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Catechism 101: The Cosmological Argument for God's Existence

Crash Course Catholicism

How do we know that God exists? Can reason lead us to God? In this episode, we begin a new series exploring one of the most famous arguments for the existence of God: St Thomas Aquinas’ cosmological argument. Before diving into Aquinas’ First Way, we take a step back and look at the big picture. What exactly is a cosmological argument? How does it work? And why did Aquinas think that observing the ordinary world around us could lead us to the existence of a First Cause or Unmoved Mover? In this episode, we discuss: * What a cosmological argument is * Why we often reason from visible effects to invisible causes * Aquinas’ observations about change, causation, and contingent existence * The difference between temporal and hierarchical causes * What Aquinas means by a First Cause or Unmoved Mover * Why Aquinas is not yet trying to prove every Christian belief about God * How this overview prepares us for Aquinas’ First Three Ways This is the first episode in a series unpacking St Thomas Aquinas’ arguments for the existence of God. Whether you’re interested in philosophy, theology, apologetics, or simply wrestling with life’s biggest questions, I hope these episodes help make Aquinas’ thought more accessible and encourage you to explore these remarkable arguments for yourself. SUPPORT THE PODCAST This podcast relies 100% on the generosity of viewers. If you have found these episodes helpful and would like to support the future of Crash Course Catholicism, please consider donating through the following links: Donate via PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=6WSCLFHLCDXH2 Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/caitlinwest Contact: www.caitlinwest.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/