The Cosmological Argument

Created by: Former Member
Created on: 21-03-14 19:52


	The Cosmological Argument
	Advantages The cosmological argument is simple and easy to understand Intellectually it seems reasonable and convincing For centuries it provided justification for the existence of God It makes sense to have a beginning (the endless causes has no start or end)	Disadvantages Aquinas relies on assumptions that are no longer widely held. Scientists now believe that something can probably happen without it being caused A first cause doesn't necessarily mean that the first cause is God It does not prove that God is still around St Thomas Aquinas was thinking within a cosmology that is different from ours The world may be infinite and simply exist
	Evaluation The cosmological argument is easy to understand. It makes sense that there must be a God based on the cosmological argument given by Aquinas. The universe is so complicated and seems so 'designed' there must have been a designer - God. The universe could not have come out of nowhere, there must have been a cause. It couldn't be and endless cycle of causes there must have been a first cause which could be God. Although it is hard to understand that God can have no cause when everything else needs a cause. Also the cosmological argument does not prove that God is still around or even if God was the first cause. The first cause could have been anything.

The Cosmological Argument

Advantages

The cosmological argument is simple and easy to understand
Intellectually it seems reasonable and convincing
For centuries it provided justification for the existence of God
It makes sense to have a beginning (the endless causes has no start or end)

Disadvantages

Aquinas relies on assumptions that are no longer widely held. Scientists now believe that something can probably happen without it being caused
A first cause doesn't necessarily mean that the first cause is God
It does not prove that God is still around
St Thomas Aquinas was thinking within a cosmology that is different from ours
The world may be infinite and simply exist

Evaluation

The cosmological argument is easy to understand. It makes sense that there must be a God based on the cosmological argument given by Aquinas. The universe is so complicated and seems so 'designed' there must have been a designer - God. The universe could not have come out of nowhere, there must have been a cause. It couldn't be and endless cycle of causes there must have been a first cause which could be God. Although it is hard to understand that God can have no cause when everything else needs a cause. Also the cosmological argument does not prove that God is still around or even if God was the first cause. The first cause could have been anything.

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The Cosmological Argument