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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