Page 94: “The universe, ” he said, “was filled with light.”
Actually the universe was opaque the first 380,000 years, so it was not filled with light until then.
Page 98: Kalam Cosmological argument: “Whatever begins to exist has a cause”
Since Physics and Cosmology point to a super universe that has always existed, then according to this statement it doesn’t need a cause. The cause of our universe is found in this super universe. No supernatural needed here.
Question about cause: the question really is “why is there something instead of nothing?” God does not answer this question. A supernatural God is still a “something”. Ultimately, there just is no answer to the question, “why is there something instead of nothing?” and not even God can fix that.
Click for a possible answer to “why is there something instead of nothing?
The question of who created God still applies. Click.
Page 108: “There are several qualities we can identify,” he replied. “A cause of space and time must be an uncaused , beginningless, timeless, spaceless, immaterial being endowed with freedom and enormous power,” he said, ” And that is a core concept of God.”
The comments above for Page 98 apply here as well. These are qualities that are assumed.
If this God has any influence on our universe and us then a change must happen in energy (e.g. motion) or mass, which can therefore be measured, described, sensed and therefore studied scientifically. How is this different than the natural? Click.
If not it is impossible for us to know anything about this supernatural God — all who talk about this unknowable God is really an agnostic.
Same applies to an immaterial mind, separate from the brain.
Relevant comments by Paul Jacobson about this chapter:
If God is considered to be omniscient there is never a time when God doesn’t know all decisions that will be made — so free will is incompatible with omniscience.
If God is timeless: Yet God’s creation is described to be step-wise, time-based. Time before universe existed is mentioned. If God decides to create the universe, then the universe is created — this all happens in time and cannot Timeless.
Mr. Craig asks where the whole quantum vacuum comes from. He says that some things don’t need a cause. A quantum vacuum doesn’t really need a cause — this is no more or less need for a cause or an explanation than God.
A good discussion on Kalam. Click.
One more. Click.
O. Hooge
Naturalism and Religious Experience 