

11. Moral Laws (continued)
Their actions appeal to a standard above all individuals, societies, & world consensus; it doesn’t change with time
This implies a Moral Lawgiver above all individuals, all societies, & any world consensus
This Moral Lawgiver is eternal & unchanging

12. The Meaning of Life (Purpose)
Life is absurd if there is no God & no life after death
Corrie Ten Boom & Adolph Hitler
No eternal difference between them without God & life after death

13. Other Common Aspects A reason to be optimistic about the future (hope)
A guarantee that evil will be defeated
Feelings of guilt
Fear of death (call for a priest/preacher)

14. Final Two Aspects Human Rights (respect for human life)
In a world without God, there are no human rights
Free Will & Human Responsibility
(the existence of the human, non-material soul)

15. Conclusion of the Cumulative Case
Mere molecules in motion, combined with time & chance, cannot explain any of these factors
The atheist must either deny the reality of these aspects of human experience or say “they are just there” (but, then atheism becomes a non-explanation)