Is the Universe Consequentially Existent?

Theists say god has a cause, to which atheists respond that he is special. But any reason they give for god's speciality can be applied with fewer assumptions and fewer ontological commitments to universe itself. Is the universe necessarily existent? I think hardly any one thinks that the universe is a metaphysically necessary being. And especial, the argument based on the beginning of the universe seems to show very clearly that this explanation for god's existence doesn't apply to the universe itself. We've got about a total of an hour with doctor craig. So if you'd like, you can put your questions in the live chat now,. but i can't guarantee that we're