The Cosmological Argument

The Cosmological Argument explains the difficulties of God by a reasonable, logical, defense.

Since everything which exists has an explanation for its existence, there must also be a reason the universe exists. Since all things that are temporal have a first cause and the universe came into being at some point, the universe has a first cause. Since it is impossible for anything to cause itself, the universe must be caused by a power that is transcendent of time and space. By the complexity, balance, and design of the universe, we perceive that all things in existence were caused by an infinite intelligence—an intelligence which is without limits, perfect and knowing all things. Only a perfect and eternal being would have the capacity to create such a universe.

Since there can only be one God (big G), this first premise requires that He must be perfect in every regard, incapable of error. If God were able to commit error, He would not be perfect, and therefore he could not be God.

Since God is perfect, He must also be eternal. For no created being, who came into existence at some point in time by the work of one who existed before him could be perfect since he has relied upon one before him for his existence. The fact that a god could be created removes the certainty that he is perfect—lacking the ability to exist before, and apart from, all other things.

In this regard, any created being could not be God (big G).

When atheists ask the question: “who created God?” they are implying that the kind of God they are thinking of is a created God. In this regard, this kind of being is a logical impossibility.

The fact that a created god requires one before him for his existence, defines his creator as greater than the one he has made. If we continue to follow all of these created god’s back to their source, we never arrive at one who is the original and the source of all others.

If, however, God can be defined as singular with no beginning, having no creator and existing eternally—this God would be perfect and would fulfill the true definition of God.

The Cosmological Argument that is used by the author, Robert Clifton Robinson is as follows:

Argument For The Cosmological Argument:

There are things which exist.
It is not necessary that anything must exist.
Things which do not have to exist, yet do, must have a cause for their existence.
- Things cannot bring themselves into existence since the thing would have to exist before it exists, which is not possible.
It is not possible that there are an infinite number of causes to bring something into existence.
- Anything which is asserted as caused by an infinite number of regressions for cause, ultimately leads to no first cause.
- Because the universe does exist, this requires a cause.
In order for the universe to exist it must have been brought into existence by an intelligence that has no first cause and is eternal.
This eternal intelligence is defined as God.

The Cosmological Argument is further augmented by the presence of the complex human mind that exists within human beings. This mind—exponentially advanced above all other creatures—is only possible by the design and construction of an infinite and unlimited intelligence. Since human beings exist and are in possession of a mind of extreme complexity and capacity, the author of this intelligence must be infinite and unlimited.

In addition, the complexity and balance of the Cosmological Constants that make the universe work in such a way that intelligent life can survive and prosper, requires extreme engineering and adjustment of these constants within very fine parameters.

See These 209 Physical Constants That Exist In The Universe

In order for the universe to begin as it has, with extreme control being exercised over the initial picoseconds of its existence, with fine balances in matter and antimatter, entropy, and uneven distribution of matter throughout space, necessary for the formation of second generation stars much later—demands the kind of power and wisdom that the Biblical God describes in its pages.

See The Book By The Same Author: “A Universe From God.”

Strengths Of The Cosmological Argument

The simple answer that the universe looks like it was designed, because it was. The universe looks the way it does, because it was designed. This is really the essence of Ockham’s Razor which states that the simplest explanation is often the correct answer.

William of Ockham was a Christian who believed in God and the authority of the Bible. His philosophy described the proving of a point by facts or reasons. The only facts that cannot be confirmed by evidence, are those things that are self-evident, such as the existence of God. In the mind of Ockham, God cannot, and does not require proof because His existence is self-evident. God is obviously visible by the things that He has made.[1]

Weaknesses Of The Cosmological Argument

An attempt is often made to refute the argument that all things require a cause, by applying this concept to God—whom critics demand, also requires a cause to exist. The basic premise of anything that is eternal is that it does not require a cause, since all things would naturally come from what exists first.

In this regard, the Cosmological Argument maintains a strength that has no logical defects. Since God is eternal and requires no cause, it is logical that all things which do exist, came by His power and intelligence.

NOTES:
[1] 1. “Encyclopedia of Philosophy”. Stanford. |chapter= ignored (help).
2. Foundations of Occam’s Razor and parsimony in learning from ricoh.com D Stork – NIPS 2001 Workshop, 2001.