Your question touches on the nature of God’s existence and His relationship to the world. Here’s a response to address both parts of your question:
- Why do we see a world that could potentially exist without God? The idea that the world "could" potentially exist without God reflects the contingent nature of the created world, not the necessary existence of God. In other words, the world could have been different or might not have existed at all, but God, as a necessary being, exists regardless of whether this world exists or not. The fact that we see a world is due to God’s free will to create it, but that doesn’t mean God’s existence depends on it. God’s existence is independent of creation—He exists necessarily, meaning His existence is not contingent on the world or anything else.
- Does God’s existence depend on the decision to create this world? No, God’s existence is necessary and independent of His decision to create the world. God would still exist even if the world had never been created. His existence does not depend on any external decision or action. The world and everything in it are contingent, meaning their existence depends on God’s will to create them, but God Himself has always existed in an uncaused, eternal state. The act of creation is a reflection of God’s will, not a necessity for His existence.
In summary, God’s existence is necessary and unchanging, regardless of whether the world exists or not. The world, on the other hand, exists contingently—meaning it is dependent on God’s will to exist but does not affect God’s necessary being.