The Judeo-Christian God created the universe from nothing (creatio ex nihilo). Aristotle also argued that nothing existed before the Prime Mover started the chain of causes. Judeo-Christian God is an intelligent designer who crafts a purposeful world (e.g. one purpose of man is to rule over the animals and the planet). Aristotle also believed the universe was a purposeful (teleological) place: individual objects have a “final cause” (e.g. chairs = sitting). The Judeo-Christian God is immaterial. Creation is an `act of will`. God creates through his Word (“Let there be light”) or Spirit. Aristotle`s Prime Mover is also seen as immaterial. However he only started the “chain” he does not craft the world like God. The Judeo Christian God is seen in Genesis 1 as a transcendent God. It is the cosmic creator who is removed from the universe. It is an impersonal being. Aristotle’s Prime Mover is also transcendent and immaterial. It “moves” things not through involvement with them but through “attracting” them.
The Judeo-Christian view of God in Genesis 2 and 3 is an imminent God. God is involved with His creation and personal. For example, the creation of man was a special act of creation; God provided humans with the Garden of Eden; Humans are given a special role by God within creation, and a relationship between God and humans is set up involving rules that must be obeyed. Aristotle’s transcendent and impersonal Prime Mover is very different. The Judeo-Christian God is not completely immaterial. In Genesis 3, God “walks” in the Garden of den. Also, in the New Testament, God becomes man in the human person of Jesus. This belief is known as the incarnation (“God becomes flesh”). Jesus walks on the earth, experiences pain and temptation, and eventually dies. This is very different to Aristotle`s view of the Prime Mover as a “spiritual energy”.
In conclusion, both the Judeo-Christian God and the Prime Mover are similar, and yes they do (as far as we are concerned) had the same purpose to start off or create the universe, the Judeo-Christian God has “evolved” or we have understood more about him over time, and is moulding the world and directing it, unlike the Prime Mover who’s one purpose and thought (as we understand it) was to start off the chain (domino effect).
The one thing that confuses me mostly though is if the Prime Mover really did set off a chain of events known as “The Domino Effect” then surely there must be an end? If so when? How? I have also thought about “The cause of a cause of a cause....” idea, however... There must be an end.
