Twenty Proofs of God- an introduction

Since the Enlightenment, belief in God has developed a reputation among atheists and agnostics as requiring a blind leap of faith and suspension of all reason and scientific evidence. In truth, this is not so.

I’ve decided to begin a series on the twenty proofs of God. My purpose is not necessarily to convince unbelievers that God exists, but to show that not only is belief in a deity not unreasonable, but in fact it is quite reasonable. Moreover, not believing in God requires faith just as believing in God requires faith. Furthermore, these proofs are helpful even for those who already believe because they reveal something about who and what God is.  As Frank Sheed says in Theology and Sanity,

Much of the argument as to whether there is a God results primarily not from doubt of His existence but from inability to make head of tail of His nature.  Even a little light upon what God is would settle many doubts as to whether He is. 

Some arguments are stronger than others.  Some are from reason alone, miracles, or experience, "but all twenty taken together, like twined rope, make a very strong case".  (Handbook of Catholic Apologetics, pg. 54).  My information comes from four main sources:

1. Handbook of Catholic Apologetics by Peter Kreeft and Ronald Tacelli (Interestingly, these gentlemen wrote the Handbook of Christian Apologetics in 1994 when they were both Protestants. Since that publication they have both converted to Catholicism and released this revised edition in 2009. Both are professors of philosophy at Boston College. Peter Kreeft has written several dozen books and has free audio available here.)

2. Theology and Sanity by Frank Sheed


3. Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis


4. Reasons to Believe by Scott Hahn


My plan is to tackle one proof per day. I’d love to hear your comments and/or questions!