What we have here is the most complex form of the cosmological (first cause) argument I've seen yet, but it's the cosmological argument nonetheless. It's worth dismantling this incarnation to show how easily new caveats can often be stripped away.
Firstly, the basic premise of cause and effect ain't what it used to be. Studies of quantum mechanics have revealed a system of particle movement which is probabilistic and, as far as we know, completely random. Anything with a cause is not truly random, only made to seem that way by the onset of chaos and entropy. It's just possible that these movements are genuinely uncaused, which would remove the need for a First Cause altogether. That said, let's accept the premise of cause and effect and move on.
Saying that any creator must have existed outside time and space is firstly trivial and secondly not guaranteed. Whatever resulted in the Big Bang self-evidently existed (or exists) outside of whatever space and time resulted FROM the Big Bang. That's not necessarily all the space and time there ever was.
Any precursor could have existed in an entirely different system of spacetime; another universe, or simply an exterior section of this universe. (Consider that the aftermath of the Big Bang may not constitute this entire universe. The "super universe" theory mentioned is a valid possibility.) The precursor, if any, is certainly not exempt from questions of origin.
If we assume completely linear time (which is far from certain) then it's true that an eternal universe or multiverse is required in the absence of an eternal or timeless deity. Why is that harder to accept than the deity?
A god which created everything directly is more complex than the whole of existence put together. Therefore if Occam's razor is applied, ANY other hypothesis is preferable to a god: multiple concurrent universes, consecutive universes, basic matter and energy occasionally catalysing into a self-contained universe, etc. An uncreated, uneducated superpower/superintelligence is quite literally the most unlikely thing in the world.
There's another reason why the multiverse theory (in quantum mechanics, the "many-worlds interpretation") in particular is preferable to the god hypothesis. We know beyond reasonable doubt that there is at least one universe - this one - but we do not know to anything like that level of certainty that there is even a single god.
Multiple instances of a known object are generally more likely to exist than an object with no precedent or evidence. Choosing God over a multiverse is like seeing a ravaged cabbage patch with one tiny rabbit in the corner, and asserting that Bigfoot ate most of the cabbages rather than that more rabbits might be hiding nearby.
With the central argument covered, I want to pick up on some other points.
1. What do "we know about the design of the universe"? The phrase implies a designer and begs the question, and the knowledge is not given but asserted.
2. Mark the phrase "the atheist", singular instead of plural. This is an old convention designed to belittle the subjects. Think back to "the Jew", "the Hun", "the savage" or "the infidel". It says to the reader, "They are all the same, and I've got them pegged."
3. Even if the argument were airtight and a Creator were proved absolutely, the author is all set to jump straight from that premise to the Creator's identity: the Christian God. This is a deist argument being used to push a theist view, and it will not go the distance. Refuting atheists is only the first step for this apologist. There's still every other religion to beat. But like those who use Pascal's Wager, Rich Deem's basic assumption is that there is only one possible God.
- SmartLX
Comments
It must be God.
I hope you realize that when atheists ask "who created God", it is purely a HYPOTHETICAL question (remember atheists don't even believe in God). Atheists ONLY ask this if after theists try to pull the old, "If it exists, it must have been created" argument. Atheists are simply pointing out the circle of faulty logic that is started by this silly claim. The question "who created God" is a FAKE question that Atheists ask you, so they can watch you stumble and backpedal, trying to combine your magical fantasy with reality. And, I can see that you have done that very same thing. Weather the universe is infinite or not, you still have no proof, no evidence, and NO GOOD REASON to believe there is God. -peace