I Asked 100 Apologists Their Best Argument for God

Summary

In this video, the presenter surveys 100 Christian apologists on what they consider the best argument for the existence of God. The responses range from personal experiences of transformation to philosophical and scientific arguments, including the moral argument, the evidence for Jesus, and the cosmological argument. Apologists like William Lane Craig, Gary Habermas, and John Lennox provide their perspectives, while others like Osg Guinness and Doug Groti offer more nuanced answers. The presenter also reflects on how these arguments can resonate differently with individuals and explores the variety of approaches to defending the Christian faith.

Takeaways

• 😀 The survey asked 100 Christian apologists about the best argument for the existence of God, revealing a wide range of responses.
• 😀 The 'existential' category, which includes personal experiences of transformation by God, was the least cited but highlighted by figures like John Lennox.
• 😀 Unique arguments, such as near-death experiences (J. Steve Miller) and the argument from contingency (Trent Horn), appeared but were cited by only a few apologists.
• 😀 The evidence for Jesus, especially his life, teachings, resurrection, and miracles, was one of the more common responses, with Gary Habermas notably emphasizing the resurrection.
• 😀 The moral argument was cited by 23 apologists, pointing out that objective morality implies a moral lawgiver.
• 😀 The creation argument, especially the cosmological and fine-tuning arguments, was the most frequently mentioned, with William Lane Craig and others favoring it as evidence for God.
• 😀 Some apologists, like Os Guinness and Doug Groothuis, refused to answer the question, instead offering philosophical perspectives on the subjective nature of such arguments.
• 😀 Doug Groothuis suggested a cumulative case approach, arguing that multiple arguments should collectively point toward the existence of God, rather than relying on one singular best argument.
• 😀 The speaker personally favored the moral argument, feeling it resonates both intellectually and experientially as it relates to justice and the human conscience.
• 😀 The variety of arguments shows the importance of a personalized approach when discussing God's existence, as different people resonate with different arguments.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of the video?

The video explores the question of what leading Christian apologists consider to be the best argument for the existence of God. The presenter surveys the opinions of 100 apologists, categorizing their responses into different arguments.

What is the 'existential' category of arguments about the existence of God?

The 'existential' category includes personal experiences or encounters with God. An example is John Lennox, who views a transformed life as the most compelling evidence for God, referring to individuals whose lives have been dramatically changed by faith in Jesus.

What is the unique argument mentioned by J. Steve Miller?

J. Steve Miller cites near-death experiences as a unique argument for the existence of God. He suggests that these experiences, which some interpret as encounters with the divine, provide significant evidence.

What is the contingency argument mentioned by Trent Horn?

Trent Horn refers to the contingency argument, which is a version of the cosmological argument. It argues that because the universe consists of contingent beings (things that could have not existed), the best explanation for its existence is a necessary being, or God.

What is the argument from reason, and who supports it?

The argument from reason suggests that the reliability of our cognitive faculties in understanding truth points toward a purposeful designer. Both Mary Joe Sharp and Rouslon KD support this argument, drawing on ideas from C.S. Lewis and Alvin Plantinga.

What evidence for God did Gary Habermas and others emphasize?

Gary Habermas and others, such as Stephanie Gray Connors and Stuart Kckley, emphasized the resurrection of Jesus as the strongest evidence for the existence of God. Habermas is particularly noted for his extensive study of the resurrection.

What is Josh McDowell's unique response to the question?

Josh McDowell, the presenter's father, responded that the best argument for the existence of God is fulfilled prophecy. He argues that the fulfillment of prophecies in the Bible provides compelling evidence for God’s existence.

How does the moral argument for God's existence work?

The moral argument suggests that the existence of objective morality points toward a moral lawgiver. 23 apologists cited this argument, including figures like Paul Copan and Greg Kokal, highlighting that the universal sense of right and wrong suggests a divine source.

What is the most cited argument among the apologists in this survey?

The most cited argument among the apologists is the creation argument. 52 apologists pointed to aspects of creation, such as the cosmological argument, fine-tuning, and the origin of life, as the best evidence for the existence of God.

What is the role of fine-tuning in arguments for God’s existence?

Fine-tuning refers to the precise conditions of the universe that allow for life. The argument suggests that the exact laws of physics and cosmology, which are finely tuned for life, are best explained by a fine-tuner, or God. Apologists like Hugh Ross highlighted this argument.

Why did Osg Guinness and Doug Groti refuse to provide a single best argument for God’s existence?

Osg Guinness believes that the best argument depends on the individual and their personal context, while Doug Groti, a cumulative case apologist, emphasized that there is no single best argument. He argues that a combination of arguments from different domains (philosophical, moral, experiential, historical) is necessary to make the case for God.

What is the presenter's personal choice for the best argument for God’s existence?

The presenter personally chooses the moral argument as the best argument for the existence of God. They argue that it is not only intellectual but also experiential, as people universally feel a moral sense and cry out for justice.