God doesn't exist.

DEFINITIONS My opponent gives the definition of God, and then says that many things can be attributed to this definition. But obviously, as he admitts, this would mean that God exists! So In this debate, we are working with a monotheistic God, which I would define as a 'Maximally Great Being'. I would therefore say that none of my opponent's examples can be described as a 'God', or indeed anything close to it. PROOFS? My opponent says that the only evidence us Christians have is the Bible; but he is obviously not familiar with the work of Christian philosophers and theologians. So to attempt to show a few proofs to Pro, I will outline 2 arguments for God's existence. 1) Ontological argument - It is possible that a Maximally Great Being (God) exists - If it is possible that a Maximally Great Being exists, then it exists in some possible world - If a Maximally Great Being exists in some possible world, then it exists in every possible world (Considering the being's nature) - Therefore it exists in the actual world (which comes under the group 'every possible world' - Therefore a Maximally Great Being Exists This argument follows modal logic, and so if premise 1 is true, then the conclusion follows logically and necessarily. And I think we have good reason to believe premise 1 is true. 2) Cosmological argument - Everything that beings to exist has a cause. This is evident - out of nothing, nothing comes. - The universe began to exist. This is supported by the Big Bang theory. - Therefore the universe has a cause. The Conclusion logically and necessarily follows. - This cause has to transcend space and time, and so be changeless, timeless, spaceless, personal and hugely powerful. - Only 2 things come under these criteria - abstract numbers - so numbers, or sets - or and unembodied mind - so 'God'. - Abstract objects cannot cause anything - So the cause of the universe is God I hope I have shown that we theists have some sort of evidence for God other than the Bible! DO THESE FACTS DISPROVE GOD? I will respond to each of them in order. "Christianity is a religious beliefs that requires you to "dumb down" your mind in order to have faith. " Well, I am sure the likes of Iasaac Newton, Werner Heisenberg and Alvin Plantinga would disagree with you there, Pro. In fact, I'll give you a list of 'clever Christians': . http://en.wikipedia.org... Nevertheless, even if this were true, it wouldn't even begin to disprove God! It is commiting the Genetic fallacy - that is, by stating a belief's origins, it is attempting to disprove the belief. Even if it were true that belief in God required you to be 'dumbed down', it wouldn't even begin to disprove the existence of God! "The "devil" was not present in religious texts until the nomadic monotheists ran into polytheists and borrowed the idea" Well, the devil has nothing to do with the existence of God. Even if it were true (which it isn't), it wouldn't begin to disprove the existence of God. The devil and God are completely separate entities. "Throughout history, Christianity has been used to control the masses, rather than to enlighten them" Actually, I agree with this. I think that throughout history, Religion has been manipulated and used to carry out people's own selfish wants. But again, this wouldn't even begin to disprove the existence of God, and is again committing the genetic fallacy. -"In the case of the Bible, often entire verses, stories, and anecdotes were falsified for the sake of making a point. Even the concept of the "holy trinity" is a fabrication created not by any god, but for political reasons by a zealot named Theophilus of of Antioch in 412 AD. " I'm not sure about the historic accuracy about the first statement, so I think some evidence is needed on Pro's side here. As for the Holy Trinity, beliefs differ between Christians themselves - between Trinitarian belief and Unitarian belief. The Trinity is a doctrine that was indeed established after the Bible was written, but all it is, is the three entities of God that we experience. It is more an issue within Christianity and it's doctrine - not for the existence of God. It doesn't begin to disprove the existence of God - rather, it may question how Christians interpret the Bible. CONCLUSION Hopefully, I have shown to Pro that there are indeed God reasons to Believe in the existence of God outside of the Bible, and that his objections don't disprove God's existence at all. God Bless Sources: Alvin Plantinga: Warranted Christian Belief William Lane Criag: The Kalām Cosmological Argument Richard Swinburne: The Existence Of God