Universal Options Part 2

Let's look at the four options again more closely to explain the existence of the Universe in a little more depth.

> The Universe is an illusion.
> The Universe is self-existent.
> The Universe was self-created.
> The Universe was created by a self-existent being or force

There are two possibilities for the Universe - it either exists or it doesn't exist; it is an illusion. If it is an illusion, then we also are illusions and the Universe has to be an illusion for some being or force outside of itself, possibly God. This may be possible but from our perspective, the Universe does exist so this possibility must be eliminated (Descartes - I think, therefore I am).

Then, if the Universe does exist, it must either be self-existent (has always existed) or created. If it is self-existent, then it has been here infinitely long. If it has existed in its current state forever, then life would have been here forever. This does not seem likely based on our current state of existence. The Universe also could have expanded and collapsed over and over, restarting the evolutionary cycle with each new "Big Bang". Scientists seem to have negated this possibility due to the size and amount of matter currently found in the Universe. There is not sufficient mass to cause the Universe to collapse in on itself over and over.

So this leaves us with the theory that the Universe was created and we are now at the current debate - Big Bang vs God. In the Big Bang theory it is now thought that first there was nothing and then it exploded. The Universe created itself. Based on certain physical laws, the Universe came into existence on its own. This seems unlikely to me though it is believed by many. I find it much more difficult to believe this than the view of an outside, self-existent being, God, creating the Universe. Both of these are theories, in spite of what your teacher may have taught you. Neither can be proven by a strict scientific method of observation. Many let the "religious" tone of the word "God" lead them to reject the possibility of a Creator but to me it takes more "faith" to believe it happened on its own than that there was an intelligent being or force behind it.

We are now back to where we started, Big Bang/Evolution vs Creation/Intelligent Design. As I stated in my first entry, I believe in a God created Universe and a world full of life created in His marvelous wisdom and love.

One thing both sides agree on is that the world as we know it is a complex place. So the next step is to look at the tiny building blocks of all matter, the Atoms.