Difference between revisions of "Argument from beauty"

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This is fallacious. Enough said.
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[[File:Autumn.jpg|291px|right|thumbnail|[[Autumn]] foliage
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<small>([http://www.flickr.com/photos/universalpops/5236103680/ Flickr] picture, see:'' [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/deed.en license agreement])</small>]]
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The '''argument from beauty''' argues the existence of [[beauty]] in the natural world testifies to the existence of [[God]] who both [[intelligent design|designed]] natural beauty and who possesses a divine beauty. The psalmist [[King David|David]] wrote: "One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD And to meditate in His temple."(Psalm 27:4). The [[fall of man]] caused death, disease and suffering to enter into the world. 
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Author John C. Wright wrote in his 2014 essay ''How We’ve Been Robbed of Beauty by the [[Leftist|Left]]'':
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{{cquote|The strongest argument against the [[atheism]] so beloved of the Left is not an argument that can be put in words, for it is the argument of beauty. If you see a sunset clothed in scarlet like a king descending to his empurpled pyre, or wonder at the gleaming thunder of a waterfall, if you find yourself fascinated by the soft intricacy of a crimson rose or behold the cold virgin majesty of the morning star, much less see and enter a cathedral or a walled garden...or Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, if indeed you see real beauty and for a moment you forget yourself, then you are drawn out of yourself into something larger.
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In that timeless moment of sublime rapture, the heart knows even if the head cannot put it into words that the dull and quotidian world of betrayal, pain, disappointment and sorrow is not the only world there is. Beauty points to a world beyond this world, a higher realm, a country of joy where there is no death. Beauty points to the divine.
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The Left hates this argument, because – since it is not put into words – it cannot be refuted in words.<ref>[http://www.everyjoe.com/2014/07/03/politics/robbed-of-beauty-by-the-left/ How We’ve Been Robbed of Beauty by the Left]</ref>}}
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[[File:Another atheist pothead.JPG|thumbnail|200px|right|[[Carl Sagan]] declared: “I find that a chilling, spine-tingling, exciting, perspective-raising, consciousness-raising experience. It’s said that [[astronomy]] is a humbling and character-building experience.”<ref>[http://creation.com/atheism#atheism-neopaganism Atheism as nature worship or neo-paganism]</ref>]]
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[[Christianity|Christendom]] has created a vast collection of beautiful [[Christian paintings]], yet the atheist community, which has been in the world for thousands of years (since at least the time of [[ancient Greece]]), has yet to create one beautiful painting depicting their ideology (which is not surprising since atheism has been a [[atheism and morality|morally bankrupt ideology]] since its inception).
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Atheists/evolutionists often [[Atheist hypocrisy|engage in hypocrisy]] on the issue of beauty in God's universe and engage in self-refuting arguments which argue that beauty is merely subjective, yet non-beauty/ugliness is an objective reality (non-beauty arose after the fall of man).<ref>[http://www.everyjoe.com/2014/07/03/politics/robbed-of-beauty-by-the-left/ How We’ve Been Robbed of Beauty by the Left]</ref><ref>[http://www.quodlibet.net/articles/williams-aesthetic.shtml Aesthetic arguments for the existence of God] by Peter Williams</ref><ref>[http://creation.com/darwins-arguments-against-god Darwin's arguments against God]</ref>
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Furthermore, prominent atheists/[[agnosticism|agnostics]]/[[Philosophical skepticism|skeptics]] have exhibited great feelings of transcendency when examining nature.<ref>[http://creation.com/atheism#atheism-neopaganism Atheism as nature worship or neo-paganism]</ref> For example, the agnostic and evolutionist [[Carl Sagan]] declared: “I find that a chilling, spine-tingling, exciting, perspective-raising, consciousness-raising experience. It’s said that [[astronomy]] is a humbling and character-building experience.”<ref>[http://creation.com/atheism#atheism-neopaganism Atheism as nature worship or neo-paganism]</ref> [[Richard Dawkins]]' website quotes the atheist swimmer Diana Nyad declaring: "I can stand at the beach's edge with the most devout Christian, [[Judaism|Jew]], [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] — go on down the line — and weep with the beauty of this [[universe]]...".<ref>[http://richarddawkins.net/2014/02/can-an-atheist-be-in-awe-of-the-universe/ Can an Atheist Be in Awe of the Universe?]</ref>  Even in atheistic [[Japan]], children see the world [[Intelligent design|as designed]].<ref>[http://creation.com/children-see-the-world-as-designed Children see the world as designed]</ref>
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== God, the creator of beauty, and the folly and ugliness of atheism ==
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''see also:'' [[Resources for leaving atheism and becoming a Christian]]
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[[File:Psalmist David2.jpg|thumb|115px|left|The psalmist [[David]] wrote: "The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God.'"]]
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The writers of the [[Bible]] considered the existence of God to be self-evident and [[Moses]] simply wrote: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." ([[Genesis]] 1:1).<ref>http://www.answersingenesis.org/Home/Area/AnswersBook/existence1.asp</ref>
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Accordingly, the psalmist [[David]] declared:
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"The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God.' They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good." - [[Psalms]] 14:1 ([[King James Bible|KJV]])
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The psalmist David also wrote "The heavens declare the glory of God..." - Psalms 19:1
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In his letter to the Romans the [[Apostle Paul]] declared:
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"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse..." - [[Romans]] 1:19-20 (NKJV)
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== See also ==
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* [[Christian apologetics]]
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* [[Arguments for the existence of God]]
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* [[Evolution]]
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* [[Atheism]]
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* [[Atheism and obesity]]
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* [[Creation science]]
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== Articles on the argument from beauty ==
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*[http://www.quodlibet.net/articles/williams-aesthetic.shtml Aesthetic arguments for the existence of God] by Peter Williams
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*[http://greatcloud.wordpress.com/2009/09/16/alexander-pruss-on-the-argument-from-beauty/ Alexander Pruss on the Argument from Beauty]
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*[http://www.orthodoxytoday.org/articles2/SwinburnDesign.php Swinburne’s Argument from Beauty]
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== Notes ==
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{{reflist|2}}
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[[Category: God]]

Revision as of 21:57, August 10, 2014

Autumn foliage

(Flickr picture, see: license agreement)

The argument from beauty argues the existence of beauty in the natural world testifies to the existence of God who both designed natural beauty and who possesses a divine beauty. The psalmist David wrote: "One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD And to meditate in His temple."(Psalm 27:4). The fall of man caused death, disease and suffering to enter into the world.

Author John C. Wright wrote in his 2014 essay How We’ve Been Robbed of Beauty by the Left:

“ The strongest argument against the atheism so beloved of the Left is not an argument that can be put in words, for it is the argument of beauty. If you see a sunset clothed in scarlet like a king descending to his empurpled pyre, or wonder at the gleaming thunder of a waterfall, if you find yourself fascinated by the soft intricacy of a crimson rose or behold the cold virgin majesty of the morning star, much less see and enter a cathedral or a walled garden...or Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, if indeed you see real beauty and for a moment you forget yourself, then you are drawn out of yourself into something larger.

In that timeless moment of sublime rapture, the heart knows even if the head cannot put it into words that the dull and quotidian world of betrayal, pain, disappointment and sorrow is not the only world there is. Beauty points to a world beyond this world, a higher realm, a country of joy where there is no death. Beauty points to the divine.

The Left hates this argument, because – since it is not put into words – it cannot be refuted in words.[1]

”
File:Another atheist pothead.JPG
Carl Sagan declared: “I find that a chilling, spine-tingling, exciting, perspective-raising, consciousness-raising experience. It’s said that astronomy is a humbling and character-building experience.”[2]

Christendom has created a vast collection of beautiful Christian paintings, yet the atheist community, which has been in the world for thousands of years (since at least the time of ancient Greece), has yet to create one beautiful painting depicting their ideology (which is not surprising since atheism has been a morally bankrupt ideology since its inception).

Atheists/evolutionists often engage in hypocrisy on the issue of beauty in God's universe and engage in self-refuting arguments which argue that beauty is merely subjective, yet non-beauty/ugliness is an objective reality (non-beauty arose after the fall of man).[3][4][5]

Furthermore, prominent atheists/agnostics/skeptics have exhibited great feelings of transcendency when examining nature.[6] For example, the agnostic and evolutionist Carl Sagan declared: “I find that a chilling, spine-tingling, exciting, perspective-raising, consciousness-raising experience. It’s said that astronomy is a humbling and character-building experience.”[7] Richard Dawkins' website quotes the atheist swimmer Diana Nyad declaring: "I can stand at the beach's edge with the most devout Christian, Jew, Buddhist — go on down the line — and weep with the beauty of this universe...".[8] Even in atheistic Japan, children see the world as designed.[9]

God, the creator of beauty, and the folly and ugliness of atheism

see also: Resources for leaving atheism and becoming a Christian

The psalmist David wrote: "The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God.'"

The writers of the Bible considered the existence of God to be self-evident and Moses simply wrote: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." (Genesis 1:1).[10]

Accordingly, the psalmist David declared:

"The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God.' They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good." - Psalms 14:1 (KJV)

The psalmist David also wrote "The heavens declare the glory of God..." - Psalms 19:1

In his letter to the Romans the Apostle Paul declared:

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse..." - Romans 1:19-20 (NKJV)

See also

Articles on the argument from beauty

Notes

  1. ↑ How We’ve Been Robbed of Beauty by the Left
  2. ↑ Atheism as nature worship or neo-paganism
  3. ↑ How We’ve Been Robbed of Beauty by the Left
  4. ↑ Aesthetic arguments for the existence of God by Peter Williams
  5. ↑ Darwin's arguments against God
  6. ↑ Atheism as nature worship or neo-paganism
  7. ↑ Atheism as nature worship or neo-paganism
  8. ↑ Can an Atheist Be in Awe of the Universe?
  9. ↑ Children see the world as designed
  10. ↑ http://www.answersingenesis.org/Home/Area/AnswersBook/existence1.asp
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