Has the Universe Always Existed?

The question as to how the universe came into being can be dismissed by the reply that it always existed, and that therefore, it did not need anything to create it.  This reply enjoys a certain amount of credibility, because the nearly identical answer is used to answer the question of, what created God?

There is, however, an important difference.  The universe, unlike the Creator, does not create; at least it does not create something from nothing.  If the physical universe always existed, it simply is.  It has no intent, no goal, and ultimately, no meaning.  It does not really do anything, unless by “doing,” we mean that its components bounce around, so to speak, interacting mindlessly with each other.

If this is true, then it is curious, that an inert universe, which itself is not a conscious, purposeful, living entity, can give rise to beings which exhibit those traits.

On the other hand, those who say that the universe is conscious (alive, etc), are in effect substituting it for the living God.  They are confusing the Creator with the creature, the artist with the painting.  That might be an attractive metaphor, but if so, it is an inferior attempt to describe reality.

Either way, a universe that is conscious or not, does not give rise to us.  A universe that has no purpose is only a series of happenstance coincidences.   At most, it might accidentally arrange atoms into a human society, but this requires that something must emerge from those atoms which was not already there.  When the arrangement decays, then that which was not, but then was, becomes once again, not.

Of course, one can argue this matter endlessly, getting to no useful conclusion.  A better route is available.

That better route is to make reasonable assumptions that fit the facts.  Some of those assumptions are self-evident.  For example, we are conscious.  Our inability to explain consciousness indicates to us that there are profound mysteries at the very foundations of nature.  Those who argue that consciousness emerges from inanimate matter have a heavy burden of proof to bear.  Their case is not even plausible, unless one accepts their axiom that reality is purely physical.  That axiom is not compelling, just convenient to their worldview.

Likewise, those who aver that the physical universe is not intentionally designed and created, bear that same, heavy burden of proof.  The available evidence shows that the physical universe has a structure that is meticulously suited to the purpose of sustaining life, and not only primitive life, but civilizations that produce technology, art, philosophy, religion and all the many accoutrements which we enjoy.

Those who dismiss that evidence, must resort to extraordinary models of reality, models which are convoluted and tailored to meeting the goal—not merely leading to it in an unbiased manner from a neutral start.

Being conscious, we have a sense of purpose and meaning.  If the universe produces those sensations, then from where does the universe get them, or at least, get the raw materials, and then assemble them into our awareness?

No, we cannot, based on mathematical formulas, persuade anyone, that the laws of nature are created, much less that nature itself is created.  Perhaps each of us is irrevocably predisposed toward one side of the argument or the other.

But, those of us who are persuaded that God is the Creator, and that the universe is His creation, need never feel that it is our belief that is the one that is irrational.

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