Does God exist? This question has been debated by philosophers, theologians, and scientists for centuries. While some argue that the existence of God is a matter of faith, others contend that it can be rationalized through logical arguments. The cosmological argument is one such argument which posits that the existence of the universe provides evidence for the existence of God. In this blog post, we will examine the cosmological argument and provide a rational defense for Christianity.
The Cosmological Argument
The cosmological argument is based on the principle of causality, which states that everything that exists has a cause. According to this argument, the universe exists, and therefore it must have had a cause. Since this cause cannot be a part of the universe, it must be external to the universe and can only be God. The cosmological argument is popularized by ancient philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle and has been advanced through the centuries by various theologians.
The cosmological argument can be presented in different ways, but one of the most common form is the Kalam cosmological argument. The Kalam cosmological argument posits that everything that begins to exist has a cause, and since the universe began to exist, it must have had a cause.
The Kalam cosmological argument is supported by modern scientific discovery. The Big Bang theory, for example, posits that the universe began to exist around 13.8 billion years ago. The universe as we know it now was not always there, and it must have had a cause, a Big Banger, so to speak. The cause of the Big Bang cannot be within the universe, as it did not exist before the Big Bang. Therefore, the Kalam cosmological argument provides a rational explanation for the question, “Does God Exist?”.
A Rational Defense
As Christians, we have a unique advantage when it comes to the cosmological argument. The Bible affirms the existence of God as the ultimate cause of the universe. The book of Genesis, for example, begins with the statement, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1, ESV). Furthermore, the apostle Paul affirms the existence of God in the book of Romans, stating, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse” (Romans 1:20, ESV). The Bible provides a rational foundation for belief in God based on the cosmological argument.
The cosmological argument provides a rational defense for Christianity. The existence of the universe provides evidence for the existence of God, as the cause of the universe must be external to the universe and can only be God. The Kalam cosmological argument is supported by modern scientific and philosophical discoveries. As Christians, we have the added advantage of the Bible affirming the existence of God as the ultimate cause of the universe. Therefore, we can affirm with confidence that God exists and created the universe.
For a deeper look at the arguments for the existence of God, I strongly recommend William Lane Craig’s Reasonable Faith: Christian Truth and Apologetics. Please be sure to also stop by my Apologetics page for additional posts and insights.
