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Cosmology is the scientific study of the origin and structure of the universe. In the Christian worldview, God (a self-existent, eternal and transcendent being) caused the universe to come into existence. In the atheist worldview, there was no cause for the universe coming into existence; rather, the universe came into existence from nothing, by nothing and, ultimately, for nothing.
The Kalam Cosmological Argument for the existence of God states that since anything that comes into existence must have a cause for it’s coming into existence and since logic and science teach the universe came into existence (i.e., it had a beginning), the universe had to have had a cause for its coming into existence. Accordingly, Christian apologists maintain the Bible’s explanation that the universe was caused to come into existence by a self-existent, eternal, transcendent Creator (like the God described in the Bible) is a much more satisfying explanation than the atheist’s explanation that the universe came into existence without a cause — from nothing, by nothing and, ultimately, for nothing.
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Article Index A Clash of World Views: What is the best explanation for the universe coming into existence? A transcendent Creator or that the universe came into existence from nothing, by nothing and, ultimately, for nothing (as proposed by the atheist worldview)? skip to >> The Kalam Cosmological Argument skip to>> Premise No. 1: Anything that begins to exist must have a cause skip to >> Premise No. 2: The universe began to exist skip to >> Conclusion: Therefore, the universe must have a cause for its coming into existence skip to >> Is the Bible’s Description of God’s Creation Consistent with what Logic and Science Have Reasonably Established to be True About the Universe Coming into Existence? skip to >>
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A Clash of Cosmological Worldviews
The Bible describes God as an eternal, self-existent, transcendent and omnipotent Being who brought the universe into existence. (more >>)
Genesis 1:1
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”
Psalm 33:6
“By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.”
Hebrews 11:3
The says the universe was formed at God’s command from nothing that preceded it.
Contrary to the description of the universe provided in the Bible, atheists maintain there was no cause for the universe coming into existence; rather, the universe came into existence from nothing. Skeptic and British philosopher, Anthony Kenny, stated it this way:
An atheist believes the “universe came from nothing, by nothing”.
Dr. Peter Atkins of Oxford University (an atheist) provided the following explanation of how the universe came into existence from nothing:
“The creation of the universe occurred when no charge separated into opposite charges. Nothing separated into opposites. There is no need for a cause for this reorganization of nothing because there was no causality before space-time came into existence, i.e., it is not necessary to identify a cause for anything occurring before the universe was created because there was no space-time for cause to occur in before the universe came into existence.“
In response, William Lane Craig queried: How does “no charge” separate into anything? How does nothing separate into opposites? How does nothing reorganize into anything?
As stated by Craig, the explanation that something can naturally arise from, or separate from, absolutely nothing (no time, no space, no matter, no energy) or as a result of a reorganization of nothing is far from a compelling explanation for anything, much less something as complex as the universe. [For more on the complexity observed in the universe, go here >>]
As set forth below, Christian apologists maintain that Kalam’s Cosmological Argument further undermines the proposition that the universe could have come into existence out of nothing.
The Kalam Cosmological Argument
The Kalam Cosmological Argument is a deductive argument which Christian apologists maintain demonstrates a necessity of a cause for the universe coming into existence.
The argument does not purport to prove the existence of God, but it does purport to establish that any logical explanation for the existence of the universe must include a cause for the universe coming into existence. To this extent, the argument supports the Bible’s claim that God (a self-existent, eternal, transcendent being) brought the universe into existence and is inconsistent with the atheist proposition that the universe came into existence without a cause.
The argument consists of the following three elements:
Premise No. 1: Anything that begins to exist must have a cause skip to >>
Premise No. 2: The universe began to exist skip to >>
Conclusion: Therefore, the universe must have a cause for its coming into existence skip to >>
Deductively, if both of the above premises are true, the conclusion must also be true. Therefore, anyone attempting to defeat the argument must prove at least one of the premises is false. However, as set forth below, Christian apologists contend that since life experience, logic and scientific findings demonstrate both premises to be true beyond reasonable doubt, the conclusion that the universe must have had a cause for its coming into existence must also be true.
Premise No. 1:
Anything that Begins to Exist Must Have a Cause
The first premise of the argument is that anything which begins to exist must have a cause for its coming into existence. In other words, nothing that has a beginning to its existence does so without a cause. That which has a beginning must have something preceding it or it could not begin.
The truth of this premise is experienced in everyday life because no one has ever seen anything come into existence out of true nothing (i.e., no matter, no energy, no space and no time). Although some skeptics point to observations in quantum mechanics in which things appear to pop into existence “out of nothing”, these subatomic events do not truly arise out of true nothing (e.g., no space-time). They arise in empty space-time which is not nothing. Since no one has ever demonstrated anything coming into existence out of “true nothing”, Christian apologists maintain that no rational rebuttal exists to the first premise of Kalam’s Cosmological Argument – that anything which begins to exist must have a cause for its doing so.
Christian apologists further point out that since “chance” does not have the power to produce anything (more>>), then unless and until a natural mechanism is identified by which the universe could have come into existence out of true nothing (i.e., no matter, no energy, no space and no time) without a cause, it is unreasonable for atheists to insist people deny what they experience in everyday life to always be true; namely, things which come into existence always have a cause for doing so. Further, as explained by Christian apologists and astrophysicists Hugh Ross and Jeff Zweerink (see, www.reasons.org), because Einstein’s theory of General Relativity establishes that no observer in this universe can ever directly observe or test for anything that exists outside the space-time envelope of this universe, naturalists will never be able to provide direct evidence that any such mechanism actually exists. Rather, naturalists will always have to speculate that such a mechanism exists and that it is capable of producing this universe, as well as the infinite number of other hypothesized universes naturalists rely on to attempt to explain all the exquisitely fine-tuned design features scientists have discovered in our universe which permits life to exist (more>>). Arno Penzias, a Nobel laureate in physics, suggests a reason why naturalists might rely on such speculation:
“Some people are uncomfortable with the purposeful created world [because a purposeful created world implies the existence of a purposeful Agent]. To come up with other things that contradict purpose, they tend to speculate about things they haven’t seen.”
Premise No. 2:
The Universe Began to Exist
The second premise of the cosmological argument is that the universe began to exist. According to this premise, the universe came into existence a finite time ago which means the universe is not eternal or in a steady state.
As outlined below, Christian apologists maintain Premise No. 2 is firmly supported by logic as well as findings of modern day science:
Logic Demands the Conclusion that the Universe had a Beginning
If the universe did not have a beginning, then the series of all past events in the universe would have to be infinite. But, logic teaches that the events we observe in the universe cannot go back to infinity for at least two reasons:
Reason No. 1 — An Actual Infinity with Respect to a Series of Past Causal Events Would Result in Absurdities: Something is absurd when it is utterly or obviously illogical. In this case, when an actual infinity of a series of past causal events is contemplated, a number of absurdities come to light. For example, while we experience one year being added to the next and then to the next, trying to add to (or subtract from) an actual infinity is absurd. This is because if you add to an actual infinity you still have infinity and if you subtract from an actual infinity you still have an infinity.
In a series of past causal events that proceed forward with the passage of time, one year is added to the next year, followed by the next year and so on. This is what we experience as each year passes in our lives. Since we are, in fact, able to add one year to the next year and then the next year, no actual infinity of years can truly exist, because you can not add anything (even a year) to an actual infinity.
The absurdity of trying to add or subtract something from an actual infinity is illustrated by Christian philosopher J.P. Moreland as follows:
“Imagine a library with an actually infinite number of books. Suppose further that there is an infinite number of red books and an infinite number of black books in the library. Does it really make sense to say that there are as many black books in the library as there are red and the black books together? Surely not. Furthermore, I could withdraw all the black books and not change the total holdings in the library. Let us also assume that each book has an actual infinite number of pages. There would be just as many pages in the first book in the library as there are in the entire, infinite collection. If someone reads the first book, she would read just as many pages as someone who read every page of every book in the library!” [J.P. Moreland, Scaling the Secular City, pg. 23 (1987)]
Because it is illogical to attempt to add to or subtract from an actual infinity, logic teaches that when events or time are added one after the other (like years being added to the passage of time), then the series is not truly infinite (without a beginning or end). Since we do add years to the passage of time, that tells us that the universe is not actually infinite and, therefore, must have had a beginning at some point in the past.
Reason No. 2 — An Actual Infinity Can Never Come to an End: An actual infinity can never come to an end because, by definition, an actual infinity is endless. However, in the universe all past series of events do come to an end — they come to the end in the present. Since past events come to an end in the present and because an actual infinity cannot, by definition, come to an end, an infinite number of past events in the universe cannot logically exist. Therefore, logic demands the conclusion that the universe cannot be infinite and must have had a beginning.
In sum, if the universe did not have a beginning, then the series of all past events in the universe would have to be infinite. However, logic teaches this cannot be the case which means the universe must have had a beginning.
[See, William Lane Craig, On Guard, pgs. 73-101 (2010); J.P. Moreland, Scaling the Secular City, pgs. 22-33 (1987); Peter Kreeft & Ronald K. Tacelli, Handbook of Christian Apologetics, pgs. 58-59 (1994); J.P. Moreland & William Lane Craig, Philosophical Foundations for a Christian Worldview, pgs. 468-476 (2003)]
Scientific Findings Demand the Conclusion that the Universe had a Beginning
Much of the scientific evidence regarding the universe coming into existence (which means it had a beginning) derives from Big Bang cosmology which describes the universe as suddenly and rapidly expanding from an initial singularity.
Initially, it must be noted that many Christians reject Big Bang cosmology on theological grounds for one or both of the following reasons: 1) they believe the Big Bang necessarily eliminates the need for a Creator and/or 2) they believe Big Bang cosmology (which dates the age of the universe to 13-14 billion years) contradicts the creation account set forth in Genesis 1. There is no question that vigorous debate exists among Christians over how the creation account in Genesis 1 is to be interpreted. More >>
Genesis 1:1 more >>
Although there are several competing views about how the Genesis Creation Account should be interpreted, the views basically fall into two primary camps: 1) Young Earth Creationists (YECs) and 2) Old Earth Creationists (OECs). More >>
Generally, YECs believe the Bible requires a view that God created the world in six consecutive 24 hour days about 6,000 – 12,000 years ago. OECs believe the biblical creation account (originally written in ancient Hebrew) permits a creation date that is consistent with the universe coming into existence about 13-14 billion years ago and the Earth forming about 4-5 billion years ago, as maintained by secular scientists.
Regardless of one’s particular view on the correct interpretation of Genesis, it is worth noting that if Big Bang cosmology is true (and even if it is only assumed to be true for the sake of argument), it substantiates an important element of the Kalam Cosmological Argument, namely, that the universe had a beginning; and, a beginning to the universe is markedly consistent with the creation account recorded in Genesis.
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.“ — Genesis 1:1
As unabashedly stated by Christian apologist Frank Turek, “I believe in the Big Bang; I just know who banged it — God.”
Big Bang cosmology not only states the universe had a beginning, it also points to a transcendent cause of the universe which poses significant challenges to the validity of any religion which teaches: 1) God and the universe are one, 2) describes God as being confined to the universe or 3) describes God as creating from within the universe or within time. Contrarily, a transcendent cause of the universe is remarkably consistent with the self-existent and transcendent God described in the Bible.
With those thoughts in mind, the following is a sampling of the scientific findings that have been offered as evidence of the universe having a beginning a finite period of time ago, expanding from an initial singularity (a beginning):
● Telescopic Evidence of a Beginning
Hubble Telescope more >>
In the 1920’s, Edwin Hubble (the man the Hubble Space Telescope was named after) provided telescopic evidence that the universe is expanding and that it is expanding the same in all directions. He also demonstrated that the further away galaxies were from Earth, the faster they were speeding away. From these observations, it was deduced that the universe (which includes all space, time, matter and energy) has been, and still is, expanding from an initial singularity (a beginning).
The expansion of the universe from an initial singularity is best be visualized as an inflating balloon where the universe exists on the three dimensional surface of the balloon. In such a model, every observer in a galaxy located on the surface of the “balloon” will observe others moving away from them in all directions, as Hubble observed the universe was doing.
● Evidence of a Beginning from the Discovery of Microwave Background Radiation
Radio Telescope used by Penzias & Wilson more >>
In 1948, scientists predicted that if there was an sudden expansion of space and energy from an initial singularity, then when astronomers look back in time to the initial expansion event (as they are able to do with telescopes), they would find trace evidence of the expansion in the form of microwave background radiation. It was reasoned that if the universe began to expand from an initial singularity, then shortly after the initial expansion, all the radiation in the universe would have been uniformly spread out throughout the universe.
In 1965, with the use of a radio telescope (a telescope which “sees” radio waves), two physicists, Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson, discovered the microwave background radiation. Indeed, the microwave background radiation is what is heard as static noise on televisions and radios equipped with antennae. Thirty six years later, beginning in 2001 and continuing for seven years, scientists were able to map the microwave background radiation with the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP). The map shows that the microwave background radiation is basically spread out in uniform fashion with just the beginning signs of temperature variations.
● Evidence of a Beginning from the Second Law of Thermodynamics (SLOT)
According to the Second Law of Thermodynamics (SLOT), all of the energy in the universe will eventually move into a state of “thermal equilibrium” where everything in the universe will be the same temperature. We can see SLOT working on a very small scale in our every day lives. For example, when we walk into a room and find a hot cup of tea, we deduce the tea has not been in the room very long because if it had, the tea would have cooled down to the temperature of the room. Based on this same principle, if the universe was infinite (eternal, without any beginning), the temperature in the universe would be in a state of “thermal equilibrium” where everything is the same temperature. However, if a Big Bang creation event occurred a finite time ago (even 13.7 billion years ago as modern day scientists postulate), then one would expect to find varying degrees of heat throughout the universe. Only after an immensely long period of time (much longer than 13.7 billion years) would the energy in the universe eventually disperse into a state of “thermal equilibrium.”
At the present time, the temperature in the universe is clearly not in a state of “thermal equilibrium”; temperatures still greatly vary. For example, the average surface temperature of the earth is 59° (F), the average temperature on the surface of the sun is 11,000° (F) and the average temperatures of the hottest stars in the universe range from 53,000° – 179,000° (F). According to the Second Law of Thermodynamics, the fact that the present temperature in the universe is so unequal is evidence that the universe must have had a beginning in finite time.
● Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity
Albert Einstein (more >>)
In the early 1900s, Albert Einstein (a theoretical physicist) proposed the theory of general relativity, which, as explained by astrophysicist Hugh Ross, has now been so exhaustively tested that it is considered one of the best proven principles in all of physics. The theory of general relativity establishes beyond any reasonable doubt that the universe has been expanding from an initial event that occurred in the finite past. It further establishes that whatever caused the universe to come into existence had to transcend the universe, i.e., it had to exist independently of the universe.
At the time Einstein developed the theory of General Relativity many scientists were so convinced that the universe was eternal and, therefore, did not need a cause for its coming into existence, that Einstein was persuaded to add an element to his equation called the “cosmological constant”. This element had the effect of cancelling out expansion of the universe from the equations of General Relativity, thereby permitting cosmological theories based on the premise that the universe was eternal to remain plausible.
It was subsequently determined that the cosmological constant (denoted by the Greek capital letter Λ) as used by Einstein in his general relativity equations, did not exist. Since then, scientists have determined that a cosmological constant of a different sort exists, but it does not cancel out the expansion of the universe and, therefore, does not eliminate the need for a transcendent cause of the universe.
● Space-Time Theorems of General Relativity
In 1970, Stephen Hawking (a theoretical physicist and cosmologist) and Roger Penrose (a mathematical physicist) developed a mathematical theorem which demonstrates that if the universe contains any amount of mass (even one atom) and the dynamics of the universe are governed by Einstein’s theory of general relativity (one of the best proven theories in all of physics), then time itself must be finite and must have come into existence at the same time the universe came into existence. In other words, not only did all energy, matter and space come into existence at a finite point in the past, but “time” itself came into existence.
● The Borde-Vilenkin-Guth Theorem
In 2003, Arvin Borde, Alexander Vilenkin and Alan Guth published a theorem that proves that any universe which, on average, has been expanding throughout its history cannot be infinite in the past, but must have a past space-time boundary — a beginning. Moreover, this proof remains true no matter what physical description is ascribed to the early universe.
The Borde-Vilenkin-Guth Theorem further implies that even if the universe is just one of multiple universes, then the multiverse itself must have an absolute beginning. As noted by Christian philosopher William Lane Craig, “Vilenkin is blunt about the implications of the theorem: ‘It is said that an argument is what convinces reasonable men and a proof is what it takes to convince even an unreasonable man. 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 a cosmic beginning.'” [William Lane Craig, Reasonable Faith, “How did the Universe Begin”, Part 1 (aired on NRB 12/3/2012)]
In sum, based on the logical impossibility of there being an actual infinite number of past events as well as scientific evidence which demonstrate the universe came into existence a finite period of time ago, Christian apologists maintain the second premise of Kalam’s Cosmological Argument (that the universe began to exist) has been established beyond any reasonable doubt.
The Conclusion:
The Universe Must Have Had a Cause for its Coming into Existence
As referenced above, the Kalam Cosmological Argument is a deductive argument consisting of two premises. If the premises are true, logic demands that the conclusion must also be true.
In this case, because everything that comes into existence must have a cause to bring it into existence (see, Premise No. 1 above) and because logic and findings of science establish beyond any reasonable doubt that the universe did, in fact, come into existence a finite period of time ago (see, Premise No. 2 above), then the conclusion that the universe had a cause for its coming into existence must also be true.
As argued by Christian apologist, William Lane Craig, although a person is free to reject the Kalam Cosmological Argument, they must do so even though, on balance, the premises of the argument are more plausible than their negations. Consequently, it seems the only reason one would reject the premises would be due to a personal bias against the conclusion that the universe had a cause for its coming into existence. [William Lane Craig in sit down discussion after a debate with Peter Atkins]
Is the Bible’s Description of God’s Creation Consistent
with what Logic and Science Have Reasonably Established to
be True About the Universe Coming into Existence
The Bible states the cause of the universe coming into existence was God — a self-existent, eternal, transcendent being (more >>). Since a God with these attributes is consistent with what logic and science teach to be true about any potential cause of the universe (more>>), Christian apologists steadfastly maintain that only a prejudice toward atheism would cause someone to refuse to acknowledge that it is at least reasonable to believe in a transcendent creator like the God described in the Bible.
It is further maintained that unless substantial proof is presented that an exception to the universal and well-established principle of cause and effect actually exists, the existence of an intelligent, transcendent cause of the universe (like the God described in the Bible) is the most rational explanation for the existence of the universe as well as all the exquisitely fine-tuned design features scientists have discovered exist throughout the universe (more>>).
Conclusion
Because everything that comes into existence must have a cause for its coming into existence and because laws of logic and findings of science establish beyond reasonable doubt that the universe must have come into existence a finite period of time ago, then the most reasonable conclusion is that the universe had a cause for its coming into existence. Consequently, as set forth above, Christian apologists maintain the Bible’s explanation that the universe was caused to come into existence by a self-existent, eternal, transcendent creator is a much more intellectually satisfying explanation than the atheist’s explanation that the universe came into existence without a cause — from nothing, by nothing and, ultimately, for nothing.
Additionally, God’s existence is supported by the following additional multiple independent lines of argumentation:
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- God’s existence best explains why anything exists rather than nothing (an argument for the existence of a “first uncaused cause”) (more>>)
- God’s existence best explains all the mind-boggling, just-right design features scientists have discovered throughout the universe which make it possible for life to exist in the universe (the Intelligent Design aka Teleological Argument) (more>>)
- God’s existence best explains the existence of objective morality
- God’s existence best explains man’s search for, and innate belief in, meaning, purpose and significance.
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© 2012 by Andrina G. Hanson
Published: May 25, 2012 / Last Updated: October 11, 2017
RELATED ARTICLES
If God Created the Universe, Who Created God? Where Did God Come From? here >>
God’s Attributes — What is God Like? How is He Different than Us? — Introduction and Summary here >>
God’s Existence Best Explains Why Anything Exists — An Argument for the Necessity of an Uncaused First Cause here>>
Is Belief in the God of the Bible Rational? Is it the Most Rational Belief? — Introduction & Summary here >>
Is the Bible’s Description of God and the Existence of the Universe Consistent with Laws of Logic and Scientific Findings? here >>
Isn’t it Always More Rational to Believe a Natural Explanation Rather than a Supernatural Explanation? here >>
Is Belief in God Just a Crutch for Emotionally and Psychologically Weak People? here >>
QUICK LINKS TO SOURCES REFERENCED OR RELIED ON IN THIS ARTICLE
Kenneth D. Boa and Robert M. Bowman, 20 Compelling Evidences That God Exists: Discover Why Believing In God Makes so Much Sense
William Lane Craig, Reasonable Faith: Christian Truth and Apologetics
Peter J. Kreeft and Ronald K. Tacelli, Handbook of Christian Apologetics
J.P. Moreland, Scaling the Secular City: A Defense of Christianity
J.P. Moreland and William Lane Craig, Philosophical Foundations for a Christian Worldview
Hugh Ross, The Creator and the Cosmos: How the Greatest Scientific Discoveries of the Century Reveal God
Kenneth Richard Samples, World of Difference, A: Putting Christian Truth-Claims to the Worldview Test (Reasons to Believe)
IMAGE CREDITS & LICENSING
Slideshow Photo: A nebula is an interstellar cloud of dust that is the first stage of the development of a star. This is a photo of the Carina Nebula which is located approximately 6,500 – 10,000 light years from Earth in the Carina-Sagittarius arm. The image was taken by NASA, ESA and M. Livio and the Hubble 20th Anniversary Team (STSci)) (downloaded from www.nasa.gov) License: Public Domain (Back to article >>)
Genesis 1:1: “The History of Creation” by Jouni Paavilainen (downloaded from ChristianPhotos.Net – Free High Resolution Photos for Christian Publications) (Back to article)
Hubble Telescope: The Hubble telescope with the earth in the background. Image Credit: NASA (downloaded from www.nasa.gov) License: Public Domain. (Back to article >>)
Radio Telescope: A photograph of the Holmdel horn radio antenna used by radio astronomers Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson to detect the cosmic microwave background radiation. Penzias and Wilson received the 1978 Nobel Prize in Physics for this discovery. The image was taken by “Fabioj” and downloaded from www.wikimedia.org which states the image is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license (CC-BY-SA-3.0) license. (Back to article >>)
WMAP: A collage created by NASA and the WMAP Team showing the WMAP spacecraft with a map of the Cosmic Microwave Background in the background. The image was downloaded from www.wikimedia.org) which states the image file is in the public domain because it was solely created by NASA. (Back to article >>)
Albert Einstein: A 1921 photograph by Ferdinand Schmutzer (1870–1928) of Albert Einstein during a lecture in Vienna. The image was downloaded from wkikmedia.org which states the image is in the public domain in those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 80 years or less. (Back to article >>)
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