![](https://novus2.com/righteouscause/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Infinity.png)
Whatever is in motion must be put in motion by another. If that by which it is put in motion be itself put in motion, then this also must needs be put in motion by another, and that by another again. But this cannot go on to infinity, because then there would be no first mover, and, consequently, no other mover; seeing that subsequent movers move only inasmuch as they are put in motion by the first mover; as the staff moves only because it is put in motion by the hand. Therefore it is necessary to arrive at a first mover, put in motion by no other; and this everyone understands to be God.
~ Thomas Aquinas
In his Systematic Theology, theologian Louis Berkhof explains the infinity of God this way:
“The infinity of God is that perfection of God by which He is free from all limitations. . . . He is in no way limited by the universe, by this time-space world, or confined to the universe” (GLH Publishing, 2017).
What is the accepted definition of Infinity?
Britannica: Infinity as it relates to mathematics
Infinity, the concept of something that is unlimited, endless, without bound. The common symbol for infinity, ∞, was invented by the English mathematician John Wallis in 1655. Three main types of infinity may be distinguished: the mathematical, the physical, and the metaphysical. Mathematical infinities occur, for instance, as the number of points on a continuous line or as the size of the endless sequence of counting numbers: 1, 2, 3,…. Spatial and temporal concepts of infinity occur in physics when one asks if there are infinitely many stars or if the universe will last forever. In a metaphysical discussion of God or the Absolute, there are questions of whether an ultimate entity must be infinite and whether lesser things could be infinite as well.
We asked Google’s Gemini Chatbot the following question and the response has some interesting connotations…
Does the concept of infinite matter or energy have any stronger argument than the belief in an infinite spiritual being?
Gemini’s Response…
The concept of infinite matter or energy and the belief in an infinite spiritual being are fundamentally different in nature. One is rooted in the realm of the physical and observable, while the other is rooted in the metaphysical and unobservable.
Infinite Matter/Energy:
Scientific Perspective: While the idea of infinite matter or energy might seem intuitive, it faces challenges in the realm of physics. The concept of infinity is often used as a mathematical tool, but whether it truly exists in the physical universe is debatable. Theories like the Big Bang suggest a finite beginning to the universe, and even the idea of an infinite multiverse doesn’t necessarily imply infinite matter or energy within each universe.
Observational Limitations: We can only observe a finite portion of the universe, and our understanding of physics suggests that even the universe itself may be finite. Therefore, claims of infinite matter or energy remain theoretical and unproven.Infinite Spiritual Being:
Faith-Based Perspective: The concept of an infinite spiritual being (often associated with God or a similar deity) is primarily based on faith and religious beliefs. It is not something that can be empirically proven or disproven.
Philosophical Arguments: Various philosophical arguments have been put forth for the existence of an infinite spiritual being, such as the ontological argument or arguments from design. These arguments, however, are subject to interpretation and debate.
Personal Experience: For many believers, the strongest “proof” of an infinite spiritual being is found in personal experiences, feelings of connection, or a sense of awe and wonder at the universe.Which Argument is Stronger?
It’s difficult to say definitively which argument is “stronger,” as they operate in different realms. The concept of infinite matter/energy is subject to scientific scrutiny and limitations, while the belief in an infinite spiritual being is a matter of faith and personal conviction.
If you prioritize empirical evidence and scientific understanding: The concept of infinite matter/energy may seem less compelling due to the lack of definitive proof.
If you prioritize faith, personal experience, and philosophical reasoning: The belief in an infinite spiritual being may hold greater weight.
Ultimately, the “strength” of either argument depends on your individual worldview and the criteria you use to evaluate it. Both concepts offer unique perspectives on the nature of reality and our place within it.
For this blog post, we asked the bot to write with the following prompt…
Write a short blog post that supports the idea that a divine supernatural entity created a functioning universe in a single moment, thus giving man a perspective of an infinitely powerful being who is not restricted by time or space but is infinite, unlimited, and unmeasurable.
The Gemini response…
The vastness and complexity of our universe are awe-inspiring. From the intricate dance of galaxies to the delicate balance of life on Earth, it’s easy to feel a sense of wonder and to ponder the origins of it all. One perspective, deeply rooted in faith, posits that this magnificent universe was not the result of eons of gradual evolution, but rather the instantaneous creation of a divine, supernatural entity.
A Single Moment of Creation
The idea of a universe created in a single moment might seem fantastical, but it aligns with various religious and spiritual traditions. This act of creation, often referred to as “ex nihilo” (out of nothing), is a testament to the infinite power and wisdom of the Creator. It suggests a being who is not bound by the constraints of time or space, but who exists beyond them, capable of orchestrating the intricate symphony of the cosmos with a single thought.
The Imprint of the Infinite
The very nature of our universe, with its seemingly endless expanse and astonishing complexity, hints at the hand of an infinite Creator. The laws of physics, the delicate balance of ecosystems, and the intricate workings of the human body all point to a level of design and purpose that seems to transcend random chance. The universe, in its very essence, appears to bear the imprint of the infinite.
A Perspective of Awe and Humility
Embracing this perspective of creation can have profound implications for our understanding of ourselves and our place in the universe. It invites us to approach life with a sense of awe and humility, recognizing that we are part of something far grander and more mysterious than we can fully comprehend. It reminds us that we are not the ultimate source of meaning and purpose, but rather participants in a story that is unfolding on a cosmic scale.
Beyond Time and Space
The concept of a divine Creator who is not limited by time or space opens up a realm of possibilities beyond our human understanding. It suggests a being who is not subject to the same constraints as we are, who can see the past, present, and future simultaneously, and who can act in ways that defy our expectations. This perspective can be both comforting and challenging, offering hope and inspiration while also reminding us of our own limitations.
Conclusion
Whether or not one accepts the idea of a divine Creator, the concept of a universe created in a single moment offers a powerful lens through which to view the world around us. It invites us to contemplate the mysteries of existence, to grapple with the big questions of life, and to consider the possibility that there is more to reality than meets the eye. It is a perspective that has the potential to transform our understanding of ourselves, our relationship with the universe, and the very nature of reality itself.
The writer of a blog called “Maddening Theology” summarizes the debate quite well…
The Miracle of Eternal Matter.
The debate of the universe’s birth is very multifaceted. There is even infighting on both sides between atheists and between creationists on details of their theory. This is a blog, so we can’t even begin to skim the surface of the debate, but I would like to touch on one particular issue.
This is not a place to divulge or contend every point, so I would like you to think with me about one thing. You must believe in one of two things: you must believe in either an eternal supreme being who created matter or that matter is eternal. If you believe in secular evolution, you must believe in eternal matter. Why?
Well let’s say that you believe in the Big Bang Theory and the secular evolutionary theory. In order for you to believe in the Big Bang you must believe that there was matter, or atoms, to go bang. Simply, there must have been matter before the bang for those things to go bang. If you do not believe in an eternal being, you must believe in eternal matter.
If you are someone who believes in secular evolution, have you ever stopped to wonder where the matter from the Big Bang originated? The reality is things don’t just appear out of the air. You may say to the Christian, “I can’t believe in creation because I don’t believe in God.” Here’s what I would say to you: it takes just as much, if not more faith to believe in eternal matter that was never created than it does in an all-powerful supreme being who created matter. Both of these hypotheses take some level of faith, because none of us reading this were there when creation began.
As suggested by “Maddening Theology,” the two schools of thought regarding the origin of everything are as follows…
SCHOOL NUMBER 1:
Wikipedia: Creatio ex nihilo
Creatio ex nihilo (Latin for “creation out of nothing”) is the doctrine that matter is not eternal but had to be created by some divine creative act.[1] It is a theistic answer to the question of how the universe came to exist. It is in contrast to creation ex materia, sometimes framed in terms of the dictum Ex nihilo nihil fit or “nothing comes from nothing”, meaning all things were formed ex materia (that is, from pre-existing things).
SCHOOL NUMBER 2:
Wikipedia: Creatio ex materia
Creatio ex materia is the notion that the universe was formed out of eternal, pre-existing matter. This is in contrast to the notion of creatio ex nihilo, where the universe is created out of nothing. The idea of creatio ex materia is found in ancient near eastern cosmology, early Greek cosmology such as is in the works of Homer and Hesiod, and across the board in ancient Greek philosophy. It was also held by a few early Christians, although creatio ex nihilo was the dominant concept among such writers.
The Bible asserts that the universe is not eternal, having a beginning with God as its creator (Genesis 1:11In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.). This contrasts with some philosophical and scientific perspectives that propose an eternal universe. Atheists often point to the first law of thermodynamics, suggesting matter and energy are eternal.
However, the question remains: why does anything exist at all? If the universe had a beginning, it necessitates a cause and cannot be eternal. All available evidence points to a finite universe, a fact that many naturalists and atheists find difficult to accept. Despite their efforts to find a scientific loophole, the reality of a beginning for the current order of nature seems undeniable.
Google Gemini again offers its “philosophical” perspective…
The Kalam Cosmological Argument is often considered one of the most compelling religious arguments for the existence of a supreme god as the creator of all things. It follows a logical structure based on two premises:
1. Everything that begins to exist has a cause. This premise is generally accepted as intuitive and aligns with our everyday experiences. Things don’t just pop into existence without a reason.
2. The universe began to exist. This premise is supported by modern scientific evidence, such as the Big Bang theory, which suggests that the universe had a definite starting point.From these premises, the argument concludes that:
3. Therefore, the universe has a cause. Since the universe began to exist, and everything that begins to exist has a cause, there must be something that caused the universe to exist.
The argument then posits that this cause must be:
• Uncaused: If the cause of the universe had a cause, then it would lead to an infinite regress of causes, which is logically problematic. Therefore, the cause of the universe must be uncaused.
• Timeless: Since time began with the universe, the cause of the universe must exist outside of time.
• Immaterial: Since the universe is made of matter and energy, the cause of the universe must be immaterial.
• Powerful: The cause of the universe must be incredibly powerful to bring the entire universe into existence.
• Personal: The cause of the universe must be personal, as an impersonal force or law of nature cannot choose to create.These characteristics of the cause of the universe align with the traditional concept of a supreme god, who is often described as uncaused, timeless, immaterial, powerful, and personal.
Strengths of the Argument:
• Logical: The argument follows a clear and logical structure.
• Scientifically Supported: The premise that the universe began to exist is supported by scientific evidence.
• Addresses the Question of Why: It provides an explanation for why the universe exists at all.Limitations of the Argument:
• Does Not Prove a Specific God: The argument concludes the existence of a cause with the characteristics of a supreme god, but it doesn’t necessarily prove the existence of a specific god from a particular religion.
• Subject to Philosophical Debate: The premises and conclusions of the argument have been debated by philosophers and theologians.While the Kalam Cosmological Argument is not without its limitations, it provides a compelling line of reasoning that resonates with many believers. It offers a logical and scientifically supported framework for considering the possibility of a supreme god as the creator of the universe.
Amir Aczel, an Israeli-born American mathematician who passed away in 2015, possessed a profound knowledge and understanding of mathematics and science. His book, “Why Science Does Not Disprove God” was published just prior to his death. Publishers Weekly called him, “One of our best science popularizers.”
In this insightful Time magazine summary of his book, Amir skillfully counters the extreme assertions of the “New Atheists.” He presents a compelling and accessible explanation of the current scientific consensus, demonstrating that there is still room for the divine within our understanding of the universe. Furthermore, he argues that faith in God and empirical science are not inherently contradictory, offering millions of educated believers a reassuring perspective.
A number of recent books and articles would have you believe that—somehow—science has now disproved the existence of God. We know so much about how the universe works, their authors claim, that God is simply unnecessary: we can explain all the workings of the universe without the need for a Creator.
And indeed, science has brought us an immense amount of understanding. The sum total of human knowledge doubles roughly every couple of years or less. In physics and cosmology, we can now claim to know what happened to our universe as early as a tiny fraction of a second after the Big Bang, something that may seem astounding. In chemistry, we understand the most complicated reactions among atoms and molecules, and in biology we know how the living cell works and have mapped out our entire genome. But does this vast knowledge base disprove the existence of some kind of pre-existent outside force that may have launched our universe on its way?
But has modern science, from the beginning of the 20th century, proved that there is no God, as some commentators now claim? Science is an amazing, wonderful undertaking: it teaches us about life, the world and the universe. But it has not revealed to us why the universe came into existence nor what preceded its birth in the Big Bang. Biological evolution has not brought us the slightest understanding of how the first living organisms emerged from inanimate matter on this planet and how the advanced eukaryotic cells—the highly structured building blocks of advanced life forms—ever emerged from simpler organisms. Neither does it explain one of the greatest mysteries of science: how did consciousness arise in living things? Where do symbolic thinking and self-awareness come from? What is it that allows humans to understand the mysteries of biology, physics, mathematics, engineering and medicine? And what enables us to create great works of art, music, architecture and literature? Science is nowhere near to explaining these deep mysteries.
But much more important than these conundrums is the persistent question of the fine-tuning of the parameters of the universe: Why is our universe so precisely tailor-made for the emergence of life? This question has never been answered satisfactorily, and I believe that it will never find a scientific solution. For the deeper we delve into the mysteries of physics and cosmology, the more the universe appears to be intricate and incredibly complex. To explain the quantum-mechanical behavior of even one tiny particle requires pages and pages of extremely advanced mathematics. Why are even the tiniest particles of matter so unbelievably complicated? It appears that there is a vast, hidden “wisdom,” or structure, or knotty blueprint for even the most simple-looking element of nature. And the situation becomes much more daunting as we expand our view to the entire cosmos.
Why did everything we need in order to exist come into being? How was all of this possible without some latent outside power to orchestrate the precise dance of elementary particles required for the creation of all the essentials of life? The great British mathematician Roger Penrose has calculated—based on only one of the hundreds of parameters of the physical universe—that the probability of the emergence of a life-giving cosmos was 1 divided by 10, raised to the power 10, and again raised to the power of 123. This is a number as close to zero as anyone has ever imagined. (The probability is much, much smaller than that of winning the Mega Millions jackpot for more days than the universe has been in existence.)
The incredible fine-tuning of the universe presents the most powerful argument for the existence of an immanent creative entity we may well call God. Lacking convincing scientific evidence to the contrary, such a power may be necessary to force all the parameters we need for our existence—cosmological, physical, chemical, biological and cognitive—to be what they are.
Science and religion are two sides of the same deep human impulse to understand the world, to know our place in it, and to marvel at the wonder of life and the infinite cosmos we are surrounded by. Let’s keep them that way, and not let one attempt to usurp the role of the other.
The Bible consistently presents God as eternal, existing outside of time and space. In Psalm 90:2, we read, “Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.” This verse emphasizes God’s existence before the creation of the universe and His infinite nature. Additionally, Revelation 1:8 declares, “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” Here, God identifies Himself as the beginning and the end, further solidifying His eternal nature. These verses, along with numerous others throughout Scripture, affirm the biblical claim that God has always existed and will always exist, transcending the limitations of time.
This is the blessing of believers … God is forever and we can dwell with Him forever. The Bible paints a vivid picture of believers enjoying eternal fellowship with God. In Revelation 21:3, God proclaims, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.” This signifies an intimate and everlasting relationship in a renewed creation where suffering and death are eradicated. Similarly, John 14:2-3 records Jesus’ promise, “My Father’s house has many rooms… I am going there to prepare a place for you… I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” These verses, among others, provide a profound assurance of eternal fellowship with God for those who believe.
“A man can no more diminish God’s glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word ‘darkness’ on the walls of his cell.”
― C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain
Isaiah 40:28
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.Psalm 90:2
Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.Revelation 1:8
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”John 8:58
Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”Hebrews 1:10
And, “You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands;1 John 5:1
And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.John 5:24
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.1 Timothy 6:16
Who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.John 3:15
That whoever believes in him may have eternal life.