(February 15, 2015 at 6:45 pm)robvalue Wrote: The universe may have always existed though, and as such would require no cause.
I don't understand that claim. I know that Christians make that claim about their god, but it seems arbitrary.
Suppose we discovered that a hamburger had always existed: two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, all on a sesame seed bun. Wouldn't you want an explanation? Wouldn't you want to know what had caused that to always exist?
I feel the same way about Jehovah. And, if the universe is eternal, then I feel that way about the universe.
Let me clarify: I'm not saying that eternal gods, universes, and hamburgers necessarily have causes. I don't know that they do. I think plenty of non-eternal things (tiny things) are uncaused.
But I also think that when theists claim that everything---except their god---needs a cause, they are being arbitrary and self-serving.
I don't know of any reason to believe that eternal things are uncaused.
