God exists because there cannot be an infinite past

Keywords: Cosmological argument, First cause, God, Past, Infinity, Kalam argument, Proof of God's existence.

Summary

Atheism has almost always been linked to the idea that the universe is eternal. A universe suddenly appearing implies an absolute beginning, which is difficult to understand and points to the idea of a Creator God.

Quotes

« If the world has always existed, an infinite number of days have preceded it. But we can't go through infinity. So we would never have reached the present day, which is obviously false. »

Saint Bonaventure (according to Thomas Aquinas), Summa Theologica

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References

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Justifications

• The Borde-Guth-Vilenkin theorem (2003) demonstrates that there is no infinite past.

Objections

• There is no first instant of time
• The universe has a finite past but never began
• The argument commits the same error as Zeno in his paradox
• This reasoning is only valid for a finite time.
• The presentation of the argument is misleading
• The question of a finite or infinite past neither proves nor disproves the existence of God.

Parent debate

• Does God exist?