Skip to content
Artwork for Crash Course Catholicism
Crash Course Catholicism · Monday · 15 min

Catechism 101: The Kalam Cosmological Argument Explained

Has the universe always existed, or did it have a beginning? And if it began to exist, what caused it? In this video, we explore the Kalam Cosmological Argument for the existence of God. The Kalam philosophical argument has its roots in medieval Islamic theology, and was popularised in recent years by philosopher William Lane Craig. The Kalam argument begins with a simple claim: whatever begins to exist has a cause. But can we prove that the universe actually began to exist? And if it did, does that necessarily point towards God? In this episode, we discuss: Whether science and the Big Bang theory point towards a beginning of the universe The difference between potential and actual infinity Why an infinite past might be impossible Hilbert's Hotel and the paradoxes of infinity Why Thomas Aquinas disagreed that reason alone could prove the universe had a beginning Whether a multiverse or cyclic universe could explain our existence Why the Kalam argument points towards a cause beyond the physical universe SUPPORT THE PODCAST This podcast relies 100% on the generosity of viewers. If you have found these episodes helpful and would like to support the future of Crash Course Catholicism, please consider donating via the following links: Donate via PayPal: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=6WSCLFHLCDXH2⁠⁠⁠ Support on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com

0:00-15:41

transcript

No transcript — this publisher did not publish one.

show notes

Has the universe always existed, or did it have a beginning? And if it began to exist, what caused it?


In this video, we explore the Kalam Cosmological Argument for the existence of God. The Kalam philosophical argument has its roots in medieval Islamic theology, and was popularised in recent years by philosopher William Lane Craig.


The Kalam argument begins with a simple claim: whatever begins to exist has a cause. But can we prove that the universe actually began to exist? And if it did, does that necessarily point towards God?


In this episode, we discuss:

  • Whether science and the Big Bang theory point towards a beginning of the universe
  • The difference between potential and actual infinity
  • Why an infinite past might be impossible
  • Hilbert's Hotel and the paradoxes of infinity
  • Why Thomas Aquinas disagreed that reason alone could prove the universe had a beginning
  • Whether a multiverse or cyclic universe could explain our existence
  • Why the Kalam argument points towards a cause beyond the physical universe


SUPPORT THE PODCAST

This podcast relies 100% on the generosity of viewers. If you have found these episodes helpful and would like to support the future of Crash Course Catholicism, please consider donating via the following links:

Donate via PayPal: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=6WSCLFHLCDXH2⁠⁠⁠

Support on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com

links2