Some atheists believe that the universe did not have a beginning and is eternal and uncaused.
As do many non-atheist scientists. Many advanced speculative cosmological theories involve an eternal Universe, and many Christians, Moslems, Jews, Atheists, etc, etc are involved in this research.
If the atheist can have an eternal uncaused universe, why cant a theist have an eternal uncaused God? Why is it rational to believe that the universe is uncaused and irrational to believe that God is uncaused?
I think that this is really the wrong way round. The argument has typically been:
Theist: everything has a cause, and so the Universe must have a cause, and that cause must be God
Atheist: if everything has a cause, then what caused God?
Theist: Ah, God doesn't require a cause
Atheist: Well then, why does the Universe?
I don't think there is anything wrong in suggesting an eternal uncaused deity, though to have an eternal consciousness is somewhat dubious, and rather smacks of naive anthropomorphism.
Also, the word eternal needs clarifying. Eternal typically refers to time which is is an intrinsic dimension of our Universe. I would have thought that any self-respecting deity would be outside the confines of the dimensions of our Universe, and so perhaps a different word is required?
Edited by cavediver, : No reason given.