The Kalam comsological argument is an argument derived from the Islamic Kalam school of argument that attempts to prove the existence of God. A recent formulation by William Lane Craig is as follows:

1. Everything that begins to exist has a cause.
2. The Universe began to exist.
3. Therefore, the Universe must have a cause.

The First Clause

The first clause is usually supported by the following argument:

1. An actual infinite cannot exist.
2. A beginningless series of events is an actual infinite
3. Therefore, a beginningless series of events cannot exist.

The definition of an actual infinite comes from set theory.

See Also

Parallels for this argument are found in the theologies of Judaism (for example, in the work of Maimonides) and Christianity (for example in Thomas Aquinas), where it is known as the 'uncaused cause', 'first cause', or cosmological argument.