re: #346 Jack Burton

This is just a badly worded and dumbed down version of Thomas Aquinas’ Cosmological Argument. It’s something that modern science shows is not required for the existence of the universe and is therefore debunked.

Even if it was true, this ‘entity’ does not necessarily have to continue to exist, nor does it, simply on the basis of this argument, match the Christian or any other God as portrayed in by any religion in existence.

it’s a rare case where every single assertion in the entire chain of argument is bogus:

God provides the best explanation of the origin of the universe

no he doesn’t

Given the scientific evidence we have about our universe and its origins, and bolstered by arguments presented by philosophers for centuries, it is highly probable that the universe had an absolute beginning

not necessarily at all. why? does your “God” have an absolute beginning?

Since the universe, like everything else, could not have merely popped into being without a cause

why not?

there must exist a transcendent reality beyond time and space that brought the universe into existence

no, there doesn’t

This entity must therefore be enormously powerful. Only a transcendent, unembodied mind suitably fits that description

no, other things could account for it