So here's a question.. I'm of the opinion that the universe itself is a paradox(which it is).

Science: What existed before the Big Bang? Or whatever you believe caused the universe? Inb4 nothing, nothing is still something.

Religion: What existed before God? Or whatever you believe cause the universe? Inb4hewasalways here, wrong.

So here's the paradox I believe in. Forever doesn't exist, because time has a start and an end, but at the same time, Forever DOES exist because even before the start of time, and after it, something was still there.

Anyone have an opinion on what was there before it all?

currently the big bangs origins is believed to be a singularity, but that still doesn't explain what caused the singularity. the reason the big bang theory is around is because evidence has shown us the universe had a beginning and its an attempt to explain that beginning. the more advanced the scientific field becomes the more clear the answer to how it all started will be explained.

as far as your "paradox" go read up on dimensions to get a better understand of time and space as we know it.

You're misunderstanding the thread. I want to know what people believe came before it all.

whats the point in that? aside from a singularity no one who knows anything about the big bang theory won't bother to speculate past that.

the religious also cannot speculate on what was before the universe because nothing in religion gives that answer.

troll thread is all this is if you are wanting people is to speculate.

I wanted peoples opinions. It's not a troll thread.

The question itself is a paradox. Keep in mind that the entire concept of time does not exist in non-existance. It is impossible for a "God" or other divine being to create the universe from nonexistance since he had also not created time. Creation is an action that uses causality, with is essentially a sequence of events which needs time. Cause is the action of creation, and the effect being creation itself.

If you think about it, in non-existances, nothing exists including time. Therefore there cannot have been a "before" to existance and everything has always existed without a need for creation of any kind.

Its a tough pill to swallow, but why does there have to be an origin?

This post was edited by Toothfariy on Dec 23 2010 03:58pm

Because time had to start somewhere. It can't just "be there".

I would think of it this way; lets say that the big bang did happen, and lets represent the time line of existance on a numberline. The big bang would be 0. before the big bang there was an infinate amount of time, and it goes in both directions.

I see no reason why time had to "start"
Like i said, its not easy to wrap ur mind around the idea, but what if everything has always existed?

and yes it can. Just because people use god to fill that gap doesnt mean it has to have an origin.

This post was edited by Toothfariy on Dec 23 2010 04:03pm

how do you know? your applying characteristics to something thats completely different

Well, that's almost like what I think happens.

Big Bang=0
Everything after is counting up. Let's say it's counting to 10. At 10, it starts counting backwards.

So the universe starts, ends, then reverses. When it reaches zero again, it restarts all over again.