The Universe Had a Beginning... So What? Apologetics Study Part 3

"Conceptual analysis of what it is to be a cause of the universe enables us to recover a number of striking properties which this ultramundane cause must possess and which are of theological significance." - William Lane Craig In part 1 on the Kalam, I discussed the scientific evidence in support of premise 2 with James Sinclair. Today's show will begin with a quick look at the philosophical arguments for premise 2, and then will focus on how Christians arrive at God based on the Kalam Cosmological argument. Here's the argument: 1. Everything that begins to exist has a cause. 2. The universe began to exist. 3. Therefore, the universe has a cause. 4. If the universe has a cause, then an uncaused, personal Creator of the universe exists, who sans the universe is beginningless, changeless, immaterial, timeless, spaceless, and enormously powerful. From (3) and (4), it follows that: 5. Therefore, an uncaused, personal Creator of the universe exists, who sans the universe is beginningless, changeless, immaterial, timeless, spaceless, and enormously powerful. Come join the conversation and bring your questions! Content Discussed: 0:00 Intro 4:09 Upcoming shows 7:15 The argument from the impossibility of an actual infinite 15:26 The impossibility of the formation of an actual infinite by successive addition 21:21 Whatever begins to exist has a cause 30:25 Live Question: What did God do before he did the first thing? 31:19 Live Question: Infinite regress is something you have been through. 33:00 Live Question: Must all things have a cause? 34:15 The theological implications of the Kalam Cosmological argument 47:18 Live Question: There's no logical reason why you can't have an infinite regress 49:51 Caller: Abstract objects, a personal God, God and time, defining supernatural, and if we can choose our thoughts 1:18:05 Caller: Is an infinite regress possible?