Is The Design Argument Convincing?

The design argument argues that every complex thing needs a designer. In the case of the universe, this designer must be God. But, some people have criticisms of the design argument.

What kind of God is the designer?

The Christian God has been described in many ways:
- Christians say that God is a loving father.
- That God cares for everyone.
- And that God is three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
But, the design argument doesn’t prove any of these statements about the Christian God.
- The design argument simply says there was an all-powerful creator. This creator could easily be someone who is not loving.
- So, maybe the design argument has proved there is a God of some sort, but not the Christian God.

Mistakes in the design

Another criticism of the design argument is that many things in the world seem badly designed. For example, earthquakes and diseases.
- If God is all-powerful and all-loving, He would not have included in His design things that cause suffering.
- Some philosophers say that this either means that God is not all-powerful and all-loving, or that God does not exist.

The universe was not designed

The last criticism of the design argument is that the universe could have occurred by chance. Or, by natural development.
The world has evolved over billions of years, and the complexity could just be how things have turned out!
For example, there is the idea of survival of the fittest.
- Survival of the fittest tells us that over billions of years, things not well suited to survive died off.
- So, what is left is a world full of complex things that have adapted, become more complex and so survived! This is an entirely natural process, without a designer.

Summary of the criticisms

These three criticisms do not mean the design argument is wrong.
- Some philosophers do not accept that something as extraordinary as the universe could have occurred by chance.
- Also, some philosophers try to explain how there could be suffering in a world that God created.
The important thing to remember is that there are often two different points of view to consider!

1Year 7

1.1Origins of Abrahamic Faith

1.2Judaism

1.3Christianity

1.3.1The Nativity

1.3.2Christian Beliefs about the Baby Jesus

1.3.3Jesus' Ministry

1.3.4The Sermon on the Mount

1.3.5The Crucifixion

1.3.6The Last Supper

1.3.7The Resurrection

1.3.8Christian Beliefs about the Resurrection

1.3.9The Council of Nicaea

1.3.10The Nicene Creed

1.3.11Saint Augustine

1.3.12Protestantism

1.3.13The Reformation

1.3.14Christianity Today

1.3.15Evangelical Churches

1.3.16The Future of Christianity

1.4Buddhism

1.4.1Religion in India

1.4.2The Caste System

1.4.3Meditation

1.4.4Caste & Religion

1.4.5Puja

1.4.6Karma & the Cycle of Rebirth

1.4.7The Four Noble Truths

1.4.8The Three Marks of Existence

1.4.9The Buddha’s Noble Eightfold Path to Enlightenment

1.4.10How do Buddhists Live?

1.4.11The Four Sights

1.4.12The Buddha

1.4.13The Middle Way & Enlightenment

2Year 8

2.1Islam

2.1.1Pre-Islamic Arabia

2.1.2The Prophet Muhammad & The Qur'an

2.1.3The Hijrah & The Conquest of Mecca

2.1.4The Prophet Muhammad: The Final Sermon

2.1.5The Sunni/Shia Split

2.1.6Islamic Caliphates

2.1.7The Five Pillars of Islam

2.1.8Origins of Hajj

2.1.9Hajj Rituals

2.1.10Jihad

2.1.11Islam Today

2.2Hinduism

2.2.1The Prehistoric Roots of Hinduism

2.2.2Key Ideas in Hinduism

2.2.3The Caste System

2.2.4The Vedic Period

2.2.5The Upanishads

2.2.6Alexander the Great & The Mauryan Empire

2.2.7Revelation & The Sharing of Knowledge

2.2.8Understanding the Self

2.2.9Karma, Yoga & the Self

2.2.10The Divine Presence

2.2.11Hindu Statues and Icons

2.2.12British Colonialism & Gandhi

2.3Atheism

2.3.1Where Did Atheism Come From?

2.3.2The Impact of Scientific Developments

2.3.3Plato's Cave

2.3.4Challenging the Bible

2.3.5The Enlightenment

2.3.6Evolution

2.3.7Evolution & Religion

2.3.8Morality & God

2.3.9Morality Without God

2.3.10Frederick Nietzsche - How to Live Without Religion

2.3.11Militant Atheism

2.3.12Humanism

2.3.13The Future of Atheism

2.4Philosophy of Religion