The cosmos requires a first cause. Science can explain what brought the universe into being, but it can’t explain why it happened. Since the universe had a beginning point, it must have been caused by something which is beyond itself. something outside of space and time. This “something” which caused it, we know as God.
The Big Bang theory doesn’t explain how it happened
How did the universe begin? The prevailing Big Bang theory explains that the existence of the observable universe expanded from an initial state of high density and temperature. So, how did that happen? Who or what caused the change to happen just moments before the big bang happened?
The law of cause and effect states that every cause has its effect and every effect has its cause. This law is the basis of all science. But scientists have no answer for why something would cause the big bang to happen. So, they’ve left that question to be answered by the philosophers and theologians.
Over time, a cosmological argument has been formulated by some philosophers, which claims that the existence of God can be inferred from facts concerning causation, explanation, change, motion, contingency, dependency, or finitude with respect to the universe or some totality of objects. The following are key elements of the cosmological argument:
- Causation: The argument begins with the premise that everything that exists has a cause. This chain of causation cannot regress infinitely, so there must be a first cause that is itself uncaused. This first cause is posited to be God.
- Change and Motion: Observations of change and motion in the universe suggest that things are in a constant state of flux. Aristotle’s concept of the “unmoved mover,” which is a foundational element in cosmological arguments, suggests that there must be an initial source of motion that itself is not moved by anything else.
- Contingency and Necessity: Many entities in the universe are contingent, meaning they depend on something else for their existence. The cosmological argument posits that there must be a necessary being that is not contingent upon anything else and is the source of all contingent beings. This necessary being is often equated with God.
- Dependency: The universe and everything within it are seen as dependent on something outside themselves for their existence. This line of reasoning leads to the conclusion that there must be an independent being that sustains everything else.
- Finitude: The universe is finite in terms of time and space, suggesting it had a beginning. The cosmological argument uses this finitude to argue for a transcendent cause that exists outside time and space.
St. Thomas Aquinas is well known for his Five Ways arguments for the existence of God. His conception of the First Cause was the idea that the Universe must be caused by something that is itself uncaused, which he claimed is that which we call God:
The universe could not cause itself to start
In the world of sense we find there is an order of efficient causes. There is no case known (neither is it, indeed, possible) in which a thing is found to be the efficient cause of itself; for so it would be prior to itself, which is impossible. Now in efficient causes it is not possible to go on to infinity, because in all efficient causes following in order, the first is the cause of the intermediate cause, and the intermediate is the cause of the ultimate cause, whether the intermediate cause be several, or only one.
Now to take away the cause is to take away the effect. Therefore, if there be no first cause among efficient causes, there will be no ultimate, nor any intermediate cause. But if in efficient causes it is possible to go on to infinity, there will be no first efficient cause, neither will there be an ultimate effect, nor any intermediate efficient causes; all of which is plainly false. Therefore it is necessary to admit a first efficient cause, to which everyone gives the name of God.
The Cosmological Argument rests on attributes attributed to God
The cosmological evidence can best be summarized as follows:
(1) Whatever begins to exist must have a cause for its existence.
(2) The universe began to exist.
(3) Therefore, the universe must have a cause for its existence.
(4) The attributes of the cause of the universe (being timeless, existing outside of space, and so on) are the attributes of God.
So, if the universe needs a cause for its coming into being, then that cause must be beyond the universe—which is time, space, matter, and physical energy. That cause must be something similar to what Christians call “God.”
God’s handiwork in creation is plain for everyone to see. He announced Himself when He created the universe. The Bible says, “Since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see His invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature. So, they have no excuse for not knowing God” (Romans 1:20).
Discover more about God and our relationship to Him
For a listing of other posts about God’s existence and His nature, go to our Posts Directory web page. These posts are listed by major topic for your convenience.
But, if you’re now ready to know what your relationship is before God, Ask yourself two very important questions. First, are you sure that you’ll go to heaven when you die? Secondly, are you certain why God should let you into heaven? If you don’t know for sure, you can settle that matter today. Visit my post, How to Begin Your Life Over Again and you’ll know where and how you’ll spend eternity.
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