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The Kalam Cosmological Argument
John Hopper The Kalam Cosmological Argument The Kalam Cosmological Argument 1. Everything that comes into existence has a cause. 2. The universe came into existence. 3. Therefore, the universe has a cause. The Kalam Cosmological Argument 1. Everything that comes into existence has a cause. The Kalam Cosmological Argument 1. Everything that comes into existence has a cause. • This premise is constantly verified and has never been falsified. The Kalam Cosmological Argument 1. Everything that comes into existence has a cause. • This premise is constantly verified and has never been falsified. • If something could come from nothing, any and everything could come from nothing. The Kalam Cosmological Argument 1. Everything that comes into existence has a cause. • This premise is constantly verified and has never been falsified. • If something could come from nothing, any and everything could come from nothing. • Claims of something coming from nothing are misleading. The Kalam Cosmological Argument 2. The universe came into existence. The Kalam Cosmological Argument 2. The universe came into existence. Philosophical support: The Kalam Cosmological Argument 2. The universe came into existence. Philosophical support: • There is no such thing as actual infinites, so the universe could not have existed into eternity past. The Kalam Cosmological Argument “Our principal result is that the infinite is nowhere to be found in reality. It neither exists in nature nor provides a legiCmate basis for raConal thought…The role that remains for the infinite to play is solely that of an idea…” David Hilbert “On the Infinite” The Kalam Cosmological Argument The Kalam Cosmological Argument Mars Earth The Kalam Cosmological Argument 2. The universe came into existence. Philosophical support: • There is no such thing as actual infinites, so the universe could not have existed into eternity past. • If the universe had an infinite past, the universe would have never arrived at today. The Kalam Cosmological Argument 2. The universe came into existence. ScienIfic support: The Kalam Cosmological Argument 2. The universe came into existence. ScienIfic support: • The Second Law of Thermodynamics The Kalam Cosmological Argument “…all that will be leH in the cosmos will be black holes, burnt-‐out cinders of stars and the dead husks of planets. The universe will be cold and black.” Michael Lemonick “The End” June 25, 2001 The Kalam Cosmological Argument “…the theory that the universe has existed forever is in serious difficulty with the Second Law of Thermodynamics.” Stephen Hawking “The Beginning of Time” The Kalam Cosmological Argument 2. The universe came into existence. ScienIfic support: • The Second Law of Thermodynamics • The Big Bang Theory The Kalam Cosmological Argument Steady State Theory OscillaIng Models Eternal InflaIonary Model Vacuum FluctuaIon Model Quantum Gravity Model String Scenarios The Kalam Cosmological Argument “With the proof now in place, cosmologists can no longer hide behind the possibility of a past-‐ eternal universe. There is no escape: they have to face the problem of cosmic beginning.” Alexander Vilenkin, Many Worlds in One The Kalam Cosmological Argument 1. Everything that comes into existence has a cause. 2. The universe came into existence. 3. Therefore, the universe has a cause. The Kalam Cosmological Argument What Can We Know about the Cause? The Kalam Cosmological Argument What Can We Know about the Cause? External to the Universe The Kalam Cosmological Argument What Can We Know about the Cause? External to the Universe Immaterial The Kalam Cosmological Argument What Can We Know about the Cause? External to the Universe Immaterial Non-‐SpaCal The Kalam Cosmological Argument What Can We Know about the Cause? External to the Universe Immaterial Non-‐SpaIal Timeless The Kalam Cosmological Argument What Can We Know about the Cause? External to the Universe Immaterial Non-‐SpaIal Timeless Undetermined and Personal The Kalam Cosmological Argument What Can We Know about the Cause? External to the Universe Immaterial Non-‐SpaIal Timeless Undetermined and Personal Remarkably Intelligent The Kalam Cosmological Argument What Can We Know about the Cause? External to the Universe Immaterial Non-‐SpaIal Timeless Undetermined and Personal Remarkably Intelligent Remarkably Powerful The Kalam Cosmological Argument What Can We Know about the Cause? External to the Universe “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1 The Kalam Cosmological Argument What Can We Know about the Cause? Immaterial “God is spirit…” John 4:24 The Kalam Cosmological Argument What Can We Know about the Cause? Non-‐SpaCal “‘…Do I not fill heaven and earth?’ declares the Lord” Jeremiah 21:24 The Kalam Cosmological Argument What Can We Know about the Cause? Timeless “To the only God, our savior through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority before all 1me and now and forever.” Jude 25 The Kalam Cosmological Argument What Can We Know about the Cause? Undetermined and Personal “Our God is heaven; he does whatever he pleases.” Psalm 115:3 The Kalam Cosmological Argument What Can We Know about the Cause? Remarkably Powerful and Intelligent “Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.” Psalm 147:5 The Kalam Cosmological Argument 1. Everything that comes into existence has a cause. • This premise is constantly verified and has never been falsified. • If something could come from nothing, any and everything could come from nothing. • Claims of something coming from nothing are misleading. The Kalam Cosmological Argument 2. The universe came into existence. Philosophical support: • There is no such thing as actual infinites, so the universe could not have existed into eternity past. • If the universe had an infinite past, the universe would have never arrived at today. The Kalam Cosmological Argument 2. The universe came into existence. ScienIfic support: • The Second Law of Thermodynamics • The Big Bang Theory The Kalam Cosmological Argument 3. Therefore the universe has a cause. The Kalam Cosmological Argument 3. Therefore the universe has a cause. 4. By implicaCon, this cause is: external to the universe, immaterial, non-‐spaCal, Cmeless, undetermined, remarkably powerful and remarkably intelligent. The Kalam Cosmological Argument Objection! If the universe has a cause, why doesn’t God have a cause? The Kalam Cosmological Argument Objection! If there are no actual infinites and God is eternal, then how could God have arrived at today? The Kalam Cosmological Argument Limitations of the Kalam Cosmological Argument The KCA says nothing about the authority of Scripture, the incarnaIon of Christ, or the way of salvaIon What is the Cause of Our Existence? What is the Cause of Our Existence? What is the Cause of Our Existence? What is the Cause of Our Existence? ∞ -‐ 3 = ∞ -‐ 6 What is the Cause of Our Existence? ∞ -‐ 3 = ∞ -‐ 6 ∞ -‐ 3 = ∞ -‐ 6 What is the Cause of Our Existence? ∞ -‐ 3 = ∞ -‐ 6 ∞ -‐ 3 = ∞ -‐ 6 -‐3 = -‐6
