PART 1
Universe, Origins & Design
- Topic 1 — Why is there something rather than nothing?
- Topic 2 — Why this kind of universe?
- Topic 3 — Why is life possible and complex?
How to use this guide
Read the argument in stages
The guide is deliberately arranged so you first examine general arguments about reality, then mind and morality, then experience and evil, and only afterward move to miracles, revelation and particular religions. The argument index is a reference tool—not the main reading path.
Recommended reading order
- Parts 1–3: Ask whether reality itself gives us reasons to think some form of God is plausible.
- Part 4: Only after that, examine whether any particular religion has additional historical or revelatory evidence.
- Part 5: Use the methods, glossary and argument index to review, compare and cross-check the whole debate.
The 5-part structure
PART 2
Mind, Reason & Morality
- Topic 4 — Why are there minds?
- Topic 5 — Why are logic, truth and mathematics objective?
- Topic 6 — Are morality, value and meaning objective?
PART 3
Experience, Hiddenness, Evil & God's Attributes
- Topic 7 — Do humans encounter God?
- Topic 8 — Why isn't God clearer?
- Topic 9 — Why is there suffering?
- Topic 10 — Is the concept of God coherent?
PART 4
Revelation, Miracles & Religious History
- Topic 11 — Can logic alone establish God's existence?
- Topic 12 — Can miracles provide evidence for God?
- Topic 13 — Is scripture revelation?
- Topic 14 — Do historical religious claims support a particular faith?
- Topic 15 — Can pragmatic reasons justify religious commitment?
PART 5 / REFERENCE
How to Evaluate the Debate
- How arguments should be evaluated
- A compact map of the whole debate
- Technical glossary
- What this site should not tell the reader
Two ways to read
Recommended: structured route
Open Part 1 and work through the topics in order. Each part has its own topic contents and navigation.
Reference route
If you already know the debate, use the argument index to jump directly to contingency, Kalam, fine-tuning, consciousness, morality, hiddenness, evil, ontological arguments, miracles and the other individual arguments.
Complete continuous version
Prefer one long page? The same 15 broad topics are available in a continuous reading format.