How is God the Creator? | Episode 506 | Closer To Truth 

This show is amazing. I'm very happy for discovering it and the best part is the fact that there are dozens and dozens of episodes to watch for

me at 2 in the morning watching this ... :)

Mr Robert your voice is the most narrative Andy iconic voice I've ever heard and the depth of the understanding in your question is incredible 👏 I'm truly a fan of your documentaries and congratulations on your research which I personally like every other human being on the planet will be able to find out how it all started etc

The biggest questions facing humanity: Why is there something rather than nothing? What is the nature of consciousness? Are we alone in the universe? How does CTT number their episodes?

Abstract objects are immaterial abstractions that cannot exist independently of a mind that abstracts. To argue otherwise is to talk nonsense.

I love just how it tickles the spiritual and pushes one to ponder about existence

I did not know that Steve Martin was interested in Theology in the most profound way. Best debates I have seen in RU-vid so far was Roger Penrose with William Craig

"In the beginning the universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move." - Douglas Adams

21:40 True, in Islam God has/is 99 names such as The Just, The Merceful, The Balancing, The All-Knowing, The Causing , The Creator.... etc etc These abstrsct concepts are all God's properties and names which all are the true active cause behind our existence. Spacetime itself, mathimatics and the universe laws were manifested by God and by those properties of God.

This is the best philosophical show I have seen yet. Very informative.

Very interesting show as always. But seemed to me to be 26 minutes of the God of the gaps argument.

Can't believe we all share this great journey

i love your show, for years. Thank You for asking the Questions and bringing us closer to the Truth.

The more I learn about my consciousness the closer I feel to the Creator

I believe abstract objects are needed for us to interact with reality, and for us to experience consciousness and ultimately God.

A peice of paper is only paper; when I utilize such paper it becomes art -- i have the power to manifest like God. The universe is only void; when definition(God) is active, creation/manifestation occurs. I am aware of the Spiritual. I know that God is beyond this deminsion. For some reason God brought light here -- thus manifestation occurs.

15:01 very enlightening and beautiful argument to justify the size of the universe

The elemental problem I see, at the root of all deductions and conclusions when trying to justify or negate god, is that these are performed by our minds & senses which are in their essence imperfect. How then can we understand a perfect god with our imperfect instruments (mind, senses, etc) , or how dare we??

The Truth is unattainable. We can only strive to be genuine!

Great program and series by Lawrence Kuhn. One of the best, most consistent and rigorous writing and teaching on the science confirming Bible account of creation and God's (Jewish Messianic) operation of the world is Dr. Hugh Ross' work. His clear accounts of the extra or "super" dimensionality of God's "transcendence" preceded Brian Greene's fine presentation of SuperString theories by many years.

Though I am not a "religious" person as in actively practicing a particular religion, I am less troubled by the thought of "God" creating everything than by the thought that everything was created out of nothing by nothing.

Thank you for the discussion.^ To examine the question reasonably, of course, first, that supremely ambiguous word "God" would have to be specifically defined, otherwise, it is always a "Who's on first" situation where each person is misunderstanding what the other is saying ... and doesn't know it. So for example, let's say that it is agreed to use this definition of "God": "Creator of the Universe". If the Universe was created, then the name of that creator, the term we will use to define that, is "God". With absolutely no other "God" concepts included with that. So, was our Universe created? We don't know. Does "God" exist by that definition? Again, we do not know. On the other hand, we do not see any self created material in the universe, with all of it apparently being a function of the event of the big bang. So if our Universe appeared in the same way as what we have observed in nature, like us who arrived as a function of our parents who pre-existed us, then we can suggest the possibility that our universe is a function of "God". What would "God" look like? Functions always resemble, are literally made out of, that which they are a function of. Thus, our planet is made out of the material of exploding stars, it resembles what it is a function of. Or our galaxy, it is a function of the interaction of other galaxies that pre-existed our own, and our galaxy is literally made out of those other galaxies and resemble those. Or, you, you are a function of your parents and resemble your parents. They pre-existed you. So, following that example, something we see everywhere in the universe, it's possible that our universe is a function of the interaction of other pre-existing universes similar to our own, parents to our universe. At that point, the terrain would look like this: Like galaxies that exist in relation to other galaxies, our universe exists in a common time and space and in relation to those other parental universes from which our universe was born together with "a night sky" full of other related universes similar to and related to our own. Naturally those other universes, large bodies of mass (like other galaxies that gravitationally effect our Milky Way galaxy) would be effecting our universe gravitationally and electromagnetically. If we did not know that our universe was existing in relation to those large bodies of mass, if we thought that our universe was all there is, then we would discover that there is much less matter in our universe than would be necessary to generate the gravity required to hold our universe together. So at that point, we would posit some kind of dark matter, that is, matter of immense density that we can not see, locate or isolate for study but we assume is present somewhere in our universe. But if our Universe is a function, there is no theoretical need for dark matter, as the missing matter is all around our universe but out of range of our telescopes so far. ...

Dear Mr Kuhn, may be you should conduct an interview with Bishop Robert Barron of LA...

+1, you never loose. "Mine is always +1 more then yours." Reminds me of the game i played as kid

Great series; unconvincing arguement. RU-vid content at its best. ✌️

"How is God the Creator?" God: "Not much, you?"

In Nature we have some creations and some increations. These two are what we call a changing Nature.

Thank you Mr. kuhn.

"It's never good to torture babies". Why focus on babies? Does that imply that it's good to torture adults? Why is it okay to torture adults?

It puzzles me how God has always existed long before he created everything ? So God must've been on his own with nothing to do and with nothing to eat , because he had yet to create food , I suspect he doesn't need food , but do you get what I mean ? He must have been incredibly bored before he decided on creation .

Life is a realistic simulator in a mathematically correct infinite universe where anything is absolutely possible if the math is correct. (And when I say infinite I mean, once we hit a technology wall, humanity will surpass it. It is in our nature to stick together and overcome every obstacle that threatens it’s existence or other forms of life. And forever are we doomed to create unto infinity)

"Owing to the loss of the capacity to ponder and the contemporary average man hears or employs in conversation any word with which he is familiar only by its consonance, he does not pause to think, nor does there even arise in him any question as to what exactly is meant by this word, he having already decided, once and for all, both that he knows it and that others know it too."

If you consider a character with consciousness in some kind of video game they might describe the creation of their world as “out of nothing” but that is just because they don’t know they are in a simulated (created) universe. There is hardware, software, and designers of the hardware and software that they would have no direct interaction with.

Wow! Never heard anyone stump WLC before, that's why I love this channel, the depth of thought process, and questions you ask!

Where does it say this in the bible?

I can see some problems with the arguments: “God created time” -it assumes time didn’t exist. Then it says “God existed forever in the past” so it means a second dimension of time that flows for God only and our dimension is separate. Now both dimension are active? The original dimension of time already existed and it can be simply valid for our world so god didn’t create time before the extra dimension is not necessary Of God existed forever, it means an infinite amount of time in the past. Infinity is not logically possible though so another problem. Plus many many others like god is something that is not made of anything for example. All things we know are made of fundamental simple entities (quantum particles). Being made of no simple constituents and being also able to have infinite power at the same time is nonsense, ridiculous. Related to this the abstract objects are also a problem indeed. Infinite power as a concept maybe doesn’t exist for example Then we all see examples every day that the planet is a wild place, the kindnesses or innocence of an animal or human doesn’t necessarily make it live a safe and beautiful life. We also have a very clear theory pf evolution that shows how lifeforms evolved. If we are made of building blocks that obey their rules then free will is not possible so there is no such a thing as sin. Lifeforms simply act based on the information gathered by the system from the past including genetical information, you can’t do anything about it You need a god to explain what? The universe coming into existence? So you introduce an agent that lived forever in the past then why not assuming the universe has existed forever? But there is a better option than accepting the nonsense of infinity, infinite power the king of all kings bla bla bla. If time starts at the Big Bang then the past is limited in length. Before BB there is no time so there it is impossible to go to a moment of no time. Therefore the Universe was never in a state where nothing existed and infinities are not required. The religious wars, hate, and atrocities are also part of nature, there is nobody up there to judge these people and punish or stop them so our live depend on how lucky we are

Seems logical there is a plan to the universe so if there's a plan there is an omnipotent mind.

I’m surprised this channel has only 212k subscribers, while the guy who goes to car shows has 3 million, that tells you something.

Let me offer a hypothesis. Abstract objects exist only in the mind of man - this includes things such as mathematics, physics, etc. If this is true, then if all of mankind were to die tomorrow, all that is abstract would also disappear. It is important to distinguish between the study of something, mathematics for instance, and the relationships in nature that it seeks to describe. Mathematics is an abstraction that exist only in the mind of man; the relationships in nature that it describes are real but mathematics itself is just and idea or series of ideas.

Nicely done. You're the right person for these interviews. I love listening to you and hearing your response and insights yet also your introductions of other deep thinkers in these interviews. BTW: YOUR SIMILE IN 2 MOMENTS SEEMS GENUINE to me. Liked you really and deeply liked an answer. Then I smiled too 🙉🙈🌻

Consciousness is the key

"Did God create out of literally "nothing"? - Another not a very good question because once you arrive at the notion that God exist, then asking question of 'creation out of nothing' is self-defeating. Once you assume that there is God - something, why would God/something need to create out of nothing can be, and probably is self-defeating. The simple answer is God created out of something, or himself... like out of energy that is part of him, or the spirit...

We are God experiencing itself in human form. If you were to create a whole universe, wouldn't you want to know what its like? God is divine intelligence, consciousness, etc. It was formless, then assembled into form, its both. One can't see the wind, but we know its there because a flag sways in the breeze (symptom, expression). If you were an infinite source asleep, you woke up and asked "what am I?", the universe would be your answer! Anyway just my thoughts & opinion

What's funny to me, as an atheist, is that so-called "scientists" will profess the likelihood of aliens existing, in spite of the lack of evidence, but then espouse how they don't believe in a god because of lack of evidence. All institutions are now controlled by a "higher power" known as money

with respects to Mr Kuhn , I was wondering what the god itself made of and how it came to existence?Thanks

Brilliant! Thank you Robert!

What I love about the Creator. I do not have to prove anything. I can just enjoy the blessings in life. it is that simple.

Not out of nothing but out of the spiritual power and energy of God. Hebrews 11:3 “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” 22:28 Colossians 1:16 King James Version 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

My main problem with all those theologians is how they start with unprovable and unfalsifiable assumptions. I could replace every instance of the word God with a Unicorn and it would have equal validity. Hint: not that much. Also, if matter is self sustaining, and I then say it is sustained by Gods will alone, I’ve muddied the waters and there is no way to tell which is true. In essence whatever the truth is, God is an unprovable abstraction based on faith. Great for personal spirituality but let’s not pretend we know more than we really do.

I think that you should ask the right question: How is the word "God" is Created!!!??

I am Closer to Kuhn : )

So far as Hinduism is concerned , I want to say something about doctrine of creation in six great schools of Indian philosophy which gave different interpretation of creation theory in nyay ( Ārambhvāda ) even before that in Nāsadiya and Hiranyagarbha Shukt in Rigveda creation starts from NOTHINGESS . So the claim of Judeo-Christian uniqueness is not there , secondly I would love to see you exploring theory of Ajātivāda by Gauḍapāda related to Satkaryavada

All in all. "The first will be last and the last will be first."

I'm troubled that when we do not YET have an explanation or understanding of something that people feel the need to immediately attribute it to some supernatural being, whatever or whomever that being may be, without any basis of demonstrable proof. We doubt provable scientific facts while blindly accepting illogical beliefs without any proof what so ever. It boggles my mind!!

I think Polkinghorne just broke Kuhn's brain 😂

What can we not have been 'born' out of God?

God ? Which one ? We have had a separate version of a god for every culture that has ever existed. Its not like the current crop has any more credibility than all the others.

We already exercising creating worlds and resurrect extinct creatures, we already explore, how to create sun's, we found a physical level, where time is not an operator etc. Ancient people would think we are half gods. God comes through the back door!

There is a creator there has to be a creator nothing can exist without a creator

What are the implications if God as sustainer was more significant than God as creator? Would be interesting discussion.

this universe itself is an abstract object for God. we live in a dream. the Goal is to wake up!!

Love WLC ! Would like to hear a more recent interview with you and him.

All Is God. Man knows we are, I am. Don't we all create through thought first then in action. Thought comes from nothing is made of such and goes to such. This is certainly experience. The vastness of mind without attributes shows apparent content as empty essence a vast empty spaciousness.

I made a staff to walk stable in rough ways but I soon discover that I can use it to clear my way while walking through tall grasses.

How is God the Creator? Dumb question if you should find yourself FORCED to exist in a reality CREATED just for that very existence.

God used his own divine (potential) energy projected as eternal (kinetic energy) power to transform into many lower forms of energies and materials. His energy was guided by his breath or active force which is also called holy spirit. His divine force took the energy projected to form and make things of creation. Therefore, God is the Creator.

Thanks a lot Robert! 🙏

You can put together a battery and it can be used without charging it first. Can a void have a charge inherent also? Would this charge naturally converge like gravity until unstable? Large atoms for example are unstable!

When we say 2+2=4 ,we've some idea of a physical reality to which it applies and is derived from. In pure abstract sense it doesn't make sense to say it

Exactly what's new here? This is just a standard sermon disguised as intellectual enquiry. The entire premise is bogus as the faithful presuppose that god exists. The narrator says, "If god exists..." But it's obvious he already believes a god exists. And not just any god, but conveniently, the god in which he happens to believe. Funny how that works.

He used his words (frequency) to create everything

I wonder if one day the majority will view this strain of Christian interviews on origins on par with someone investigating flat earth and heliocentricity.

Could God's Sustaining Power maybe explain the fuzziness of reality at quantum level?

The nutters are here early this time.

@16 mins approx…LOVE this guy!!!!

William L Craig is the heavyweight champion of the pedantic sophistry of the world

Before God could create everything out of nothing (the easy part), God had to first create nothing (the hard part).

God is the last refuge of those who couldn't succeed in science.

Omg how old are these videos?

If nature is eternal then the part that is separate from the material world and eternal us God.

"If a God created the Universe - who or what created this God?"

God is infinite consciousness and imagination.

Creation narrative in Genesis is composed of two strands: one describes the process of creation starting with "Let there be light...", (scientists call this the big bang), accompanying this creation narrative is the second narrative which culminates in Seventh Day Shabbat rest, these two narratives are intertwined together as is melody and rhythm in a piece of music. The repetitive "And it was evening and morning..." is the rhythm section, its purpose is to introduce the 7th day Shabbat, this does not impose earthly 24hr time on the creation narrative. It is unnecessary for Christians to insist on 6 x 24hr creation, but we are to maintain that creation emerges perfectly formed from the moment of its appearance. Fossil evidence confirms that creation appeared perfectly formed, there is no evidence of evolution from so called lower forms, there is adaptation, but there is no species transition. Hebrew word for "day" does not necessarily mean 24 hr earthly time, the meaning allows for very long earthly time, consistent with scientific observation. Crucial point to defend for Christians is that creation is "very good" from the get go, and does not evolve across species boundaries. Regarding nature of Man: Man is the embodied breath of Life, this breath of Life is our mind. Man consists of: physical body, the mind, and language. The physical body is me, the mind is me, the word is me, a triune unity.

one thing bugs me. Can there be only one timeline? Since we experience only one, does that rule out others? can there be only one type of timeline?:

Maybe next week you could do a show on the Easter Bunny and follow up with what we know about the Tooth Fairy.

Craig thinks he knows that which cannot be known. That equals a delusional dunce as far as I'm concerned.

What does it mean to differentiate creation from causation? I think it has to do with different types of consciousness. The consciousness of the senses and the self-consciousness of the linguistic mind, and possibly other types of consciousness. The problem with explanation is that it relies solely on self-consciousness, the linguistic mind. There's no way one type of consciousness can be reduced or derived from another. In the same way you cannot say something that could literally teach someone how to ride a bike without prior experience. So experience has its own rules and logic for the body that the mind cannot apprehend through talking. So in some sense the inability of self-consciousness to "explain" consciousness, the consciousness of the body through experience, is the inability of causation to express creation. To causation creation is unknowable except as experienced. There is a gap that cannot be bridged, a nothingness between the something of consciousness and the something of self-consciousness, between creation and causation. This gap is the "thing" we call nothingness. To the self-conscious mind it is ignorance, to the conscious body it is the inexperienceable as given by evolutionary limitations. The corroborator of one is not the corroborator of the other, yet they both exist within us. How do we bridge the gap and still remain unified, one?

The conversation about abstract concepts was interesting, but I think there is one item that is indeed abstract and but has a similar but more consequential problem than those discussed: time. The God that each spoke of is the Christian God. In his role as sustainer he is a personal God that moves in our lives and can be called upon in prayer to act. This makes God a being, albeit supreme, in time. On the other hand, the Christian God is the creator of everything ex nihilo so he must have created time. But as a being how could He have had a moment of creation? How could he have designed this intricate universe if there was no time for designing? Even if His design activity was instantaneous it still needed to be instantaneous in time, but time itself would necessarily have to be part of that design. For me this shows a fundamental incoherence in the Christian concept of God.

So let me get this straight, William knows how confusing the universe is, but still tells people its obvious to him? If it's all so obvious what the answer is, why was he so stumped?

Man created God, and didn't even do a very good job at that.

I have never heard the argument that god ‘s consciousness is needed to sustain the universe. I thought he went to rest on the 7th day which implies his effort is no longer needed… If god’s consciousness is needed to sustain all creation, and that math is a creation of god, are you saying if he decided to one day not sustain it, then 1+1 will not be 2 all of a sudden…?

God was crying for years. It sounded like a squeaky wheel that sounded like a bird. It didn't make me feel mentally ill and was kind of comforting not being alone. I didn't think of suicide the whole time God was crying. That was probably it's purpose. He probably saved my life.

William is a joke.

God is unlimited intelligent energy. We know that energy can neither be created nor destroyed. We also known that we can take an object and turn it into energy and the theory is that the process works both ways. In other words energy can becom material objects. If God is unlimited energy then it is conceivable that He Created physicality using the energy that is Himself. The amazing thing about this concept is thi even though He created the whole Universe - He still is unlimited intelligent energy.

Without God, the Universe ceases to exist. That's an intriguing concept WLC proposed.

Sometimes we are blind for our faith and belief to open consciousness and truth of life, because we are afraid that we become boastful for what we teach for many becomes false. That's why we should cover up even we had already discovered the truth of it.

I tend to believe there are no beginning's or ends at all. There is an eternal whole. We as percievers carve things out of the whole and invent boundaries and edge's where there are none. There was never a point before something existed because there has always and will always be something. We can and should give ourselves a break for there is no hope of ever conceiving of the reality of our percieved world. We have not and never will have the capability of completely understanding eternity. That's why beings pondered on and discussed these things to no avail or meaningful conclusion for who knows how long. In the end if things are not fragmented by limited perception only one thing remains and it is one, it is alpha to Omega, it is now, forever and always. With no beginning and no end. A lot of people think eternity means never ending but they forget it must mean never beginning as well... I used to think of it as a line that went on forever but it has to go on forever and both directions backward and forward to be truly eternal.

God made everything for his glory! To reveal his awesome nature.

Thank you utube, Thank you google translate for caption, so that I can understand this lecture in Hindi language.

To be continued, either in this life, or in the next.