Show Notes
Has the universe always existed, or did it have a beginning? And if it began to exist, what caused it?
In this video, we explore the Kalam Cosmological Argument for the existence of God. The Kalam philosophical argument has its roots in medieval Islamic theology, and was popularised in recent years by philosopher William Lane Craig.
The Kalam argument begins with a simple claim: whatever begins to exist has a cause. But can we prove that the universe actually began to exist? And if it did, does that necessarily point towards God?
In this episode, we discuss: Whether science and the Big Bang theory point towards a beginning of the universe The difference between potential and actual infinity Why an infinite past might be impossible Hilbert's Hotel and the paradoxes of infinity Why Thomas Aquinas disagreed that reason alone could prove the universe had a beginning Whether a multiverse or cyclic universe could explain our existence Why the Kalam argument points towards a cause beyond the physical universe
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 via the following links: Donate via PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=6WSCLFHLCDXH2 Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com
More from Crash Course Catholicism
What is the meaning of your life? And how is that meaning revealed through your body?
Why does nature behave in such consistent and purposeful ways? And can this tell us anything about the existence of God?
What if needing other people isn't a sign of weakness? What if it's actually part of God's design for the human person? In this episode, we continue our deep dive into St John Paul II's Theology of the Body. We return to Genesis to explore the creation of Eve and two fundamental experiences of the human person: original unity and original nakedness. Through Adam and Eve's encounter, John Paul II reveals what it means to be created male and female, why human beings are made for relationship, and how our bodies reveal a deeper calling to love, communion, and self-gift. In this episode, we discuss: Why the human person is made for relationship Eve as 'helpmate' What it means to be created male and female John Paul II's concept of "original unity" How difference can lead to unity rather than division What the body reveals about our capacity for self-gift How marriage is an image of the Trinity Why the meaning of human existence is connected to love What John Paul II means by "original nakedness" The difference between looking at someone's body and truly seeing them as a person What original unity and nakedness can teach us about our relationships today John Paul II's reading of Genesis reveals that we aren't made simply to exist alongside one another. We are made to know and be known, to love and be loved, and ultimately to make a gift of ourselves to others. 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 via 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
In this episode, we continue our series on St Thomas Aquinas' Five Ways by exploring his Fourth Way: the Argument from Gradation, or Degree.
Who are you when you strip everything else away? Before your job, your relationships, your achievements, and your possessions, what makes you you? JPII argues that the question "Who am I?" is one of the most fundamental human questions. Through his experience of original solitude, Adam discovers that he is not just another animal, or a passive part of Creation. He is something else: a child of God. In this episode, we discuss: Why Jesus points us to Genesis to understand the true meaning of marriage and human sexuality What it means to be created in the image of God What the original human experience was like, prior to the Fall What John Paul II means by "original solitude" How Adam discovers his uniqueness among the rest of creation Why the question "Who am I?" is fundamental to human experience Why the world can't give us our identity Why our relationship with God is our first and fundamental relationship What original solitude can teach us about identity, silence, and prayer today