Sufficient cause?

Sandy, Utah, May 2018

Reasons to Believe: Newsletter (2019), September/October, Reasons to Believe, Covina, California.

(Science and theology)

Another interesting and helpful newsletter article from Reasons to Believe. Can we escape the beginning? Excerpt from Escaping the Beginning? By Jeff Zweerink.

It is asked (paraphrased), did the universe began to exist, or did it always exist. (2). The universe has no conscious thought, no personality. (2). It exists but does not consciously provide life for what exists (paraphrased).

It is reasoned that the universe must have a sufficient cause. (2). The possibility of a physical sufficient cause is listed (2), as is the possibility of a nonphysical sufficient cause. (2).

Possibly 'something nonphysical, conscious and personal created the universe for a purpose.' (2).

The writer states that scientists have developed scientific tools that 'address this question.' (2). But these do not offer the 'certainty' that 'comes with the deductive arguments of philosophy or declarative statements of theology.' (2).

The article explains 'the models that best account for all the data are those where the universe began to exist.' (2).

Perhaps here, 'declarative statements' arise from biblical theology. Deductive arguments with premises and conclusions exist within the academic disciplines of philosophy, philosophy of religion, philosophical theology and systematic theology (as examples). I think deductive arguments could arise from biblical theology, but I can appreciate the intellectual distinction provided by the writer in this short article.

Arriving in Vancouver via Toronto, April 2018

First Cause (Philosophy of Religion &Theology) 

(My own work)

First cause is a major philosophical problem.

As matter (physical reality) is finite and cannot be its own cause as this would cause a vicious regress, it requires a cause beyond matter, including beyond time and space, which are also finite.

As example, one also cannot have a vicious regress of time or the present time would never be arrived. A vicious regress never solves its own problem...(logical or not).

Philosophical arguments for first cause do not prove the existence of the Biblical God but can serve as parallel truth to the creation story of Genesis 1. I use arguments for God being philosophically and theologically the first cause and this parallels the Genesis (1-3) creation account without being explicitly biblical. My biblical arguments, based on the ancient texts, are separate.

Deism or a related theism, in my mind is a far more likely alternative to Christianity than a non-theistic view, although I fully believe in the Biblical texts. Although Deism, and related theisms, do not accept a God that reveals self it still accepts the God of first cause. First cause provides premises which prove, philosophically and theologically, in a sense, the existence of God. God, as infinite, eternal and omnipotent, the deduced first and sufficient cause of all that is finite. God would also be conscious and within Judaism and Christianity, personal.

Eastern British Columbia tour, July-August, 2018

BLACKBURN, S. (1996) ‘Regress’, in Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Oxford, Oxford University Press.

BRADLEY, RAYMOND D. (1996) ‘Infinite Regress Argument’, in Robert Audi, (ed.), The Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.

Reasons to Believe: Newsletter (2019), September/October, Reasons to Believe, Covina, California.