New Proofs for the Existence of God: Contributions of Contemporary Physics and Philosophy

Joseph W. Koterski, S.J. 
-- Fordham University 
-Skepticism about the possibility of proving the existence of God often relies on data from modern science. In this splendid new book Father Robert Spitzer explores the implications of the latest discoveries in big bang cosmology, string theory, quantum physics, and the ontology of time to craft a series of convincing philosophical arguments. To paraphrase a popular commercial, this is not your father's old 'natural theology' textbook -- this is a gripping and compelling account of the best current arguments for theism.- 

Francis J. Beckwith 
-- Baylor University 
-A most original and insightful case for the existence of God. . . Fr. Spitzer's new proofs pose a serious and compelling challenge to the unconscious hegemony of naturalism in the worlds of both philosophy and the sciences.- 

Stephen M. Barr 
-- University of Delaware 
-Rare is the theologian who keeps abreast of the latest developments in fundamental physics, and even rarer the one who can discuss them with the theological and philosophical sophistication that Fr. Spitzer displays in this book. A challenging and original work.-

Acknowledgments -- Introduction -- I. The Contemporary Theistic Scene -- II. Why are These Proofs New? A Brief History of the Five Approaches -- III. The Rest of the Book -- Part 1. Indications of Creation and Supernatural Design in Contemporary Big Bang Cosmology -- Introduction to Part One -- Chapter 1. Indications of Creation in Big Bang Cosmology -- Introduction -- I. The Big Bang Theory -- II. Can Science Indicate Creation? -- III. Arguments for a Beginning of the Universe in Big Bang Cosmology -- III. A. The Second Law of Thermodynamics -- III. B. Why a Bouncing Universe Cannot Have Been Bouncing Forever -- III. C. Space-Time Geometry Arguments for a Beginning of Time -- III. D. Quantum Cosmology -- III. E. The Borde-Vilenkin-Guth Theorem's Boundary to Past Time -- IV. Conclusion -- V. Metaphysical Implications -- Chapter 2. Indications of Supernatural Design in Contemporary Big Bang Cosmology -- Introduction -- I. Universal Constants -- I.A. Constants of Space and Time -- I.B. Energy Constants -- I.C. Individuating Constants -- I.D. Large-Scale and Fine-Structure Constants -- II. The Extreme Improbability of Our Anthropic Universe -- III. Many Universes or Supernatural Design? -- Conclusion to Part One -- Postscript to Part 1. Inflationary Cosmology and the String Multiverse / Bruce L. Gordon, Ph.D. -- Introduction -- I. All Inflationary Cosmologies Must Have a Beginning and a Transcendent Cause -- I.A. String Cosmologies Entail a Beginning and a Transcendent Cause -- I.A.1. A Primer on String Theory -- I.A.2. Steinhardt-Turok Cyclic Ekpyrotic Universes Require a Beginning and a Transcendent Cause -- I.A.3. Gasperini-Veneziano Pre-Big-Bang Scenarios Require a Beginning and a Transcendent Cause -- I.B. Deflationary Intermezzo for Strings -- II. A Preliminary Assessment of Inflationary Cosmology -- III. All Inflationary and Non-Inflationary Cosmologies Appear to Require a Beginning and Transcendent Cause -- IV. Inflation and Cosmological Fine-Tuning -- V. Fine-Tuning and String Cosmology -- VI. Conclusion -- Part 2. Three Philosophical Proofs for the Existence of God -- Introduction to Part 2. Methodological Presuppositions of Philosophical Proof: Reasonable and Responsible Belief -- Chapter 3. A Metaphysical Argument for God's Existence -- Introduction -- IStep 1. Proof of the Existence of at Least one Unconditioned Reality -- I.A. Complete Disjunction Elucidating the Whole Range of Possibilities for All Reality -- I.A.1. Definitions -- I.A.2. Consequences of the Complete Disjunction -- I.B. Proof That Hypothesis F Must Be False for Any Conditioned Reality -- I.C. Proof That Hypothesis .