There are several points worth noting about Pastor Jeremy’s sermon, but I will only mention one. I want to offer some reflections on the idea that God has no beginning. Many skeptics argue that if everything that exists has a cause, then God, since he exists, must have a cause too. But since God doesn’t have a cause, then he can’t really exist. I suppose the skeptic is expecting a few responses. Clearly, the desired response is for the Christian to accept God’s nonexistence, but that’s unlikely (hopefully). On the other hand, the Christian could affirm that God has no cause, therefore denying that everything that exists has a cause. It’s a good start, but the skeptic has a response of his own. If we deny that everything that exists has a cause, why think that it is only God that is without cause? Why do we think the universe has to have a cause? If it is not necessary that the universe have a cause, then why try to explain the existence of the universe by appealing to God’s creative act? The Christian is now in the position of trying to explain why the universe, and not God, has to have a cause. The skeptic thinks he’s got you backed into a corner where you’re forced into special pleading.Well, there is a good reason for thinking that the universe must have a cause while God does not. We have to distinguish between contingent entities and necessary entities. Contingent entities are those that come into existence and continue to depend on some other entity throughout its existence. A necessary entity is an entity that exists in and of itself. Such an entity does not depend on anything. In other words, a necessary entity must exist; its non-existence is impossible. Clearly, everything in the physical universe is the effect of some prior cause (quantum physics notwithstanding), and the universe itself began to exist. If it is reasonable to suppose that everything that began to exist must have a cause, then the universe must have a cause. Clearly, contingent entities, those that begin to exist, cannot be infinitely explained by past contingent entities. Such a regress is irrational. Therefore, contingent entities must be ultimately explained by a necessary entity, an entity that is self-existing that did not come into existence. I follow Christian tradition (which I’d be happy to explore further if someone wants me to) and say the necessary entity required to explain the universe is the God of the Judeo-Christian tradition. If I’m right, then it’s impossible for God to have a cause. For the skeptic to claim that if the universe, a contingent entity, must have a cause, then God , a necessary entity, must also have a cause is like asking for a square circle. It is an utter confusion of concepts.
Here’s the upshot: if God is a necessary entity, then God could not have been caused.
-Jeremy Green
