Which thinker is most often named for the First Cause argument?

Thomas Aquinas set the argument out in the thirteenth century in his Summa Theologica. Aquinas gave five ways of arguing for God, and cause was one of them.

What is meant by an infinite regress?

An infinite regress is a chain of causes going back for ever with no starting point. Aquinas argued that such a chain could never get started.

What is meant by a necessary being?

A necessary being is one that cannot fail to exist and depends on nothing else. Aquinas argued that God is necessary while everything in the universe is contingent.

AQA GCSE Religious Studies A 8062

BuddhismReligion

Topic overview The life of the Buddha The Dhamma and the Three Marks of Existence The human personality and human destiny The Four Noble Truths The Eightfold Path and the Threefold Way Places of worship, puja and devotional practice Meditation: samatha, vipassana and visualisation Death, mourning and Buddhist festivals Kamma, rebirth, compassion and loving kindness The five precepts and the six perfections

ChristianityReligion

Topic overview The nature of God and the problem of evil The Trinity and the role of Word and Spirit in creation The incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection and ascension Sin, salvation and atonement Resurrection, judgement, heaven and hell Forms of worship and prayer Baptism and the meaning of sacrament Holy Communion and the Eucharist Pilgrimage, Christmas and Easter The Church in the local and worldwide community

Catholic ChristianityReligion

Topic overview The Trinity and the Nicene Creed Creation, human dignity and stewardship The incarnation and redemption Life after death: judgement, heaven, hell and purgatory The sacramental nature of reality and the sacraments of initiation The eucharist and the sacraments of healing and service Prayer, the Lord's Prayer and popular piety Pilgrimage and the Catholic funeral rite Catholic social teaching and loving our neighbour Mission, evangelism and Catholic agencies

HinduismReligion

Topic overview Brahman and the three features of the divine The Tri-murti, the deities and avatara Matter, maya and Hindu cosmology Atman, samsara, karma and moksha Dharma, the four aims and personal virtues Places and focuses of worship Forms of worship: havan, puja, arati and darshan Diwali, Holi and pilgrimage The four paths of yoga Hindu environmental projects and charities

IslamReligion

Topic overview Tawhid and the six articles of faith The nature of God: mercy, justice and Adalat Angels, predestination and human freedom Akhirah: resurrection, judgement, heaven and hell Risalah, the holy books and the imamate Shahadah, the Five Pillars and the Ten Obligatory Acts Salah and its significance Sawm and zakah: fasting and almsgiving Hajj: the pilgrimage to Makkah Jihad and the festivals of Islam

JudaismReligion

Topic overview The nature of God and the Shekhinah The Messiah, judgement and life after death The Covenant with Abraham and the Covenant at Sinai The mitzvot, free will and key moral principles The synagogue and its features Public worship, the Amidah and prayer in the home Shabbat in the home and the synagogue Tenakh, Talmud and the dietary laws Brit Milah, Bar and Bat Mitzvah, marriage and mourning Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Pesach

SikhismReligion

Topic overview The Mool Mantar and the nature of God God as Creator and God's relationship with creation Human life, the Sikh virtues and living as a gurmukh Karma, rebirth and the aim of mukti The equality of all, sewa and the sangat The gurdwara and its religious features Prayer in the home, nam japna and the akhand path Langar and the gurdwara in the Sikh community Festivals and visiting historical gurdwaras Birth and naming, Amrit Sanskar and the Five Ks

Theme A: Relationships and FamiliesTheme

Topic overview Human sexuality and homosexual relationships Sex before and outside marriage Contraception and family planning Marriage, cohabitation and same-sex marriage Divorce and remarriage The nature and purpose of families Gender roles, equality and discrimination

Theme B: Religion and LifeTheme

Topic overview The origins of the universe Stewardship, dominion and the value of the world The use and abuse of the environment The use and abuse of animals The origins of human life: creation and evolution Sanctity of life, quality of life and abortion Euthanasia, death and life after death

Theme C: The Existence of God and RevelationTheme

Topic overview The Design argument The First Cause argument The argument from miracles Evil and suffering as an argument against God Science, atheism and humanism Special revelation: visions and enlightenment General revelation and ideas about the nature of God

Theme D: Religion, Peace and ConflictTheme

Topic overview Peace, justice, forgiveness and reconciliation Violence, violent protest and terrorism Reasons for war: greed, self-defence and retaliation The just war theory Holy war and religion as a cause of conflict Nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction Pacifism, peace-making and the victims of war

Theme E: Religion, Crime and PunishmentTheme

Topic overview Good, evil and intention Reasons for crime Types of crime and views about criminals The aims of punishment The treatment of criminals Forgiveness The death penalty

Theme F: Religion, Human Rights and Social JusticeTheme

Topic overview Prejudice, discrimination and equality The status of women in religion Religious attitudes to homosexuality Racial prejudice and discrimination Human rights, freedom of belief and social justice Attitudes to wealth Poverty, exploitation and charity

Theme G: St Mark’s Gospel: The Life of JesusTextual studies

Topic overview John the Baptist, the baptism and the temptation Early miracles and the rejection at Nazareth Caesarea Philippi and the transfiguration Passion predictions, true greatness and Bartimaeus The Last Supper and Gethsemane The trials, the crucifixion and the empty tomb The titles of Jesus and the authority of Mark's gospel

Theme H: St Mark’s Gospel as a Source of Religious, Moral and Spiritual TruthsTextual studies

Topic overview The parables of the Kingdom Entering the Kingdom: children, wealth and the greatest commandment Jesus and those his society rejected Faith, giving and devotion The call and mission of the disciples The cost of discipleship, and failure The commission, and the authority of Jesus' teaching today

Theme C: The Existence of God and Revelation

The First Cause argument

3 things to know
Paper 2

Overview

Students learn the First Cause argument and the thinker most linked to it, infinite regress, necessary and contingent being, its link to the Big Bang, its strengths and weaknesses, and Bertrand Russell's objection.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started

Evaluation

Set out the First Cause argument in three steps.

Evaluation

What is the First Cause argument?

Evaluation

Which other name is given to the First Cause argument?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1
What is the First Cause argument?
Model answer
The First Cause argument claims that everything that exists has a cause. The chain of causes must begin with an uncaused first cause, which believers call God.
2
Which other name is given to the First Cause argument?
Model answer
The First Cause argument is also called the cosmological argument. Cosmos is the Greek word for the universe.
3
Which thinker is most often named for the First Cause argument?
Model answer
Thomas Aquinas set the argument out in the thirteenth century in his Summa Theologica. Aquinas gave five ways of arguing for God, and cause was one of them.
4
Set out the First Cause argument in three steps.
Model answer
Everything that begins to exist has a cause. An endless chain of causes is impossible. The first cause must itself be uncaused, and believers identify it as God.
5
What is meant by an infinite regress?
Model answer
An infinite regress is a chain of causes going back for ever with no starting point. Aquinas argued that such a chain could never get started.
6
What is meant by a necessary being?
Model answer
A necessary being is one that cannot fail to exist and depends on nothing else. Aquinas argued that God is necessary while everything in the universe is contingent.

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AMalaikah is the Arabic word for angels.

BBelief in angels is one of the six articles of faith.

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