The Cosmological & Design Arguments

I definitely think that both of these arguments can create a new feeling about religion for someone. To me they both simplified all of the complex ideas and thoughts about religion. I especially found interest in the cosmological argument. I have always considered myself to be agnostic, and reading this I found myself more interested then I usually am. I definitely do not want to believe that God does not exist, however I do not know if God does exist. It was odd how after reading the cosmological argument I wanted to believe that God existed because it was so simple. Stating that there must be an uncaused first cause I think could change someone's religious convictions. If you do not stop and think about any of the weaknesses of the cosmological theory it seems at first bullet proof. If there are things whose existence depends on a cause and everything is either uncaused or caused by something else then there has to be a God. He is the uncaused first cause. Of course when the weaknesses are brought in to play I automatically went back to my agnostic thinking. But for a moment I was becoming convinced by the supposed obviousness of the cosmological argument. I think philosophy greatly contributes to the understanding of religion because to me religion is all about thought and questioning and asking how and why and that is what a good philosopher does. They question and they seek knowledge. Reading the theories definitely gave me more understanding of how some people are a hundred percent certain their God is real.