Chapter 3 Why we Believe in a Creator

State the first cause Argument and its three steps.

1. Whatever begins to exist has a cause for its existence

2. The universe began to exist

3. Therefore, the universe has a cause for its existence

Why is it that the cause of the universe cannot be found through science alone

Because the universe includes all of space and time the cause of the universe would have to exist outside of space and time. Therefore it would have to be immaterial or not made of matter and eternal.

Explain evidence for the beginning scientifically

The big bang theory provides scientific evidence that the universe had a beginning, indicating that it is expanding from a singular point in time. The father of the big bang is Belgian priest Georges Lemaitre. The reason for the theory was that according to einsteins theory of relativity when applied to an eternal universe would collapse into nothingness.

Explain evidence for the universe having a beginning from reason alone

If the universe did not have a beginning then it follows the universe has an infinite amount of past events. But infinite amount of events leads to aburdities and makes it metaphysically impossible. Since it is true that an infinte amount of events have happened before today you can compare it to an infinite amount of dominos toppling one another if an event today is the last domino dropping ever then it would never happen because there are infinite amount of dominos still toppling before. .

Explain the design argument in 4 steps

1. Our universe contains particular laws of natue that allow intelligent life to exist

2. These laws are either necessary, were produced by chance or designed.

3. They are not necessary, nor were they the product of chance

4. therefore the law of nature are designed.

Explain why laws of nature are not necessary and why if by product of chance would make it really rare

Philosophers agree that the laws of nature are not necessary since we can imagine a world where they are different like gravity repeling instead of attracting or speed of light not being constant. But you cant do this with mathematical laws like 2+2 =4 true in all possible worlds.

If these laws of nature come by chance then if we consider the cosmological constant which represents the strength of gravity in an empty vacuum which is fine tuned to the 122nd power then there is 10 to the 120 number of ways the strength of gravity in space could have been different and prevent life from existing. If by changing this constant even slightly a firebal collapses unders its own weight.

Mention scientist talking about the design argument

Alexander Vilenkin said a tiny deviation in the cosmological constant would cause universal disaster and make the universe nearl empty.

String theorist Leonard Susskind is a nonreligious scientist and he says that there are disturbing implications of the cosologial constant including that unless the constant value was designed statistically miraculous events would have been needed for life permitting universe to exist He thinks that an unknown agent set the early conditions that we observe today.

Summarize Chapter 3 why we believve in a creator

1. The universe had a beginning and it includes all space time matter and energy, since the universe includes all matter the cause for this universe must be immaterial or exist outside of space and time.

2. Science can only study physical objects in time which means science can never study or naturally explain the cause of the universe.

3. The universe contains elements of design and is finite which means it must have been created by a personal cause and not a mindless force.