A Conversaunt Existence: An Argument for the Determination of God’S Ontology—His Being Real

By G. Bradley Nelson

Discussions about existence have generally come through the subject of philosophy. The thinking and thoughts about God's existence are well documented. Both sides of the standard arguments for God's existence have been presented. Current thinking has turned to evolutionary concepts that deny God exists or claims that God is a mere impersonal force. However, the time has come for a fresh look into how man can know of God's existence.

A Conversaunt Existence is just such a look. Changes have been made to the standard arguments for God's existence. New avenues of thought have been incorporated to corroborate these changes. There are reasons for directing our thoughts toward God's existing: First, it's foolish to let others steer one's thinking into denying God's existence. Ultimately, God wants everyone to respond to His invitation, accept His lifesaving and life-giving message, and participate in writing His story.

KIRKUS REVIEW

A short treatise on existence with an emphasis on the existence of God.

Nelson harkens back to a premodern era by using the archaic word "conversaunt" in place of "conversant" in his title. In doing so, he honors the fact that humankind has always experienced existence as a common form of knowledge. Nelson's work, though deeply philosophical in content, is meant from the beginning to have a personal impact on the reader and not just be merely theoretical in nature. Moreover, his overarching goal is to demonstrate the existence of a personal and involved God. Such authors as C.S. Lewis and Soren Kierkegaard help lead the way. In order to show that the human race is capable of understanding and even connecting with a God figure, Nelson coins a new term intercomplexicate which describes a self-consciousness that is able to make quick evaluations of complex ideas, leading to moral understanding. The author discusses both the strengths and weaknesses of ontological arguments for God's existence and also attempts to disprove popular scientific arguments against the existence of a deity. The idea of contingency (that existence can only occur due to a prior cause) is of great importance in later chapters, as Nelson argues that existence must be contingent on a "necessary being," such as a primary mover or first cause. In closing, the author provides a case not merely for a creator ("watchmaker") God, but for a personal God who continues to be involved with creation. Nelson has a penchant for mixing theoretical and philosophical verbiage with nonstandard language (such as using "by da vey" instead of "by the way" or comparing God with Jean-Luc Picard of Star Trek: The Next Generation). He seems to be seeking a balance between the often opaque material he presents and the personal effect he hopes to have on readers. This balance, unfortunately, is rarely found. Nevertheless, Nelson provides sound arguments worthy of further reflection. Review questions after each chapter are helpful for guiding and focusing the reader.

A thoughtful, refreshing argument for God's existence.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Apr 17, 2015
• ISBN: 9781490875033

G. Bradley Nelson

Attaining the age some call “senior” provides many experiences with this event called life. Contrary to the popular sentiment of this youth-worshiping culture, some things I’ve learned should be beneficial to you. I embraced Christianity at twenty-six and made up for lost time by attending Oak Hills Bible College. I continued by attending Bemidji State University, receiving a bachelor of arts in philosophy. I reentered the workforce with the knowledge of how to be satisfied with life, whether in lean times or in plenty. I became involved in environmental hazards as an inspector and training provider for all disciplines dealing with residential lead hazards and safe work practices. It is just one way to leave this world a better place than I found it. I enjoy philosophy but I do not worship the institutionalized God philosophy analyzes. I’m interested in serving the God who is personal and loving.

Book preview

Copyright © 2015 G. Bradley Nelson.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by

any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying,

recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system

without the written permission of the publisher except in the case

of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.com

1 [phone]

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or

links contained in this book may have changed since publication and

may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those

of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher,

and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-4908-7504-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-7505-7 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-7503-3 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015905135

WestBow Press rev. date: 04/15/2015

Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted are taken from

the New American Standard ®Bible. (NASB

To my wife,

Tammy Kay Nelson

A thought legacy to my children,

Jason, Sarah, and Christy

CONTENTS

Preface:

There is nothing more important in life than knowing God

Review Questions

Articulation 1:

An overview and the need for sound supporting arguments

Articulation 1: Review Questions

Articulation 2:

The reality of an existence with or without me

Articulation 2: Review Questions

Articulation 3:

Reemphasis, a strategic teleological argument supports existence

Articulation 3: Review Questions

Articulation 4:

A reorientation of the ontological argument provides support

Subsection 1: Humanists never acquired a foundation

Subsection 2: God Himself states how different He is from the universe

Articulation 4: Review Questions

Articulation 5:

A thorough underpinning is established cosmologically

Subsection 1: Mathematical propositions establish a finite, not infinities

Articulation 5: Review Questions

Articulation 6:

Contingency is the tie that binds

Articulation 6: Review Questions

Articulation 7:

Between a personal or impersonal God, the personal God wins

Conclusion:

So I am, you are and God is

Articulation 7: Review Questions

Bibliography

Notes

Preface:

There is nothing more important in life than knowing God

I’m sure you have already read the title and are probably scratching your head over it. Obviously the title, A Conversaunt Existence, is somewhat different. But it isn’t too different. It is basically saying that I want to talk about existence. There are some things we should all know about our existence. Additionally, there are some things that I believe reveal new information about existing and living that need to be shared with others.

Why did I choose the word conversaunt as part of the title? After all, it is an archaic Middle English word, and it demands some explanation. Well, through study and the passage of time, my perception of those who lived long ago has radically changed. While technologies of long ago were certainly unlike and inferior to those of today, the individuals who wrote about existence in centuries past were every bit our equals in intellect. By using the title A Conversaunt Existence, I am suggesting that persons long ago and we today have a shared and intimate association with this event we call existence. It also provides us with an avenue for turning our thoughts from our own existence toward the existence of God.

Frankly, the title acknowledges a debt to the claims of those earlier thinkers. Let’s be honest; what could we each be more intimately associated with than existence itself? Much of what is written on existence has used earlier thinkers’ work as a foundation to build upon. Reasoning through and expanding upon those ideas has contributed to and altered our views of what existence entails today. Regrettably, some current ideas are exceptionally unimpressive.

Beyond the collective contributions of earlier writers, the form and function of the word conversaunt, as it’s currently used, recognizes an additional correlation with the content of this book. By definition, what more could an author writing about existence hope for than having readers come away with a more conversaunt or familiar understanding of their own existence? Additionally, being more conversaunt or knowledgeable of the subject matter is likewise important for understanding the philosophical implications involved with having existence.

Conversaunt or conversant—no matter how it’s spelled—is about sharing ideas. This usage is easily recognized when we think about having a conversation. We can certainly envision this interaction occurring between the reader and the author as a form of conversing. By saying that we converse, we are already assuming the existence of others with the full implications of that coexistence speaking for itself. We are not alone; and as you read on, you will understand the importance of knowing more about existence and how others have thought about what having existence entails. Only after examining others’ work can we formulate our own positions regarding existence.

A better understanding of our existence, combined with an idea that within existence we include a supreme being whom we commonly refer to as God, is exactly what a philosophical discussion on the topic of existence centers around. It is here where some of the disciples of today’s naturalism and postmodernism (which is addressed later) begin making attacks on the nature of existence.

They claim all the older works describing existence begin with unprovable assumptions, which in philosophy are called a priori positions. I expect to fully rebut that stance and make a counterclaim that their positions, including any denial of the existence of God, are in fact the ones beginning with a set of a priori presuppositions. Hence the book’s subtitle, which says we are deciding if a logical determination for the existence of God is plausible and reliable. The ramifications of that determination are astronomical. Below is a personal letter I once wrote to show how significant the implications are when answering questions about who and what truly exists. It also helps answer the why.

This letter was written to a dear friend and relative. He had asked me if he could share it with others. I saw no reason for him not sharing it then, if he wanted to, and I don’t think he would mind me sharing it with you now. This letter shows what having certitude about the existence of God means. It also addresses the hope and resulting faith in Jesus Christ of anyone who is living on earth.

*****

To Rhodes Jefferson Taylor

Surprise, surprise—a real old-fashioned letter written to you, from me. I’m guessing you have probably been getting enough phone calls from well-wishers right now. I may even become one of them when I can get through and if you get up and out of bed for the day. I heard you got some news from the doctor saying your latest prognosis for beating the cancer isn’t good. That in fact your time with us here on this big rock is short. Well, I’ve got a story I want to tell you while I still can, if the doctors are indeed right.

Before I begin telling you this story, I first want to assure you that I love you and am praying for you. I have always considered you to be closer than a brother to me. Dude, we know each other—warts and all. From my earliest memories, you have been there. It is like we are inextricably tied through this event called life. We’ve got history, and that’s how this old story came to mind. So I’ll begin.

There were three young lads who were allowed to sleep out on the porch only after they had promised not to leave that porch for any reason. As you know, their names were Donny, Jeff, and Brad. It is important to the story that you remember that the Fourth of July was getting close and that the arrival of the carnival for the annual Days of ’56 celebration had occurred just prior to my sleepover with you and your brother Donny. Now I am going to insist that at the time we promised your mom (my Aunt Twila) that we wouldn’t leave that porch, we really meant it. However, when that unknown individual unexpectedly lit off a whole string of large firecrackers, he set into motion a chain of events no one could foresee.

It was as if we were being intentionally beckoned to leave that porch. We would have never broken our word if those firecrackers hadn’t gone off just down the alleyway. It was just so close, and we knew that not every one of those firecrackers had exploded. No, we could just go out that little ways from the porch and return before anyone was the wiser. With just a little diligent searching, we would score on some big-time, full-size firecrackers. That is how I remember this particular adventure of ours got started.

You know, if that was all we had done that night, this adventure would probably not have stuck so firmly in my memory. Needless to say, those firecrackers were only the turning point, the departure. As you recall, the carnival had come to town that very afternoon. We determined they would be setting up the rides, the game booths, and the concession stands throughout the night. I knew my folks would never let me go off to travel and work with the carney boys, but you, Jeff, you were pretty sure you could talk Uncle Dick and Aunt Twila into letting you do so. My, what an adventure that would be, to go off into the great unknown and see just what this ole world had to offer.

Well, at the time of the great porch escapade, just going downtown late at night to watch and maybe help them out a little would be a pretty good adventure all by itself. It even stood to reason that Denny Golden might be setting up his stand for the Boltons. That was more than enough hypothetical information from the realm of possibilities. We were persuaded; we were set in motion; and off we went.

At this point, my power of recall isn’t perfect. I am not sure if Donny accompanied us downtown and then returned home before we did, or if he thought going home after retrieving the firecrackers wasn’t the better plan. Either way, I will always think he woke your mom up when he tried sneaking back into the upstairs bedroom later that