The Cosmological Argument

1
The Cosmological Argument

• Learning Objective
• to understand the cosmological argument for the
  existence of God
• Keyword
• Causation the idea that everything has been
  caused (started off) by something else

2
If a three year old asked you
Why is the sky blue? Why do cows go moo? Why
cant penguins fly? Why do I have green eyes and
you have grey eyes?
What is the simplest answer you could give
him/her?
3
The First Cause Way St Thomas Aquinas

• Everything has a cause
• Nothing can cause itself
• Therefore everything is caused by something else.
  
• An infinite regress of causes is impossible,
  because something must have started it all.
  Therefore there must be an Uncaused Cause, or
  First Cause, which is eternal and has no cause.
  This Uncaused Cause is therefore God.

4

• St Thomas Aquinas (a really cool Christian
  Philosopher!) put forward the following argument
  to prove that God exists.
• 1) Everything has a cause
• 2) Nothing can cause itself
• 3) Therefore everything is caused by something
  else.
• 4) An infinite regress of causes is impossible,
  because something must have started it all.
  Therefore there must be an Uncaused Cause, or
  First Cause, which is eternal and has no cause.
  This Uncaused Cause is therefore God.
•  
• This argument is also known as the First Cause
  argument.
•  
• Tasks 
• 1) Summarise the Cosmological argument in your
  own words.
• 2) Think of an example you could use to explain
  this argument to someone half your age.
• 3) Below is a list of all the things we have
  covered with regards to how many people choose to
  believe in God. Explain each one with examples.
  Use p4-14 to help you.
• (I) Religious Upbringing,
• (II) Religious Experiences (A) Mystical (B)
  Numinous (C) Prayer (D) Miracle (E) Conversion
• (III) Teleological Argument
• (IV) Cosmological Argument