Prologue

Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz (1646 – 1716), a German polymath & philosopher, asked himself: “Why is there something rather than nothing?” ¹. The best explanation for this is found in God.

Argument (Leibniz)

1. Everything that exists has an explanation of its existence.
2. If the universe has an explanation of its existence, that explanation is God.
3. The universe exists.
4. Therefore explanation of the universe’s existence is God.

Argument (my version)

1. Things exists either necessarily or contingently
2. The universe begins to exists
3. Therefore the universe is contingent

Things exists because of 1 of the 2 reasons: necessarily & contingently.

You and me are contingent: if your parents didn’t met, we would never existed. If anything happened differently back then (married to a different spouse), we could have not existed at all. But we do exists, therefore we have a cause (union of our parents).

The same thing happened to our universe: it is contingent because if the Big Bang failed to happened, it could have never existed. But it does exists, so it must have a cause.

Since it’s logically possible that the whole universe might not have existed, which mean it doesn’t exist necessarily, but contingently. If that’s the case, then why does the universe exists at all?

1. It’s logically possible that the universe might not have existed
2. The universe isn’t necessary
3. The universe is contingent

What if…

• We don’t need to raise the question?
  • It still doesn’t change reality. Any belief leads to a different conclusion. I can be wrong and be hurt by that. Or I can be right and benefit from it. If God does exist, then the end result is unavoidable, despite our preferences or opinions. Facts don’t care about feelings.
• …

Atheist like Ricky Gervais (on Stephen Colbert’ show) will dodge the question to avoid the conclusion that God created the world with purpose.

Purpose & meaning in life are key factors to drive the behavior of people.