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University of South Florida

On Moral Consequences due to God’s existence

Daniel Reichert U94067906

Introduction to Philosophy 1: Section 5 : PHI 2010

Professor Alex Levine

21 October 2019
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Throughout human history the existence of God has often been debated across multiple

disciplines, including philosophy and science. But in this paper, it is assumed that God does

exist due to the validity of one or more of Aquina’s ways to prove that God exists. Thusly it will

be shown that the existence of God, as defined by Aquina’s theories will have important moral

consequences.

To subsequently understand the reasoning behind the moral consequences that come from

the existence of God, one must first understand the arguments that Aquinas presents for the

existence of God. One of the arguments that Aquinas presents is that God is the great cause. By

first analyzing the way of the world, the assumption can be made that nothing is the cause of

itself. All decisions, movements, experiences were all a buildup of effects and causes resulting

from the varying paths from the original cause. Aquinas argument shows how a certain event or

effect, would not exist, should a relevant cause that should’ve happened prior to said event not

exist. But as it is possible to examine the world and recognize that events do occur in

commonplace every single day, those events must have causes. And those causes, could be

considered effects through a paradigm shift. Furthermore, if each cause is then also considered

to be an effect, and thusly each of these effects have a cause before it, then it must be implied

that for the chain to start there must be a first cause, and we consider this first cause to be God.

This God can be the cause to an effect or event without there being a cause, aside from its own

reasoning or will, and potentially its own moral standpoint.

Upon the assumption that God truly is in existence, and that we recognize that God is the

first great causation, that implies that God hypothetically could be a cause to one or multiple

events aside from just the first event. He could set forth many different paths in parallel, and if

necessary, stop said events according to his judgement. But this then begs the question that if
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God is in the lives of people each day, watching, and providing extra causes, shouldn’t there be a

way to minusculely place an influence in God to either provide a great benefit when needed or

stop a great horror, that potentially may never be known about. By examining the way that

people treat other people, when individuals are kind, and respectful to one other, what is returned

is usually also kindness and respect. This therein is seemingly an understanding of morality in

being kind to each other. This understanding can be considered a relationship with the other

person. And as in any relationship, whether as friends, romantics, regardless, the more that is put

into a relationship, the more beneficial it is to all who partake. Seemingly if a relationship is

entered into with the all-knowing, all powerful, omnipotent God, it is to be understood that right

actions bring glory to God, and this is good for God. And in this understanding of right actions,

these therefore could be considered morals, and moral consequences upon the existence of God.

And if we are to assume the existence of the concepts of heaven and hell as we did the existence

of God, these moral actions or duties shall potentially help gain passage either into heaven, or if

there is no relationship with God thusly hell. In seeming actually, the conclusion can be draw

that for just effects to occur in our lives through the causation of God, we should perform actions

under a moral understanding that establish a relationship with God.

In addition to Aquinas argument that God exists due to him being the first causation,

Aquinas also presents his case in the argument that God is the great designer. By considering

that all-natural things perform actions to a purpose, we can infer that all-natural beings are either

directed to do something or can perceive their own purpose of doing something through their

own knowledge. The main problem is that many natural beings lack the knowledge necessary to

perform their own actions according to a perceived purpose. Thus, we can infer that there is a

being that is greater than those that lack purpose, and as that being is so intelligent, they have
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also formed a way to communicate with said natural beings their purpose. Therefore, this being

gives us all direction and purpose. While it allows us to make seemingly our own decisions in

life, it helps guide us on our path in life. This being instates the purpose and the good in all

things. If it is understood that there is good in the world, the aspect that there must be a most

good is simple to understand. As just with every effect having a prior cause, everything has

something better than it. And this ultimately good being is also understood to be God.

In following this understanding of the omnipotent God, it is established that God is not

only the original causation, but this cause follows a design that he created. As God created each

being through various causations, God also gave them all purpose through the ideas of his

design. Even though decisions can be made regardless of God’s plan for an individual, they

seemingly circle back to an ultimate goal in a grand design. The actions we make, and the

effects we create all seemingly shape the design that God has for us. In correspondence with the

relationship with God, the way that we act and the way that we partake in things can affect our

relationship with God. Thus, if the relationship with God is affected, our design changes. By

this understanding, it can be conceived that the moral consequences of God’s existence spark

from the act of pleasing God in order to fulfil his design to the best of our unknown ability, and

in the way that makes the least stress for us. For example, in the biblical Book of Genesis, it is

believed that God created first a man, and a woman named Adam and Eve. Their purpose was to

take care of all God’s creation, cocreate, have a great relation with God and bring glory to him.

The original plan seemed to be to have a peaceful life, taking care of everything. They were

given a simple rule: do not eat the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. They

disobeyed and made their own choice. After, God clothed them and kicked them out of the

garden, they were forced to live on their own gather food, and multiply. But throughout all this
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they still kept their relationship with God and brought glory to him through their actions of

reproducing and seemingly teaching their descendants about God. This design that God’s glory

still prevailed despite negative human choices shows still how God’s grand design plays out, yet

also reveals that the choices, or moral decisions we make have an effect on the way that

everything plays out. It can be seen that if God does in fact exist, the choices we make in our

morality, can affect God’s grand design for our lives.

As it is understood that God exists, the moral consequences of our actions come from our

own affinity for self-preservation. It is safe to assume the need for power as a part of innate

human nature, and it has long since been a justifier of actions. But if God exists, the moral

consequences that spark from God’s presence is a plea to God in order to secure our own place in

God’s delivering hand. As humans seek for power with money, careers, and want to move up in

a field that they can, the need for power in our life is a defining trait. So, people often seek God

as an additional form of power. This search for power in relationship with the omnipotent God,

begins as people attempt to please God, by doing what they think is just and good. And as God

is this great goodness, they think that their good actions will please him, thus people perform

‘good’ moral decisions. So, by our own human nature we create for ourselves this system of

moral consequences and developments by doing things that we think will lead to a good life

thanks to the power of God.

In conclusion if God’s existence is true, as defined by Aquinas theories, then human

society will have important moral consequences. If God’s existence is real, then our relationship

with God, and the actions that we make seemingly effect God’s influence in our lives. These

actions can change God’s design for us and morph it into a plethora of different paths. This God

that we conceive to be all knowing, and all powerful, who is the cause of our life, and our greater
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designer, can impact our lives in so many different ways. And as we consider him to be the most

good, and that we are hopefully created to be in his image, we seek out to perform good thusly

adhering to the moral consequences due to the existence of God.