Why is the origin of the universe meaningful?

[Filthy Tugboat]

Arguments for God often always rely on the ultimate question of, "without God how could the universe exist." And often arguments of a prime mover which I think are somewhat legitimate but just don't share any relation with religious conceptions of God. But really, why is the origin of the universe important at all? Why should I concern myself with how it all began and, with that concern, any concept of God or deep scientific study into the big bang and evolution? Why does it matter what happened billions of years ago?

[William]

[Replying to post 1 by Filthy Tugboat]

Arguments for God often always rely on the ultimate question of, "without God how could the universe exist." And often arguments of a prime mover which I think are somewhat legitimate but just don't share any relation with religious conceptions of God. But really, why is the origin of the universe important at all? Why should I concern myself with how it all began and, with that concern, any concept of God or deep scientific study into the big bang and evolution? Why does it matter what happened billions of years ago?

It really depends upon the individual in regard to the answers to your questions here.

My own observation is that humans are in a very unique situation which is therefore an anomaly.

"How" we are here is very important to many, and for others it is more a focus on the "Why" we are here which interests them more.

Perhaps it will turn out that the question "How" will be our undoing as a species, whereas the question "Why" offers us a potential way out of our current shared dilemma as a species who have altogether created said dilemma.

[Filthy Tugboat]

.

Arguments for God often always rely on the ultimate question of, "without God how could the universe exist." And often arguments of a prime mover which I think are somewhat legitimate but just don't share any relation with religious conceptions of God. But really, why is the origin of the universe important at all? Why should I concern myself with how it all began and, with that concern, any concept of God or deep scientific study into the big bang and evolution? Why does it matter what happened billions of years ago?

Religions in general attempt or pretend to provide answers to what is not known in their era. As more is learned about the Earth, Solar System, and Universe the ‘gaps’ in knowledge recede and/or diminish.

Where once ‘gods’ or ‘spirits’ could be evoked to ‘explain’ storms, droughts, floods, volcanoes, illness, or even sunrise and sunset, those ‘explanations’ are no longer deemed valid by most well informed people. So, religions now stake their existence upon attributing remaining unknowns to favorite ‘gods’.

Or, ‘If you don’t know the answer it must be god’ – ‘If scientists don’t know how the universe formed it must be god’. And, as proof, 'Ancient people thought so and wrote this book, so it must be true’.

But even then, I've seen atheists argue against God citing the Big bang and the way they talk they act as if it is really important to them and their philosophy or lack of religion. So like I asked JW, if they could imagine having no knowledge or beliefs regarding the origin of the universe would they cease to be atheist? Would they now be fond of murder all of a sudden? What impact does the origin on the universe have on us subjectively?

[JehovahsWitness]

So the event that initiated existence is still important to you, why?

I don't think I can explain it better than I have done. I have provided further reading that may be of help but in the end it comes down to the biggest of the "The Big Questions" and, in my experience, those that dont intrinsically understand their significance, cannot be taught to.

On the positive side though, you still get tasty eggs,

Enjoy!


JW


RELATED POSTS

What difference does it make If there is a God or not ? [this thread]
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 342#955342

How can knowing if there is a Creator or not impact on the practicalities of my everyday existence?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 355#955355

[Filthy Tugboat]

[Replying to post 13 by JehovahsWitness]

I was excited for you to share your thoughts on whether not knowing anything about the origins of the universe your religion would still be fundamentally unaffected or whether it would make a strong difference. But if you aren't particularly interested, I understand, take care.

[JehovahsWitness]

[Replying to post 14 by Filthy Tugboat]

Are you seriously asking if my religion would be unaffected by whether there is a God or not? Would your life be different if gravity exists or not? Would it make any fundamental difference to your everyday life if you had a wife and children or not? What difference does it make if the allies won the war or not? How does it change things if the pilot flying the plane I'm taking next week actually had his credentials or not?

Are you really thinking your questions through?

[Filthy Tugboat]

[Replying to post 15 by JehovahsWitness]

No I'm asking if your religion would be different if you hadn't read genesis 1 and didn't have an understanding of the Big Bang. Had never engaged a debate on subjects concerning the beginning of the universe. What difference would it make, theologically to not have a single idea of how the universe began? Imagine you just know that it exists we are where we are with rich cultures and religions and histories.

To me, it really isn't important at all how the universe began, it doesn't define anything that I do, it is irrelevant to me in every way other than the fact that existence is a reality of course. I'm not denigrating asking questions I'm questioning the importance placed on these particular questions. And my eggs were over hard and I was not a happy camper

[Zzyzx]

.

What impact does the origin on the universe have on us subjectively?

Realistically, the origin of the universe should have absolutely no impact upon our life -- and is of concern only to a few astronomers and a LOT of people who have vested interest in defending or promoting ancient texts that claim knowledge.

[JehovahsWitness]

What difference would it make, theologically to not have a single idea of how the universe began? Imagine you just know that it exists we are where we are with rich cultures and religions and histories.

Then I would be a happy egg eater, or a avid searcher

(I could never be a happy "egg eater" I'm using this as a euphemism as you didnt like "dumb beast" but it comes down to the same thing; we searchers don't stop searching until we stop breathing. And searching takes time. So my day would be different from if I simply couldn't grasp the import of the questions at hand)

To me, it really isn't important at all how the universe began, it doesn't define anything that I do,

I know, I could tell from your second post.


Nuff said,



JW

[Filthy Tugboat]

What difference would it make, theologically to not have a single idea of how the universe began? Imagine you just know that it exists we are where we are with rich cultures and religions and histories.

Then I would be a happy egg eater, or a avid searcher

(I could never be a happy "egg eater" I'm using this as a euphemism as you didnt like "dumb beast" but it comes down to the same thing; we searchers don't stop searching until we stop breathing. And searching takes time. So my day would be different from if I simply couldn't grasp the import of the questions at hand)

So if you didn't know you would go ahead and attempt to find out. What would this look like in your theology? Would you be searching through your religion's history? Other religious histories? Would you strive to become a physicist or an astronomer?

When you describe yourself as a searcher do you mean only concerning the origins of the universe? All knowledge? How does confidence placed in one idea of how the universe began play into your roll as a searcher? Have you looked into alternatives to any substantial degree? Studied physics in depth or traveled to spiritual centers of rival ideas of the origins of the universe?

I think that if it did matter to me, knowing how the universe came about I may spend more time investigating it and maybe adding to the weight of larger questions may well lead me more towards astrology as my Mother is quite interested in the subject and if I put a lot of weight in where things came from and with it the direction they are going, the stars might be more meaningful in where they are and how they weigh in on my life.

[Filthy Tugboat]

.

What impact does the origin on the universe have on us subjectively?

Realistically, the origin of the universe should have absolutely no impact upon our life -- and is of concern only to a few astronomers and a LOT of people who have vested interest in defending or promoting ancient texts that claim knowledge.

It does seem to matter more to a other people though as well, and historically speaking it has been a hot spot of pondering and theorizing. Maybe there's just something wrong with my apathy towards the idea.