Christian belief in God

We believe in God because it makes much more sense to believe than not to believe.  We believe that he is the Creator and Designer of all and holds everything in existence.  God himself had no beginning – he always was, he is, and he always shall be.

As the Psalmist wrote long ago:

“Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God” (NSRV, Psalm 90:2).

God is Spirit.  He is present everywhere because everywhere is in his presence.

SUMMARY

1. Christians believe that God exists.  Among reasons for believing this are:

• The Universe could not create itself.  It needed someone to create it.

• The Universe is a series of cause and effect stretching far back into the past.  God is the First Cause who set the series going and is himself uncaused.

• The way the Universe started and life is maintained could not have happened by chance but rather by the design of a Supreme Intelligence – God.

• Throughout human history there have been people who have had an experience or awareness of God. 

2. God had no beginning.  He always was, he is, and he always will be.

3. God is Spirit.  He is present everywhere because everywhere is in his presence.

References

1. Potter, C. (2009) You are here. A portable history of the universe, London: Hutchinson.
2. Allaby, M. et al (2008) The encyclopedia of Earth. A complete visual guide, Sydney: Weldon Owen.
3. Turner, L. (2010) 'God didn’t create the universe, says Hawking', The Independent,02 September.  Available from: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/god-didnt-create-universe-says-hawking-2068289.html  (Accessed 14 September 2010) (Internet).
4. BBC Horizon ‘What happened before the Big Bang?’  Broadcast 11 October 2010.
5. Vardy, P. and Arliss, J. (2003) The thinker’s guide to God, Ropley: O Books.
6. Vardy, P. and Arliss, J. (2003) op cit
7. Vardy, P. and Arliss, J. (2003) op cit
8. Vardy, P. and Arliss, J. (2003) op cit