Crucial Questions and Answers: An Apologetics Catechism The Existence of God Question 1: What evidence do we have for the existence of God? Answer 1: The fact that the universe had a beginning gives us evidence of God’s existence. Comment: At the beginning of the twentieth century, the universe was generally accepted as being eternal in the past. That is to say, the universe has always existed. As Carl Sagan said, “The cosmos is all that is or ever was or ever will be.” However, modern discoveries, including the work of Einstein, Hubble, and Lemaitre, confirmed by astronomical and satellite data, inform us of something different. The universe was found to have had a beginning in the finite past. The best estimate is that the universe began in an initial release of all matter, energy, space, and time in what is called “The Big Bang” approximately 13.7 billion years ago. If the universe had a beginning, then it must have had a cause for its existence. The universe must be described as an effect because it is an inanimate object. The universe cannot be its own cause. Therefore, the cause of the universe must exist outside the universe. This quality is called transcendence. Because the cause of the universe is transcendent, that is, outside of the universe, we can also make several conclusions about its nature. First, it is spaceless, timeless, and immaterial since space, time and matter came into existence with the universe. Second, we get the sense that the cause of the universe is itself uncaused, because time did not exist prior to the creation of the universe. Third, to produce the powerful effect that is the universe, its cause must also be immensely powerful. Fourth, because of the many fine-tuned factors necessary for the existence of intelligent life, the cause of the universe must be extremely intelligent. Finally, the kind of spaceless, timeless, immaterial, uncaused, powerful, and intelligent being who creates a universe must also be personal. The act of bringing a universe into being is an act of will. Only a personal being can act volitionally. A personal being with these qualities who brought the universe into being can be what, as Thomas Aquinas said, everyone understands to be God. Scripture: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1 (HCSB) “Now every house is built by someone, but the One who built everything is God.” Hebrews 3:4 (HCSB) Additional Resources: William Lane Craig, On Guard, Ch. 4 “Why Did the Universe Begin?”
Posted on: Sat, 01 Mar 2014 13:00:00 +0000
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