Did the universe begin to exist? If so, did it have a cause? Or could it have come into existence uncaused, from nothing? These questions are taken up by the medieval-though recently-revived-kalam cosmological argument, which has arguably been the most discussed philosophical argument for God's existence in recent decades. The kalam's line of reasoning maintains that the series of past events cannot be infinite but rather is finite. Since the universe could not have come into being uncaused, there must be a transcendent cause of the universe's beginning, a conclusion supportive of theism.This anthology on the philosophical arguments for the finitude of the past asks: Is an infinite series of past events metaphysically possible? Should actual infinites be restricted to theoretical mathematics, or can an actual infinite exist in the concrete world? These essays by kalam proponents and detractors engage in lively debate about the nature of infinity and its conundrums; about frequently-used kalam argument paradoxes of Tristram Shandy, the Grim Reaper, and Hilbert's Hotel; and about the infinity of the future.

AcknowledgmentsForewordIntroduction Paul Copan (Palm Beach Atlantic University, USA)Part 1. Whatever Begins to Exist Has a Cause1. A New Critique of Theological Misinterpretations of Physical Cosmology Adolf Grünbaum (University of Pittsburgh, USA)2. Prof. Grünbaum on the 'Normalcy of Nothingness' in the Leibnizian and Kalam Cosmological Arguments William Lane Craig (Talbot School of Theology, USA)Part 2. The Universe Began to ExistDeductive Arguments2.1 Argument based on Impossibility of Existence of an Actual Infinite3. Must Metaphysical Time Have a Beginning? Wes Morriston (University of Colorado Boulder, USA)4. Craig on the Actual InfiniteWes Morriston (University of Colorado Boulder, USA)5. On the Beginning of Time: A Reply to Wes Morriston Concerning the Existence of Actual InfinitiesAndrew Loke (University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong)6. No Beginning, No Explanation: The Kalam Cosmological Argument and the Principle of Sufficient ReasonDavid S. Oderberg (University of Reading, UK)7. Excerpt from Arguing about Gods Graham Oppy (Monash University, Australia)8. Graham Oppy on the Kalam Cosmological ArgumentWilliam Lane Craig (Talbot School of Theology, USA)9. Heartbreak at Hilbert's HotelLandon Hedrick (University of Nebraska - Lincoln, USA)10. No Heartbreak at Hilbert's Hotel: A Reply to Landon HedrickAndrew Loke (University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong)11. Finitism and the Beginning of the UniverseStephen Puryear (NC State University, USA)2.2 Argument based on the Impossibility of Formation of an Actual Infinite by Successive Addition12. Traversal of the Infinite, the 'Big Bang,' and the Kalam Cosmological ArgumentDavid S. Oderberg (University of Reading, UK)13. The Tristram Shandy Paradox: A Response to David S. OderbergGraham Oppy (Monash University, Australia)14. The Tristram Shandy Paradox: A Reply to Graham OppyDavid S. Oderberg (University of Reading, UK)15. Methuselah's Diary and the Finitude of the PastBen Waters16. The Grim Reaper Kalam Argument: From Temporal and Causal Finitism to GodRobert C. Koons (University of Texas at Austin, USA)17. Endless Future: A Persistent Thorn in the Kalam Cosmological ArgumentYishai Cohen (Syracuse University, USA)18. The Kalam Cosmological ArgumentWilliam Lane Craig (Talbot School of Theology, USA)PermissionsIndex