Why believe that there is a God?

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Professor Richard Swinburne is an Emeritus Nolloth Professor of the Philosophy of the Christian Religion, at the University of Oxford.

Abstract:

Professor Swinburne argues that the most general phenomena of the universe make it probable that there is a God (in the sense of an eternal omnipotent, omniscient, perfectly free, and perfectly good personal creator and sustainer of the universe.) These most general phenomena are the existence of a physical universe governed by simple laws, the laws being ‘fine-tuned’ so as to lead to the existence of human bodies, and humans being conscious. The criteria which he uses in arguing from these general features to God are the criteria which detectives, historians, and physical scientists use to argue from their evidence E to a hypothesis H which probably explains E. These criteria are that an explanatory hypothesis H is rendered probable by evidence E insofar as: (1) If H, probably E, (2) If not-H, probably not-E, (3) H is simple. So I claim that if there is a God, it is probable that these phenomena will occur; if there is no God it is most improbable that these phenomena will occur; and God (of the kind postulated) is a very simple being (a single being, all of whose properties follow from his eternal omnipotence).

Biography:

Professor Richard Swinburne is Emeritus Nolloth Professor of the Philosophy of the Christian Religion at the University of Oxford. Over the last 50 years, Professor Swinburne has been an influential proponent of philosophical arguments for the existence of God. He is the author of almost 200 academic articles and over 15 books, including 'The Coherence of Theism' (OUP), 'The Existence of God' (OUP), 'Faith and Reason' (OUP), 'The Christian God' (OUP), and most recently, 'Is there a God?' (OUP)