The Law of Cause and Effect is a central scientific principle used in the sources to argue for the existence of God. It is defined as a law stating that for every effect seen in nature, there must be a cause that preceded it (or was simultaneous to it) and is greater than or equal to the effect.
The sources break down this argument through several key points:
The Nature of Scientific Law
Unlike laws made by humans, which can be changed or voted on, a scientific law is constant for all people, places, and times. The sources note that just as the Law of Gravity cannot be changed by a vote, the Law of Cause and Effect is a scientifically established law with no known exceptions.
The Universe as a Material Effect
The primary application of this law in the sources is to the origin of the Universe:
- Logical Necessity: Because the Universe is a “material effect,” it must have a cause. The sources argue it is “scientifically impossible” for something to exist without a cause, just as a book cannot fly across a room on its own.
- The Problem of “Nothing”: The sources challenge the idea that the Universe appeared out of nothing, asserting that “nothing produces nothing”. If something exists now, then something must have always existed to cause it.
- An Adequate Cause: A cause must be “big enough” for the effect. Given that the Universe contains an estimated 100 billion galaxies and is so large it would take 93 billion years to cross at the speed of light, its cause must be incredibly powerful. The sources conclude that nothing in nature is big enough to cause such a Universe; therefore, the cause must be a supernatural God.
Why God Does Not Need a Cause
A common challenge to this argument is the question, “What caused God?” The sources provide a specific distinction to answer this:
- Material vs. Spirit: The Law of Cause and Effect applies specifically to material effects—things made of matter.
- God’s Nature: Because the Bible describes God as an eternal Spirit (John 4:24) rather than matter, the sources argue that the Law of Cause and Effect does not apply to Him. God is presented as the “First Cause” who exists outside of the material laws of nature.
Conclusion
The sources summarize that the visible Universe acts as a “fingerprint” of God’s eternal power. Just as a person can know someone walked on a beach by seeing their footprints, humans can know God exists by observing the massive “effect” that is the Universe and concluding there must be an adequate “Cause”.