May, 2009 the kalam cosmological argument for god, 2007. How to defend the kalam cosmological argument just like. In the kalam cosmological argument for god, mark nowacki analyzes and provides a novel defense of the kalam cosmological argument for the existence of god kca. Find a deep library of resources featuring the work of dr. The kalam cosmological argument for god studies in analytic. Full text of kalam cosmological argument internet archive. Metcalfe abstract william lane craig is the most recognizable contemporary defender of the kalam cosmological argument. William lane craig s recent form of the kalam cosmological argument. Jun 19, 2010 in many debates such as this one from 2009, william lane craig uses the following quote from physicist paul davies p. Sep 21, 2016 this clip shows the portions of the debate in which both dr. In defense of the kalam cosmological argument 1997 by william lane craig craig s reply to the present paper. The kalam cosmological argument has grown in popularity today, mostly through the work of dr. Closed systems, explanations, and the cosmological argument in international journal for philosophy of religion, 2007. Hey wk, i didnt read your post and i believe if i did i wouldnt be able to understand it.
Wlc quotes paul davies debunking william lane craig. Graham oppy on the kalam cosmological argument william lane craig talbot school of theology, usa 9. The term and concept of a kalam cosmological argument is due to craig and originates in the 1990s. Excerpt from arguing about gods graham oppy monash university, australia 8. As william lane craig explains, the thomist cosmological argument is based on the impossibility of an infinite regress of simultaneously operating. The cosmological argument derives its title from observing the world around us the cosmos. Dec 28, 2011 logically complete cosmological concept.
In this paper i present objections to the kalam cosmological argument kca, a modernized formulation of the general class of cosmological arguments for the existence of god. Or is the material universe all that is, or ever was, or ever will be. The kalam cosmological argument william lane craig. Muslim theologians, when islam swept over egypt in north africa, absorbed the christian thought that had been in those areas, like in alexandria, which was the center of christian learning. William lane craig, an evangelical protestant philosopher who dedicated his doctoral work to the argument in 1979. The kalam cosmological argument by william lane craig and. The kalam cosmological argument essay 1100 words cram.
Confusingly, the medieval topic was called the kalam cosmological argument in the 1950s, and craig has apparently borrowed the term from there. Summary of william lane craigs kalam cosmological argument. The kalam is an argument for god creating the universe long used by apologists. William lane craig has refined it to make it the cornerstone of his argument for the existence of the god of christianity. This clip shows the portions of the debate in which both dr. This argument depends crucially on the idea that the universe had a beginning in time and essentially has the following logical structure. We present a formal analysis of the cosmological argument in its two main forms. I christened the argument the kalam cosmological argument kalam is the arabic word for medieval theology.
A refutation of the kalam cosmological argument for god. Mar 20, 2014 kalam cosmological argument william lane craig types of infinite. It was popularized by william lane craig in his book, the kalam cosmological argument 1979 the argument s key underpinning idea is the metaphysical impossibility of actual infinities and of. On a btheory of time, the universe does not in fact come into being or become actual at the big bang.
Millican devoted to discussion of the kalam cosmological argument, which is a traditional argument of natural theology. The kalam argument popular writings reasonable faith. On the kalam cosmological argument common sense atheism. Exploring gods relationship to time by william lane craig. The kalam cosmological argument is a modern formulation of the cosmological argument for the existence of god. Today this argument, largely forgotten since the time of kant, is once again back at center stage.
Sep 09, 2012 what we call today the kalam cosmological argument, was first made by aristotle and then by islamic scholars in the 9th century. Craig argues oppy has not succeeded in defending the objections of grunbaum, davies, and hawking against the kalam cosmological argument. Because of its historic roots in medieval islamic theology, i christened the argument the kalam cosmological argument kalam is the arabic word for medieval theology. Kalam cosmological argument in reasonable faith, 3rd edition, 2008. Sep 27, 2016 william lane craig a main advocate of kalam states. Specifically, i focus on the philosopher william lane craig s defense of the argument given in his academic writings, public debates, and online articles. It features heavily in many of craig s debates, books, and articles. In this piece, i look at the form of the argument those three short, logical lines and conclude that it does not.
Aug 08, 20 the kalam cosmological argument moves from the absurdity of a universe coming into being, uncaused out of nothing, to the reality of the finitude of the past in the actual universe, and from this it follows necessarily that the universe had a cause. The kalam cosmological argument and the principle of sufficient reason david s. A defense of the kalam cosmological argument and the btheory of time curtis j. The kalam cosmological argument is one of the most popular cosmological arguments around today. The first premise to william lane craig s kalam argument didnt fare so well last time. The kalam cosmological argument therefore, god exists. Is there a good counter argument to the kalam cosmological. The argument is fairly straightforward and enjoys intuitive support. The argument, in its simplest form, is that i whatever begins to. Most of what follows comes from craig s defense of the argument, though i will use my own words. Mackies analysis of the kalam cosmological argument in the miracle of. The word kalam is an arabic word that denotes medieval islamic theology.
One approach to answering this question is the cosmological argument. However theologians have a long history of trying to do so and craig spends a lot his energy trying to provide scientific and mathematical support for the socalled kalam cosmological argument. Today this argument, largely forgotten since the time of. The kalam cosmological argument by theodore schick, he states that there is scientific proof for explaining the creation of the universe, but this proof also provides evidence of what others believe shows the existence of god, who to them, is the one who created the big bang that then created the universe. How to defend the kalam argument by wintery knight simplified the kalam argument by william lane craig more technical the thomistic cosmological argument. Professor william craigs criticisms of critiques of kalam. Reasonable faith provides a christian perspective on the most important issues. Of the many ongoing debates to answer this question, william craig examines one of the most controversial proofs for the existence of god. A defense of the kalam cosmological argument and the btheory. Jul 10, 2017 to hang ones metaphysical hat on the cosmological argument is to watch it sail away on the breeze. William lane craig perhaps, the most well known proponent of the kalam cosmological argument gives a presentation on the philosophical the impossibility of. The comingintobeing of the universe, as discussed in modern science, is not just a matter of imposing some sort of organisation upon a previously incoherent state, but. Summary of william lane craig s kalam cosmological argument the rest of the posts in this series can be found here. Building on the work of william lane craig, nowacki locates the proper modal context in which the kca should be understood.
In professor mackie and the kalam cosmological argument religious studies, xx 1984, 36775, professor william lane craig undertakes to demonstrate that j. Craig has updated and defended the kalam cosmological argument for the existence of god. A simple formation everything that exists has an explanation of its existence, either in the necessity of its own nature or in an external cause. Craig, mackie, and the kalam cosmological argument 1991 graham oppy this article was originally published as religious studies 27 1991. Lets move on to the second premise, that the universe began to exist. Potential things building to become infinite actual permanent, necessary e. This is to be disambiguated from the cosmological argument in the ilm alkalam tradition. In professor mackie and the kalam cosmological argument religious studies, 1984, vol. I have, over the years, been a keen objector to the kalam cosmological argument, an argument that apologists like william lane craig use to posit. Craig provides a broad assessment of the argument in lieu of recent developments in philosophy, mathematics, science and theology. Essay the kalam cosmological argument by theodore schick. I note that there is no contradiction involved in these things. If the universe has an explanation of its existence, that explanation is god. The kalam cosmological argument by william lane craig.
Philosophical arguments for the finitude of the past bloomsbury studies in philosophy of religion 97815030797. From start to finish, the kalam cosmological argument is predicated upon the atheory of time. A fallacy of cosmic proportions the kalam cosmological. William lane craig, the kalam cosmological argument, the macmillan press ltd, 1979, p. The scientific kalam cosmological argument william lane craig. I just want to say that i am thus far, and ignorant theist who is illiterate in the areas of physics and math but i really desire to defend the kalam cosmological argument but i do not know where to start. Most people know the argument only its thomistic or leibnizian form, but a lesserknown arabic version of it has received recent attention from scholars since the 1979 publication of the kalam cosmological argument by philosopher william lane craig. Craig, mackie, and the kalam cosmological argument 1991. Is the kalam cosmological argument a sound proof for god. Pdf craig, mackie, and the kalam cosmological argument. Smiths most recent criticism of the kalam cosmological argument is also a denial of the.