The cosmological argument is the idea that God’s existence can be shown likely by appealing to known facts about how the universe works. The Kalam Cosmological Argument is a variation of that argument. Popularized by William Lane Craig, it addresses the question of the universe’s beginning, and its logical cause.
At its most basic, the ideas are simple:
- Everything that begins to exist has a cause.
- The universe began to exist.
- Therefore, the universe has a cause.
If the first two are true, then the third must also be true. This is the structure of a basic philosophical argument. #1 appears indisputable: we don’t observe things happening without a cause. We may not fully understand the cause, but we have no evidence that things happen on their own. #2 seems apparent based on all of the available physical evidence. Therefore, #3 seems likely.
That doesn’t mean that the Bible is true, or that the cause of the universe is God as the Bible describes Him. It simply means that the universe has a cause. If we grant that this is true, then some basic implications are clear: that the cause of the universe must be an uncaused, personal creator who is timeless, immaterial, immensely powerful, and who has no beginning.
- Uncaused – the chain of events leading to the creation of everything else must, by definition, have no cause. This fits the biblical understanding of God.
- Supernatural – if the natural world was created, its cause cannot be part of the natural world. This is what philosophers and theologians have always called ‘supernatural.’
- Personal – a decision had to be made to cause the universe’s existence, and decisions are only made by creatures with minds. This fits the biblical understanding of God.
- Timeless – if time was created, whatever created it must be outside of time. This fits the biblical understanding of God.
- Immaterial – if all matter was created, whatever created it must be immaterial. This fits the biblical understanding of God, who is spirit.
- Powerful – a basic concept of physics is that an effect cannot be greater than its cause. Therefore, whatever created the universe must be more powerful than the universe. This fits the biblical understanding of God.
- No beginning – if the cause of the universe itself had a cause, it would not be the actual cause… it would be an intermediary. This fits the biblical understanding of God. Also, if the cause of the universe is timeless, then it is naturally understood to be eternal.
Videos by William Lane Craig
Below is the series of videos explaining the Kalam Cosmological Argument. The most difficult part, perhaps, is the idea that – within time – there can be no eternity in the past. An actual infinite number of past events is a logical absurdity… but, because this is the target for many skeptics, Dr. Craig spends a fair amount of time on that bit.
Part One: Scientific
Part Two: Philosophical
I’ll add more as they are created, or corollary videos in response to your comments.
Interact with me on Twitter!
Comments