1. The Cosmological Argument

2. St Thomas Aquinas (1225 – 1274)
The Cosmological Argument was first proposed by St Thomas Aquinas, a great Christian thinker
One his ‘Five Proofs’ for the existence of God

3. The Argument The Universe exists; this demands an explanation
Everything that exists has a cause
Therefore, the Universe must also have a cause
We cannot imagine that there is an infinite regression of causes; there must be a First, Uncaused Cause
This Uncaused Cause is God

4. In Support of the Cosmological Argument
It provides an explanation for the existence of the Universe
It is consistent with the Big Bang theory, as it provides a cause for the Big Bang
It answers the question, ‘Why is there something, rather than nothing?’

5. In Opposition to the Cosmological Argument
David Hume (1711 – 1776) and Bertrand Russell (1872 – 1970) both put forward arguments in opposition to the Cosmological Argument:
Although everything in the Universe requires a cause, we should not assume that the Universe itself requires a cause
Even if the Universe has a cause, why should this cause be God? The Big Bang provides an adequate explanation
If we posit God as the Uncaused Cause, we move the problem one stage back, because we then have to explain God’s existence