Difference between revisions of "Argument from the Idea of God"

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'''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations_on_First_Philosophy Descartes]’ Cosmological-Ontological Argument''' (“The COA”) states that God exists because the idea of a God exists in human minds. This even applies to the minds of atheists; while they don’t believe this idea is true, they still possess the idea. The argument goes, as follows:
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'''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditations_on_First_Philosophy Descartes]’ Cosmological-Ontological Argument''' (“The COA”) states that God exists because the idea of a God exists in human minds. This even applies to the minds of atheists; while they don’t believe this idea is true, they still possess the idea.<ref name="Kreeft"> P. Kreeft, Faith and Reason:  The Philosophy of Religion (Recorded Books, 2005).</ref> The argument goes, as follows:
  
Every event has a cause, including thoughts. An infinite, perfect being must then exist to give people the concepts of [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YN-5W41OA0A perfection] and infinity. Otherwise, something infinite and perfect was created by finite, imperfect beings.
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Every event has a cause, including thoughts. An infinite, perfect being must then exist to give people the concepts of [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YN-5W41OA0A perfection] and infinity. Otherwise, something infinite and perfect was created by finite, imperfect beings.<ref name="Kreeft"></ref>
  
However, Freud argued that wishful thinking allows humanity to dream of all sorts of things more perfect than ourselves, by imaginatively extending our desires to infinity -- including the desire for an immortal father-figure. Lenin (through Marx’s framework) argued that the God concept originated from the desire to legitimize economic possessions and oppression; divinity exists to justify the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divine_right_of_kings divine right of kings].
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However, Freud argued that wishful thinking allows humanity to dream of all sorts of things more perfect than ourselves, by imaginatively extending our desires to infinity -- including the desire for an immortal father-figure.<ref>S. Freud, Totem and Taboo. (W. W. Norton & Co., 1990).</ref> Lenin (through Marx’s framework) argued that the God concept originated from the desire to legitimize economic possessions and oppression; divinity exists to justify the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divine_right_of_kings divine right of kings].<ref>Marxists Internet Archive, Socialism and  Religion, [Online]. Available:  https://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1905/dec/03.htm . [Accessed 4 MAY 2017].</ref>
 
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Revision as of 20:12, 5 May 2017

Descartes’ Cosmological-Ontological Argument (“The COA”) states that God exists because the idea of a God exists in human minds. This even applies to the minds of atheists; while they don’t believe this idea is true, they still possess the idea.[1] The argument goes, as follows:

Every event has a cause, including thoughts. An infinite, perfect being must then exist to give people the concepts of perfection and infinity. Otherwise, something infinite and perfect was created by finite, imperfect beings.[1]

However, Freud argued that wishful thinking allows humanity to dream of all sorts of things more perfect than ourselves, by imaginatively extending our desires to infinity -- including the desire for an immortal father-figure.[2] Lenin (through Marx’s framework) argued that the God concept originated from the desire to legitimize economic possessions and oppression; divinity exists to justify the divine right of kings.[3]


  1. 1.0 1.1 P. Kreeft, Faith and Reason: The Philosophy of Religion (Recorded Books, 2005).
  2. S. Freud, Totem and Taboo. (W. W. Norton & Co., 1990).
  3. Marxists Internet Archive, Socialism and Religion, [Online]. Available: https://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1905/dec/03.htm . [Accessed 4 MAY 2017].