PROBLEMS OF BELIEF

New Zealand Listener, Volume 29, Issue 737, 28 August 1953, Page 20

PROBLEMS OF BELIEF

RE there reasonable grounds for belief in God? This was the question a Christian and a Rationalist discussed in the studios of 1YA recently, in the course of an argument now to be broadcast. The Christian was Professor G. E. Hughes, Professor of Philosophy at Victoria University College, and a priest of the Church of England, and the Rationalist viewpoint was put by John Bowden, of Sydney, speaking: for the Rationalist Association of New Zealand. The question was of rather breathtaking magnitude, said A. K. Turner, Q.C. (now Mr, Justice Turner), in introducing the spdiikers, so it isn’t surprising that so conclusion is reached at the end of the argument, but that doesn’t mean that listeners will end no wiser than they were. Some of the questions they may be left pondering in their search for the truth are: Why does. anything exist at alf? Is there an important difference between "why" and "how"? Has the universe always existed-and if so does that obviate the need to believe in God? Is it easier (or harder) to imagine a self-existent God than a self-existent universe? If we suppose God exists do we still have to account for His existence? Belief in God will be heard from 1¥YC on Tuesday, September 1, at 7.30 p.m., and later from other National stations. Another programme that should interest listeners who tune to, Belief in God is God and Human Suffering, a series of three talks which are being heard from 4YC at 9.30 p.m. on Thursdays, The spéaker is the Rev, J. G. Matheson. The second talk will®be broadcast on September 3.