Arguments for God's Existence from Contingency

[Abaddon_ire]

St. Thomas begins his Third Way by saying that "we find in nature things that are possible to be and not to be, since they are found to be generated, and to corrupt, and consequently, they are possible to be and not to be." (ST, I, 2, 3) ...

I proceed to offer 4 arguments that reveal God's attributes based on the contingency of creatures.

I you have objections or critiques, I'll be happy to discuss them. Thanks.

OK, since you already quoted the first paragraph, let's skip to the second which opens with the statement:

"Now if the universe began, then "at some point," to use this phrase loosely, there was nothing."

Which is plainly false. The correct and scientific answer is "We don't know". That includes everyone. You, me, scientists, atheists, theists, everyone.

However, "We don't know" is not an excuse to insert your dog into the equation and it is dishonest to make the attempt.

Next: "If, on the other hand, the universe never began, then things in it must have existed forever, for an actual infinity of, say, years. (This isn't 100% intelligible in its own right, but let's suppose this for the sake of argument.) " We don't know that either. Also, you have deployed a false dichotomy.

Next: "But if it is possible for an existing thing not to be, then the probability of its corrupting within some finite span of time is non-zero. " So what?

Next: "But in infinite time, all probable events will occur, and an infinite number of times, too." Non-sequitur.

Next: "Hence he goes on that "if everything is possible not to be, then at one time there could have been nothing in existence." " And therefore it is possible for god not to be as well. 

Next: "Either way, this is a problem, because "if at one time nothing was in existence, it would have been impossible for anything to have begun to exist; and thus even now nothing would be in existence -- which is absurd.""  Non-sequitur. The premises are false therefore the conclusion must logically be false.

And that is just your second paragraph.