The Cosmological Argument

By Peihe Xu

"To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible." - Thomas Aquinas

What is the Cosmological Argument?

Overview 

The cosmological argument debates that the existence of God or a creator based on the fact that things that exist all have a cause. It is based off logic and is outlined with three simple premises:

1. Everything that begins to exist has a cause 

 

2. The universe began to exist 

3. Therefore, the universe has a cause

These grounds are supported by Thomas Aquinas' First Cause argument. His observation of motion in the universe, which all relies on a cause, led to his understanding that causes couldn't be infinite, so there must be a first cause. 

This would mean that something or someone larger than life and transcending time would have created the universe. Someone like God.

Limitations of the Argument

There have been attempts and exceptions made to disprove the cosmological argument. The argument is a logical and valid argument, so arguments against would have to target the premises that "whatever begins to exist has to have a cause" and "the universe began to exist".

One objection to the first premise, is the First Cause argument. The premise that the first cause that set everything else in motion is argued by critics and atheists that the first cause isn't necessarily God. Scottish philosopher, David Hume presented the objection that the universe could simply just exist and not need a cause, and that, a beginning does not mean that God is responsible. Philosopher Betrand Russell, later took this "brute fact" position as well stating, "I should say that the universe is just there, and that's all."

The Big Bang Theory is also a counter argument brought up by critics. Not the sitcom, but one of the explanations for how the universe began, which "disproves" God's creation. The theory states that around 13.7 billion years ago, everything in the entire universe was condensed into a point of infinite denseness and heat, which then exploded faster than light.

 However, this objection does not rule out the concept of God, as it is possible that God used the Big Bang and many other religious interpretations of the theory. As Scott Perry states, "Science and the Christian faith remain good friends."

Response: How has this argument impacted my beliefs about God?

Before my in depth research on the cosmological argument, I was curious about Christianity but I wasn't sure whether or not to believe that God existed. The many sceptics and atheists on the internet had led me to question faith. However, after my research, I realised that Christianity is far more logical and philosophical than I first thought. The argument's basis on causality has given me a new outlook on the world.

The possibility of God existing is strongly strengthened by the cosmological argument, and personally I prefer to believe that our universe was purposefully created. The counter arguments against it are easily disproven and it is very possible that the existence of God did not have a cause. 

The world is full of phenomena and exceptions and the phenomena of God purposefully creating everything is the most beautiful and life-changing of all.

"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1

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