CLASSICAL THEISM AND THE COSMOLOGICAL ARGUMENT

This paper provides a critical examination of the cosmological argument for the existence of God within the framework of classical theism. It begins by outlining the standard version of the argument, particularly as formulated by Thomas Aquinas, focusing on the concepts of contingency, necessity, causality, and the 'Unmoved Mover'. The argument posits that a contingent universe, characterized by motion and change, necessitates the existence of an independent, unchanging, and Necessary Being—God. The paper then pivots to a rigorous critique of this position, highlighting a fundamental dilemma: the Unmoved Mover of philosophy is incompatible with the personal, dynamic, and responsive God depicted in the Judeo-Christian scriptures. It argues that biblical portrayals of God show a being who is moved by human suffering, prayer, and repentance, thus exhibiting change and contingency. This scriptural evidence directly contradicts the philosophical requirement of absolute changelessness. The paper concludes that the cosmological argument, by insisting on an immutable God, ultimately fails to support the concept of a "living God" central to religious faith. It results in a philosophical abstraction rather than the personal deity of classical theism, leaving theists with an unresolved contradiction between their philosophical proofs and their theological commitments.