What is the biblical basis for proving God's existence using purely rational arguments, and how is this reconciled with the essential role of faith?

To steelman the case for proving God's existence using reason alone, I think one of the best contemporary examples of how this could be done is found in Edward Feser's book [*Five Proofs of the Existence of God*](https://www.amazon.com/Five-Proofs-Existence-Edward-Feser/dp/1621641333) : > This book provides a detailed, updated exposition and defense of five of the historically most important (but in recent years largely neglected) philosophical proofs of God’s existence: the Aristotelian, the Neo-Platonic, the Augustinian, the Thomistic, and the Rationalist. > > It also offers a thorough treatment of each of the key divine attributes—unity, simplicity, eternity, omnipotence, omniscience, perfect goodness, and so forth—showing that they must be possessed by the God whose existence is demonstrated by the proofs. Finally, it answers at length all of the objections that have been leveled against these proofs. > > This work provides as ambitious and complete a defense of traditional natural theology as is currently in print. Its aim is to vindicate the view of the greatest philosophers of the past— thinkers like Aristotle, Plotinus, Augustine, Aquinas, Leibniz, and many others— **that the existence of God can be established with certainty by way of purely rational arguments**. It thereby serves as a refutation both of atheism and of the fideism that gives aid and comfort to atheism. > ## Editorial Reviews > > **Review** > > "A watershed book. Feser has completely severed the intellectual legs > upon which modern atheism had hoped to stand." **— Matthew Levering**, > James N. and Mary D. Perry Jr. Chair of Theology, Mundelein Seminary > > "A powerful and important book. The concluding chapter, where Feser > replies to possible objections to his arguments, is a gem; it alone is > worth the price of this excellent work." **— Stephen T. Davis**, Russell > K. Pitzer Professor of Philosophy, Claremont McKenna College > > "Edward Feser is widely recognized as a top scholar in the history of > philosophy in general, and in Thomistic and Aristotelian philosophy in > particular. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in natural > theology. I happily and highly recommend it." **— J. P. Moreland**, > Distinguished Professor of Philosophy, Biola University > > "Refutes with devastating effect the standard objections to theistic > proofs, from David Hume to the New Atheists." **— Robert C. Koons**, > Professor of Philosophy, University of Texas at Austin > > "Yet another fine book by Edward Feser. He replies to (literally) all > of the objections and shows convincingly how the most popular > objections (the kind one hears in Introduction to Philosophy courses) > are very often completely beside the point and, even when they're not, > are 'staggeringly feeble and overrated'." **— Alfred J. Freddoso**, > Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, University of Notre Dame > > **About the Author** > > **Edward Feser, Ph.D.**, is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Pasadena > City College in Pasadena, California. Called by National Review "one > of the best contemporary writers on philosophy", he is the author of > The Last Superstition: A Refutation of the New Atheism, Aquinas, > Scholastic Meta- physics, By Man Shall His Blood Be Shed, and many > other books and articles. For illustrative purposes, the following is a brief excerpt from chapter 6 of Feser's book: > ### The Nature of God and of His Relationship to the World > > We have now examined five arguments for the existence of God, which can be summarized briefly as follows. The Aristotelian proof begins with the fact that there are potentialities that are actualized and argues that we cannot make sense of this unless we affirm the existence of something which can actualize the potential existence of things without itself being actualized, a *purely actual actualizer*. The Neo-Platonic proof begins with the fact that the things of our experience are composed of parts and argues that such things could not exist unless they have an *absolutely simple* or *noncomposite cause*. The Augustinian proof begins with the fact that there are abstract objects like universals, propositions, numbers, and possible worlds, and argues that these must exist as ideas in a *divine intellect*. The Thomistic proof begins with the real distinction, in each of the things of our experience, between its essence and its existence, and argues that the ultimate cause of such things must be something which is *subsistent existence itself*. The rationalist proof begins with the principle of sufficient reason and argues that the ultimate explanation of things can only lie in an *absolutely necessary being*. Note that Edward Feser's five proofs never resort to evidence of design or complexity in nature. Those sorts of arguments, which look at nature for evidence of design (and, therefore, of a designer), are commonly referred to as [*teleological arguments*](https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/teleological-arguments/) . In order to illustrate this point, and to present steelman versions of this line of reasoning, the following are two important books in this area: [*Return of the God Hypothesis: Three Scientific Discoveries That Reveal the Mind Behind the Universe*](https://www.amazon.com/Return-God-Hypothesis-Compelling-Scientific/dp/0062071505/) , by Stephen C. Meyer. > **The *New York Times* bestselling author of *Darwin’s Doubt*, Stephen Meyer, presents groundbreaking scientific evidence of the existence of God, based on breakthroughs in physics, cosmology, and biology.** > > Beginning in the late 19th century, many intellectuals began to insist that scientific knowledge conflicts with traditional theistic belief—that science and belief in God are “at war.” Philosopher of science Stephen Meyer challenges this view by examining three scientific discoveries with decidedly theistic implications. Building on the case for the intelligent design of life that he developed in *Signature in the Cell* and *Darwin’s Doubt*, Meyer demonstrates how discoveries in cosmology and physics coupled with those in biology help to establish the identity of the designing intelligence behind life and the universe. > > Meyer argues that theism—with its affirmation of a transcendent, intelligent and active creator—best explains the evidence we have concerning biological and cosmological origins. Previously Meyer refrained from attempting to answer questions about “who” might have designed life. Now he provides an evidence-based answer to perhaps the ultimate mystery of the universe. In so doing, he reveals a stunning conclusion: the data support not just the existence of an intelligent designer of some kind—but the existence of a personal God. [*A Mousetrap for Darwin: Michael J. Behe Answers His Critics*](https://www.amazon.com/Mousetrap-Darwin-Michael-Answers-Critics/dp/1936599910) , by Michael J. Behe. > In 1996 Darwin’s Black Box thrust Lehigh University biochemist Michael Behe into the national spotlight. The book, and his subsequent two, sparked a firestorm of criticism, and his responses appeared in everything from the New York Times to science blogs and the journal Science. His replies, along with a handful of brand-new essays, are now collected in A Mousetrap for Darwin. In engaging his critics, Behe extends his argument that much recent evidence, from the study of evolving microbes to mutations in dogs and polar bears, shows that blind evolution cannot build the complex machinery essential to life. Rather, evolution works principally by breaking things for short-term benefit. It can’t construct anything fundamentally new. What can? **Behe’s money is on intelligent design**. --- What is the biblical basis for proving God's existence using reason alone? Moreover, if reason alone is enough for proving God's existence, what's the point of faith? How are faith and reason reconciled?