Did the universe have a beginning? William Lane Craig vs Alex Malpass

Unbelievable?

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Christianity, Religion & Spirituality

4.7 • 2.4K Ratings

🗓️ 7 May 2026

⏱️ 93 minutes

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Summary

William Lane Craig and Alex Malpass debate the Kalam cosmological argument: everything that begins to exist has a cause; the universe began to exist; therefore, the universe has a cause. Hosted by John Nelson, the discussion explores whether causation applies to the universe, whether an actual infinite can exist, Hilbert’s Hotel, successive addition, the Grim Reaper paradox, and whether the universe’s cause must be timeless, spaceless, powerful and personal. Craig defends the argument’s metaphysical force and the plausibility of a divine creator, while Malpass challenges its premises with philosophical logic, set theory, and alternative accounts of time and causation. A rigorous and good-humoured exchange on one of philosophy of religion’s most famous arguments. Subscribe & Support 👉 Support thought-provoking conversations and help keep the show going at www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate💡 🎧 Never miss an episode! Subscribe to the Unbelievable? podcast a www.premier.plus/unbelievable 🎙️ 🔗 Get bonus content, updates, fascinating articles, and early access to new episodes - absolutely free! Join now at www.premierunbelievable.com 📢 Follow us

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Transcript

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1:00.4	Everything that begins to exist has a cause. The universe began to exist. Therefore, the universe
1:08.2	has a cause. I'm John Nelson, and on Unblevable, I'm joined by two
1:12.4	exceptional philosophers who've thought extensively about this syllogism, the Kalam Cosmological
1:18.4	Argument. William Lane Craig is a research professor of philosophy at the Talbot School of Theology,
1:23.5	and his 1979 monograph, the Kalam Cosological argument, revived the argument in contemporary philosophy.
1:31.4	And joining us to critique the argument is Alex Malpas, who has a PhD in philosophical logic
1:35.9	and is the author of several academic papers on the Kalam.
1:39.7	Gentlemen, thank you so much for joining me on Unbelievable.
1:43.0	Thank you very much.
1:44.8	Alex, I know that last time you had a discussion with William Lane Craig,
	...

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