Year 7 · Religious education · Religion, ethics and philosophy · Lesson 3

The first cause argument

The first cause (cosmological) argument: Thomas Aquinas's Five Ways, infinite regress, links with the Big Bang and Georges Lemaître, and objections such as ‘what caused God?’ and Bertrand Russell's view.

18-minute video lesson

Teaching, worked examples and 20 practice questions solved step by step.

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What your child will learn

Explain the first cause argument
Describe Aquinas's contribution
Explain links with the Big Bang
Evaluate the argument with objections

The method

Explain.
Who.
Strength + weakness.
Judge.

Key words: first cause, cosmological argument, Aquinas, infinite regress, Big Bang, Russell, eternal.

Worked examples

The first three practice questions from the lesson, with every step.

Question 1

What is the first cause argument?

Step 1: Chain

Answer: everything has a cause, so there must be an uncaused first cause: God

Question 2

Who is most linked to the first cause argument?

Step 1: Thomas...

Answer: Thomas Aquinas

Question 3

When did Aquinas live?

Step 1: 1200s

Answer: 1225-1274