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Arguments for the Existence of God: The Rational Arguments (08)
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Paul Jang
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2008-03-04 21:37:36, hit : 3,968 |
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The Cosmological Argument
This cosmological reasoning (Kosmou Logos) for the argument of God's existence has been called aetiological argument because it requires the sufficient effect. The term "aetiological" derived from "aitia" which means "cause" in English.
Charles Hodge said, "this is founded on the principle of a sufficient cause. Syllosgistisally stated, the argument stands thus: Every effect must have an adequate cause. The world is an effect. Therefore, the world must have had a cause outside of itself and adequate to account for is existence" (Hodge, 1973, 208).
In other words, the everything that was begun must have an adequate cause. Therefore, by the syllogism, it is necessary that (1) the universe began, (2) the universe which was begun must have an adequate cause for productions, (3) in conclusion, the cause is God. Because cause and effect can be recognized nothing more than the effect but not cause through the infinite and casualty, it comes to the necessary, real, and self-existent accounting the first cause.
The writer presents an overview of many different attitudes of the cosmological argument. Especially, the writer is going to state the advocators of the cosmological argument of God's existence. This cosmological argument also is suffering in the rational category of rationalism for it cannot be beyond the sphere of reason. Because God is the absolutely transcendent Being beyond the sphere of the reason. This cosmological argument also is worthy only presupposing the belief in Biblical God. This has been suggested in Hebrew 3:4: "For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God."
At best, cosmological argument is a logical schema, based on reality, which rationally explains why limited being (caused being) must be caused by an unlimited Being (uncaused Being) (Geisler and Corduan, 1988, 207).
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Introduction
Theology 