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FIRST CAUSE - UNCAUSED - ETERNAL 

Question presented:
"The theist states that like a house, the universe is a complex construction, but on a granduer scale, of course. Therefore, it must have a builder. To continue this form of logic, who or what constructed the builder? I think most "believers" would say that god is eternal, has always been there and was not created by anything else. If so, could you not apply this same logic to the universe?"

The great difference is that the theist believes, based on what we see around us (cause and effect universe), that the first cause, uncaused, eternal One (God) had the sufficiency within Himself to bring all of this effect into existence. That the first cause, uncaused One must be eternal because it is (logically speaking) impossible to bring one's self into existence since it is illogical to conclude that something (someone) could act before it existed. Based on this reasoning both the theist and atheist act upon faith. The atheist accepts on faith that matter is eternal or else he must explain how something, out of nothing, could come into existence. Even the adherents of the "big bang" theory postulate the existence of matter at the time of the assumed explosion. But what the atheist says is eternal and who the theist says is eternal are very different, indeed.
By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible" (Heb. 11:3).
The atheist asserts (apart from reason) that inert matter has within itself the innate intelligence to form, through time plus chance, complex structures such as eyes, ears or mouth. Things which, because of how they perform, would have required a great deal of intelligence and logic to design. The theist reasonably concludes that inert matter neither possessed nor possesses now, such inherent intelligence and resolves that behind these complex structures (even the simplest) there must, out of necessity, be a Designer. A conclusion that does not contradict logic nor what we observe around us.

The theist then goes on to conclude, quite logically, that if this first cause, uncaused, eternal One designed the eye, certainly this One is capable of seeing. And if this first cause, uncaused One designed the ear and mouth, would He not possess the ability to hear and speak, also? And if man possesses sensibilities and is capable of being personal, would not this first cause, uncaused One also possess such attributes? Indeed, the effect is not greater than the cause, is it? -- Although, this is the rationale of the atheist with his belief in inert, eternal, inanimate matter and its ability to effect something far more superior than the itself. A presupposition that flies in the face of common logic.


"Pay heed you senseless among the people;
And when will you understand stupid ones?
He who planted the ear, can He not hear?
He who formed the eye, can He not see?
He who chastens the nations, will He not rebuke,
Even He who teaches man knowledge?
The Lord knows the thoughts of man,
That they are a mere breath."
Ps. 94:8-11

Written by: Gary Nystrom

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