God exists because there cannot be an infinite past

This argument is used in the debate Does God exist?.

This argument is a justification of God is the first cause of the universe.

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

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 no beginning
The kalam argument commits the same error as Zeno in his paradox
The kalam's reasoning is only valid for a finite time.
The presentation of the kalam argument is misleading
The question of a finite or infinite past neither proves nor disproves the existence of God.

Parent debate