The Existence Of God Essays - Religion, Philosophy, Free Essays

The Existence Of God Essays - Religion, Philosophy, Free Essays The Existence Of God Philosophy as defined by our required text is said to be the love of wisdom. It is the search for the larger picture, the demand for knowledge. There are many questions in philosophy, many involving the subject of religion. Does God exist? Should we believe in God? Is belief in God justified? These are just some of the questions attempted to be answered in philosophy. Every philosopher has a different opinion on the existence of God. St. Anselm (1033-1109) was a Benedictine monk; his philosophical views were very much influenced by Plato (Mavrodes 26). His greatest works were Monologium, Proslogium, Cur Dues Homo. St. Anselm had many views on God and religion, but instead of asking if God existed, he asks if the nonexistence of God was conceivable (Mavrodes 26). To proof this statement he followed it up with several statements such as: Truly there is a God, although the fool hath said in his heart, there is no God. In addition, God cannot be conceived not to exist. God is that, than which nothing greater can be conceived. That which can be conceived not to exist is not God. This is also known as the ontological argument. St. Anselm argued that if there was a being that nothing greater could be conceived to exist, that it cannot even be conceived not to exist; then this being has to be God. Therefore, God must exist. St Thomas Aquinas (1226-1274) belonged as a member to the Dominican Order as a university lecturer. He wrote a lot, and of those many works his principal ones were Summa Theologica which is said to be the most comprehensive official theological statement of the Roman Catholic Church and the Summa Contra Gentiles (Mavrodes 42). Aquinas also believed in the existence of God, with this he formulated five proofs of God's existence. Of this the most widely known is the cosmological argument, this states that everything must be caused or created from something else. Therefore, there must be a first cause, and this is God (Soloman 90). Another well-known argument is the teleological argument. The basis of this argument for the existence of God is the threat against the finite structure of being, against the unity of polar elements (Tillich 210). This argument has also been called the argument from design. Due to the fact that the universe has been designed by a great architect is to assume a great part of the conclusion is to be proved. In this argument the author also argues that the author of nature is somewhat similar to the mind of man; though possessed of much lager faculties, proportioned to the grandeur of the work he executed (Mavrodes 109). There is also belief in the existence of God through the process of evolution. Almost all species have gone extinct at one time. The only species that survived were the ones headed to evolve a brain. Only God could have done this. If everybody knows who God is, then obviously God must of put the idea of himself into our heads because he is infinite. In philosophy, there are many theories about the existence of God, some more reasonable than others. Every philosophers has developed their own proofs and opinions on the subject, and until God comes down to earth or gives proof of his existence, then their will still be arguments on his existence. The Ontological, Cosmological, and Theological are all well known proofs, this proofs have brought much light and controversy to the argument, and as well as provoking the question to the existence of God.

How to Grow Color Change Crystals

How to Grow Color Change Crystals If you enjoy growing crystals, try this simple project that produces large crystals that change color from yellow to green to blue depending on light and temperature.   The crystals grow over a few hours to overnight and are sure to amaze! Color Change Crystal Materials Two chemicals react to produce the color change in the crystals: 10 grams potassium alum (potassium aluminum sulfate)3 grams red prussiate [potassium hexacyanoferrate(III)]50 milliliters hot water Alum is easy to find, but youll likely need to order red prussiate online. Another option is to simply order a color change crystal kit. The one by Thames and Kosmos is reliable and includes a total of three experiments. Prepare the Solution and Grow Crystals In a small clear container, simply dissolve the potassium alum and red prussiate in 50 milliliters of hot water. It make take a few minutes for the salts to fully dissolve. If you still have undissolved material after a couple of minutes, you can carefully set your container inside another larger container of very hot water, to act as a hot water bath and help the salts dissolve.Once the chemicals are dissolved, set your container of chemicals in a location where the crystals can grow without being disturbed.Youll start to see tiny crystals after 30 minutes to a couple of hours. Crystal growth should be complete overnight to a couple of days, depending mostly on temperature and the humidity of the air. At this point, the crystals will be yellowish green or green, depending on the temperature at which they grew.When you are satisfied with the crystal growth, use a spoon to remove the crystals from the container. You can set them on a saucer to dry. Dispose of the chemical solution by pouring it down the drain and rinsing with water. The easiest way to observe the color change is to divide the crystals between two containers. Place one container in a dark cabinet or closet and put the other container on a sunny window sill.Check on your crystals each day. Over time, the crystals in the sunlight will change color from yellow to green to blue. The crystals in the dark will remain yellow. The color change could take a couple of days, but in my experience, you see it within an hour or two. When I took the photo, the crystal on the left was canary yellow, but darkened to yellowish green under the bright lights How Color Changes Crystals Work Light and heat supply the energy to cause  a chemical reaction between the alum and red prussiate to produce Prussian blue or Berlin blue. This is an iron-based dye still in use today for blue ink cartridges and paints. Make Prussian Blue InkUse Prussian Blue in a Crystal Garden Safety Information The chemicals used in this project are safe to use, but you should wash your hands after handling the crystals, because the red prussiate and your crystals contain iron, which can be toxic if you get too much. Keep the chemicals and crystals out of reach of pets and young children for this reason. The kitchen is a perfect place to mix the solution and grow crystals, but be careful you dont get burned by the hot water and be sure to keep the chemicals and crystals away from food. Rinse any kitchen cookware you use so it doesnt have chemical residue. More Chemicals That Grow Crystals