A Discourse on God’s Existence: Cosmological and Teleological Proofs

This literature review examined the evolution and contemporary significance of cosmological and teleological arguments as philosophical and theological proofs for the existence of God. The review deconstructed how these arguments have been shaped by the dynamic interplay between theology, philosophical reasoning, and scientific discovery from ancient Greek philosophy through modern scientific developments. The cosmological arguments are examined through the Leibnizian framework, based on the Principle of Sufficient Reason, and the Kalam argument, which posits that whatever begins to exist must have a cause. The review explores how these arguments engage with contemporary scientific theories including the Big Bang, quantum mechanics, and multiverse hypotheses, while addressing persistent philosophical challenges such as infinite regress and the problem of explanation. The teleological arguments are analysed through William Paley’s watchmaker analogy and Michael Behe’s concept of irreducible complexity, examining how these design-based arguments have adapted to advances in biological science. The review evaluated how evolutionary theory, molecular biology, and modern genetics have challenged and these arguments, while refining and exploring their theological implications for understanding the question of the existence of God and the nature of life as we know it. The analysis revealed that while mainstream science has not accepted the design/creation inferences these arguments allude to, they remain fluxive in theological and philosophical debate about the boundaries between the scientific and the metaphysical. The review concludes that cosmological and teleological arguments remain influential in contemporary philosophical theology, bridging reason and faith while adapting to new scientific understanding. These arguments continue to raise fundamental questions about the nature of existence, the limits of human knowledge, and The relationship between science and religion

Authors

Publication Details

Journal
International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science
Published
2025-09-24
DOI
https://doi.org/10.47772/ijriss.2025.908000611
Primary Topic
Theology and Philosophy of Evil
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

A Discourse on God’s Existence: Cosmological and Teleological Proofs

Oghenetega Esther PHILIP
International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science
Theology and Philosophy of Evil
article

A Discourse on God’s Existence: Cosmological and Teleological Proofs

Oghenetega Esther PHILIP
article en

Abstract

This literature review examined the evolution and contemporary significance of cosmological and teleological arguments as philosophical and theological proofs for the existence of God. The review deconstructed how these arguments have been shaped by the dynamic interplay between theology, philosophical reasoning, and scientific discovery from ancient Greek philosophy through modern scientific developments. The cosmological arguments are examined through the Leibnizian framework, based on the Principle of Sufficient Reason, and the Kalam argument, which posits that whatever begins to exist must have a cause. The review explores how these arguments engage with contemporary scientific theories including the Big Bang, quantum mechanics, and multiverse hypotheses, while addressing persistent philosophical challenges such as infinite regress and the problem of explanation. The teleological arguments are analysed through William Paley’s watchmaker analogy and Michael Behe’s concept of irreducible complexity, examining how these design-based arguments have adapted to advances in biological science. The review evaluated how evolutionary theory, molecular biology, and modern genetics have challenged and these arguments, while refining and exploring their theological implications for understanding the question of the existence of God and the nature of life as we know it. The analysis revealed that while mainstream science has not accepted the design/creation inferences these arguments allude to, they remain fluxive in theological and philosophical debate about the boundaries between the scientific and the metaphysical. The review concludes that cosmological and teleological arguments remain influential in contemporary philosophical theology, bridging reason and faith while adapting to new scientific understanding. These arguments continue to raise fundamental questions about the nature of existence, the limits of human knowledge, and The relationship between science and religion

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science
Openalex Percentile: Top 75%
Theology and Philosophy of Evil
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