The Cosmological Argument

The Cosmological Argument goes as follows: Whatever begins to exist has a cause, the univere began to exist, therefore the universe has a cause.

Examples

• Example 1
  • Everything that exists or begins to exist has a cause.
  • The universe exists and began to exist.
  • The universe must have a cause.
  • The cause of the universe is God.
• Example 2
  • Every finite and contingent being has a cause.
  • Nothing finite and contingent can cause itself.
  • A causal chain cannot be of infinite length.
  • Therefore, a First Cause (or something that is not an effect) must exist.

Discussion

It's worth noting that the argument does NOT say, "Everything that exists has a cause", the logical response to that would be that if god exists, then he has a cause too. So, whatever begins to exist has a cause; things don't just pop into being uncaused out of absolutely nothing. Cosmologists agree that when we reverse the expansion of the universe, caused by the Big Bang, we come to what is know as the singularity; a point of infinite density. Before the Big Bang, there was no space, matter, energy or time; they each came into existence at the singularity. Physicists understand that this poses a problem, because at the singularity all of physics break down; the leading theory to explain the problem is currently known as String Theory or M Theory.

Since it is widely accepted that the universe did have a beginning, it follows logically that the universe had a cause. The Cosmological Argument then describes the requirements of the cause; the cause must be uncaused, since you cannot have an infinite regress of causes. The cause must also be timeless, since it created time. It must also be spaceless and immaterial since it created all space and matter. It must also be incredibly powerful, since it is the creator of the whole universe.

Objections to this argument vary; some say that the universe caused itself. Unfortunately that would mean that the universe would have to exist BEFORE it existed, which is impossible. The other objection falls in line with String Theory, which is the same as the multiple universes theory; our universe was cause by another unseen and undetectable universe in another dimension.

Not many good arguments have been raised against this one, most tend towards saying that scientists don't know what existed before the Big Bang, or what caused it, so it's unfair to just assume that it was god.

See Also

• First Cause Argument

External Links

• About.com: Cosmological Argument
• Wikipedia: Cosmological argument