Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: GOPGuide
The cosmological argument could be stated as follows:

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.


According to the argument, the existence of the Universe requires an explanation, and the creation of the Universe by a First Cause, generally assumed to be God, is that explanation.

In light of the Big Bang theory, a stylized version of this argument has emerged (sometimes called the Kalam cosmological argument, the following form of which was set forth by William Lane Craig):

Whatever begins to exist has a cause.
The Universe began to exist.
Therefore, the Universe had a cause.
8 posted on 03/16/2009 4:51:40 PM PDT by Lucky Dog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]


To: Lucky Dog

Craigs syllogism is by far the tighter of the ways to express this notion. As a Christian apologist, W. Lane Craig is astonishing to listen to.


13 posted on 03/16/2009 5:11:21 PM PDT by MHGinTN (Believing they cannot be deceived, they cannot be convinced when they are deceived.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies ]

To: Lucky Dog
Aristotle's “Metaphysics”
41 posted on 03/16/2009 6:49:32 PM PDT by Hoosier-Daddy ("It does no good to be a super power if you have to worry what the neighbors think." BuffaloJack)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson