A quote by Albert Einstein “Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one.” one of the most influential people discussing limitations on the rational mind. The argument between empiricism and rationalism seems to be a back and forth battle between a bunch of old guys arguing about which came first the chicken or the egg. Although when they were brought together is when it seems to make the most sense. For rationalism we have the belief that reason is the primary source of all knowledge, only reason itself can give meaning to experience and separate reality from illusion. To understand truth we must be completely sure of it, this requires a rational method of inquiry based on doubt.
As we all know, everything has a beginning and an end, so as to the universe. That “Prime Mover” must exist to start the motion of the universe. Moreover, most supporters of the cosmological argument say that the universe could only
Therefore, man is obligated to repent and put his faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation and bear good fruit or face the righteous judgement of God. In Romans 1:20, Paul reveals that the natural world testifies to a supernatural cause. According to the scientific evidence, nature itself had a beginning. As Dr. Frank Turek points out, the supernatural cause that created nature must be spaceless (Because it created space), timeless (Because it created time), immaterial (Because it created matter), powerful (Because it created out of nothing), intelligent (Because the creation event and the universe was precisely designed), and personal (Because it made a choice to convert a state of nothing into something; impersonal forces don’t make choices). This evidence is consistent with Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Paul eluded to this when he said that God’s invisible qualities, eternal power, and divine nature is clearly seen, being understood by what has been made, so that men are without excuse (Rom.1:20).
Transcendentalism today can influence the beginning of a new realization in many religions. The term Transcendentalism was derived from the philosopher Kant, who called "all knowledge transcendental which is concerned not with objects but with our mode of knowing objects." In the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, "We will walk on our own feet; we will work with our own hands; we will speak our own minds...A nation of men will for the first time exist, because each believes himself inspired by the Divine Soul which also inspires all men." In this 21st Century the Age of Technology, we are still plagued by religious beliefs that are contributing causes toward terrorism, killings and wars between nations. Belief in what much of mankind calls “God”,
DARWIN'S THEORY OF EVOLUTION postulates that 'life' 2 on Earth arose from non-living matter entirely by way of some unknown, 'unconscious', mechanistic, natural process on a pre-biotic earth and then proceeded to evolve into more complex life forms almost exclusively by way of a random mutation and natural selection process, 3 and all occurring without the involvement of an over lighting consciousness or 'creator'. Darwin's model of evolution, known as "the survival of the fittest", is widely accepted by most of the contemporary scientific community, as well as the general public, as a "fact of life" as there is little doubt this process does play a significant part in changing the characteristics within the pre-existing gene pool of a species. (a process known as micro-evolution within species) On the face of it, Darwin's theory is so elegantly simple and in accordance with so many of the day-to-day observations of modern genetics that it does indeed appear to be self evident. However, close examination of a whole raft of scientific data reveals the absence of virtually any empirical scientific evidence in support of the theory, either regarding the alleged
The changes include the belief that the scientific method is the supreme law of knowledge; the view that the universe is composed of elementary material building blocks; and the belief in unlimited material progress to be achieved through economic and technological growth. In the past, the old model was traditionally ruled by knowledge gained through religion and mysticism. The new model serves to avoid an extremely rational thinking, scientific based model of consciousness and reality. According to Marx, the roots of social evolution were deep in economic and technological growth, not ideas or values. Charles Darwin had similar ideas, but about biological evolution, emphasizing the importance of just conflict and struggle.
According to St. Anselm in his ontological argument, he describes God as an idea or concept of which nothing greater can be conceived (Living Issues in Philosophy, page 388). In this he guides thought by arguing “If the most perfect being existed only in thought and not in reality, then it would not really be the most perfect being. One that exists in the mind and in reality would be more perfect.” Anselm concludes his theory with “no one who understands what God is; can conceive that God does not exist. (A. J. Hoober). Existence is a part of perfection.
Materialism, distinct from the other views of what constitutes human life, argues that there is no separate soul - the body is just matter. Richard Dawkins is a materialist, arguing that DNA is all that constitutes a person. He
They can be physical parts or concepts (similar to Plato’s idea of the forms). Two main issues come up during discussions of cosmology; how the universe was created and out of what the universe was created. In the Theogony, Hesiod has the world created out of gods that are human by nature and to create this universe the gods reproduced. Hesiod’s theories of the universe can clearly be classified as myth, since there is no scientific background for it. The philosophers to follow Hesiod moved slightly away from this.
For example, St. Anselm of Canterbury proposed the first, and best-known Ontological argument in the 11th. Century A.D. In his Proslogion, St. Anselm claims to derive the existence of God from the concept of a being, which no greater can be conceived. St. Anselm reasoned that, “if such a being fails to exist, then a greater being, namely, a being than which no greater can be conceived, and which exists, can be conceived” (Philosophy Encyclopedia). However, this would be absurd, seeing as that nothing greater than God can be conceived in anyway.