The Origin Of The UniverseThe Cosmological Argument

Book of Genesis – ‘Beginnings’

Aquinas : Philosopher and theologian : arguments based on observing things in the world around him. Believed

rational inquiry could confirm God’s existence. Influential especially within RC tradition

God as The First Cause• The First Way : The Unmoved Mover

Argument from motion / Cause and Effect

Everything which is in motion has a ‘mover’

This cannot go back infinitely – therefore God must be the First / Prime / Unmoved Mover

(See ‘Domino effect’ )

God as The First Cause• The Second Way : The Uncaused Causer

Argument from Efficient Causes

Every effect has a cause – an effect cannot cause itself. For example I cause this writing to exist – it did not create itself, other wise it would have to have existed before its creation!

There must be a First Cause – an efficient cause which started the whole process of cause and effect off.

God as The First Cause• The Third Way – Argument from Possibility and

Contingency

Everything is subject to change and decay

Everything is dependant on something else for its existence, but this must have starting point

God is the starting point, a non-changing being.

Strengths and WeaknessesCosmological argument is simple and easy to understand. For centuries it has provided a basic argument for the existence of God.

However it does have its limitations:

Science now believes particles can appear without any apparent cause – no need for a First Cause

Why can’t the universe be infinite – why can’t causes go back indefinately?

David Hume – just because everything IN the universe has a cause does not equate to the universe ITSELF needing a cause!In any case, even if there WAS a FIRST CAUSE it may not have been God – could it not have been the Big Bang?