Catechism 101: The Cosmological Argument for God's Existence

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.

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