Three Steps Proving that Theism Cannot Be True

In the comments section of my previous blog entry, Christian apologist Rick Warden of Templestream Blog has requested that I produce “a summary of the specific premises and logical syntax of the argument” which I employ against theism.

Curiously, Warden’s request comes after he posted a blog of his own in which he attempted to refute my argument. Warden’s methodology seems logically reversed; one would hope that Warden would already be familiar with my argument’s premises before publishing his attempts to refute it. Perhaps Warden has simply “presupposed” that my argument is unsound and, eager to act on this presupposition, didn’t bother to check the facts from the beginning. Needless to say, this would explain a lot.

Below I present three steps sealing the conclusion that theism cannot be true. Step 1 is a proof that truth as such rests exclusively on the primacy of existence metaphysics (this is the reason why we often hear the undeniably true retort, “wishing doesn’t make it so”). Step 2 is a proof that theism assumes the primacy of consciousness metaphysics (think of the claim that a god created the universe by speaking, that it governs human history by its “counsel,” that it “controls whatsoever comes to pass,” etc.). Step 3, drawing from the previous two Steps, is a proof that theism therefore cannot be true.

Each Step consists of its own two-premise argument stated in the form of a hypothetical syllogism. Each argument is formally valid. This means that, if the premises of each argument are true, then their conclusions cannot fail to be true. Thus Warden should be satisfied by these proofs since he has expressed concern for “logical philosophical arguments.”

So without any further ado, let us proceed…


Step 1: Truth rests exclusively on the primacy of existence metaphysics:

P1-1: If truth is the identification of reality based on facts which obtain independently of conscious activity (such as preferences, likes and dislikes, wishes, fantasies, emotions, temper tantrums, evasion, etc.), then truth rests exclusively on the primacy of existence metaphysics. 

P1-2: Truth is the identification of reality based on facts which obtain independently of conscious activity (such as preferences, likes and dislikes, wishes, fantasies, emotions, temper tantrums, evasion, etc.). 

C1: Therefore, truth rests exclusively on the primacy of existence metaphysics.

Step 2: Theism assumes the primacy of consciousness metaphysics:

P2-1: If theism affirms the existence of a being which can create existence by an act of will, alter the nature of objects which are distinct from itself by an act of will, and/or cause such objects to act by an act of will, then theism assumes the primacy of consciousness metaphysics. 

P2-2: Theism affirms the existence of a being which can create existence by an act of will, alter the nature of objects which are distinct from itself by an act of will, and/or cause such to act in any way by an act of will. 

C2: Therefore, theism assumes the primacy of consciousness metaphysics.

Step 3: Theism cannot be true:

P3-1: If theism assumes the primacy of consciousness metaphysics, then theism is incompatible with the primacy of existence metaphysics and consequently cannot be true. (From Step 1 above) 

P3-2: Theism assumes the primacy of consciousness metaphysics. (From Step 2 above) 

C3: Therefore theism is incompatible with the primacy of existence metaphysics and consequently cannot be true.

So there you have it – a tidy little summary of my argument against theism. Naturally the premises of each argument can be defended. But providing these defenses in this blog entry would make it much longer than it already is, and Warden has expressed reluctance for reading lengthy treatments (the books on his shelf must be quite thin). Besides, I have already posted many blog entries over the years addressing these matters and providing the necessary defenses for the premises I incorporate in the arguments above. That being as it may, I welcome questions and even challenges to what I have presented here.

by Dawson Bethrick