How did it all begin? (the universe) I'm serious- Page 2

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 12:32pm

Aigoo, if a "God" of such genius and creativity brought such an immense and intricate universe into existence, where did "God" come from? Before "God" what was there?

[best12bars]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 12:34pm

Jane2---This is why I put my faith in "God." (not organized religion, mind you, but "God.")

I don't think we as humans or scientists can explain a "beginning." Not ever.

Anytime you point to ANY event and/or moment in time and say THERE, that was the beginning... the question of "what happened before" can and should be raised. It will stretch into infinity, with no finite answer. Not ever.

So, the real question is... when did TIME begin... if it even did have a beginning? If we're all marking time, in one way or another... when (or how) did this "time" start? And what happened BEFORE time started?

That's where my faith takes over... it is a unanswerable question, even if we (as intelligent scientific-minded creatures) can continue to reach back further and find "events" that explain the origins of the universe or life or anything... there will always be a time before this "discovery."

[CostumeMistress]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 12:35pm

Well said, best12.

[touchmeinthemorning]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 12:35pm

God, by definition, doesn't have a beginning and end like mortals have.

I don't think anything makes sense without God starting it all. And, the idea that God spoke it into existence, and then God made us in Her image. That means when we speak, we create something that wasn't there before. Which is kind of cool...and it also is a great responsiblity to be good with our words.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 12:37pm

i'm gonna have so very much to answer for...

[justthefacts2]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 12:40pm

papa, I most decidely believe that God is eternal - otherwise, He wouldn't be God. Which is to say that Love is existence, Love is being. The opposite of Love is Void. The Big Bang would be God's creation of the tangible universe, which I like to think of as creating love in colors and shapes - it was always meant to be Love. Imagine God's love as pure white light - then the creation of the universe and man as dividing that light into a rainbow to give it variety, to release it from sameness, but it's all light.

[DayDreamer]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 12:40pm

I wonder if I have a Virgo something or other...

I wish I could just go with that and be happy. It's not my nature though.
Exhibit A why I make a terrible Catholic.

[best12bars]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 12:40pm

Before "God" what was there?

A great question, Namo.

But I agree with touchme here... God doesn't answer to "time."

God is eternity. God has always been. God is the unanswerable.

(God, I sound like a preacher.)

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 12:40pm

Thanks Best 12, I think I may have to concede that there just isn't an answer. I'm saying that, but my stubborn and inquisitive nature doesn't believe it. But you've done a very good job in trying to clear this up.

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 12:43pm

This thread may end now, or it may continue, but I would like to say thank you to everyone who contributed. I really feel good about having started it! I love hearing from people who are smarter than I am-I learn so much! thanks again, xoxox.

[justthefacts2]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 12:49pm

Daydreamer, trying to figure out stuff like this doesn't make us bad Catholics - or bad Lutherans or Jews or any people of faith. God WANTS us to contemplate these things - even if it seems to lead away from Him (or Her, if you will) for a while. Truth seeking is what we are all about as humans. Wisdom does not fear questioning. If we truly keep our hearts and our minds open - and I mean truly open - we will never be lost.

Updated On: 2/20/06 at 12:49 PM

[best12bars]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 12:51pm

Jane2---I love that you're trying to put and "end" to this thread... just like you're struggling with finding a "beginning" to your posed question. You must like knowing where things start and finish. Finite journeys of thought and actions. It's understandable. The world is more digestible this way. What keeps me going is knowing that we DON'T and won't have all the answers. Ever.

Oh, and we're not smarter than you. Just remember this IS an unanswerable question. We're just weighing in with theories and even MORE questions!

But it takes a smart cookie to ASK the question, which you did.

[justthefacts2]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 12:52pm

Jane2, no one on this board is smarter than you. You found the door and opened it.

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 12:56pm

Best 12-no no, I swear I'm not trying to end it. I'm just feeling so good that it lasted this long on a serious level! I had to weigh in on that before anything silly starts to happen.

Justthefacts, thank you but I'm not the smartest here. When I read certain threads I'm always so impressed with how much brain power is actually residing here. I don't have a low IQ but I'm guilty for not exercising it more.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 12:57pm

Nobody on this board is smarter than Jane2? Um. Did it ever occur to any of us that maybe she's "God" and She started this thread to tool with our brains?

[DayDreamer]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 12:58pm

Justthefacts... what I mean by being a bad Catholic is that I really just can't accept things 'because,' and in no way do I belive that being a bad Catholic makes me a bad person.

There are certainly things I've come to accept as 'because.' But I do question things, I question everything, some might call me contrary at times. And yes, the beginning and/or end of the universe has been known to keep me up at night. On the same lines, more or less, as time travel and time itself.

[Elphaba]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 12:58pm

of course Jane, this thread will probably make me think of it, and the'll find me in the backyard wandering around, drooling and repeating over and over......big bang, big bang, big bang.....

[best12bars]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 1:00pm

Elphaba---that's quite a vivid picture you just painted.

Namo---Well, maybe. But would God choose that av?

Updated On: 2/20/06 at 01:00 PM

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 1:02pm

thanks namo-See- I knew the seriousness would come to a halt.

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 1:03pm

I guess that's enough seriousness for today, so let's all act silly, what say?

[best12bars]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 1:05pm

Jane2---No halt... just a minor irreverence and humor interjected... and that's as much a part of a "life conversation" as anything.

No sacred cows here...

...not even "God."

That's my biggest problem with organized religion. The minute you censor thoughts... be they questions or humorous comments... I find it dangerous. Everything should be open to questioning, scrutiny... and even the odd fun-poking comment.

When all else fails and you don't know what to do... Go into "your dance."

*taps*

And remember, many a truth is spoken in jest.

Updated On: 2/20/06 at 01:05 PM

[Elphaba]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 1:07pm

best, it could be all the pondering we're doing on how a lemon got in our backyard, and no one nearby has lemon trees......

[Gothampc]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 1:08pm

God has always been. The beginning came out of God.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 1:09pm

like gas.

[best12bars]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 1:10pm

Elphaba---Maybe God is giving you groceries.

(an alliterative solution... and an insane one at that.)