universe- why is it here?

I know this topic's old, but I couldn't help but notice it.There's something called the 'anthropedic principle' that answers that question like so, when put in layman's:We're here because if the conditions were any different the part of the universe we live in would either not support intelligent life that could ask such questions, or it would be able to and we'd still ask why it was like it was.Yes, I know, that's more of a 'why WE're here' answer, and not why the universe is here; the two questions are close relatives.If you're looking for purpose in this universe, the best place to look is closest to home until we can exchange information with other intelligent life.(assuming they exist, and if they do, assuming we ever meet.)Personally, there are two ways that I like to look at it, you don't have to take either of them seriously.1.(God not taken into account) The intelligent life within it will decide the purpose(of the universe). Pretty self-explaintory, and it opens up plenty of possiblilities.2.(God taken into account) In short, God has a plan. Something really awesome. His plan could infact just be the possibility above, but it's something huge, something massive, something that beats any sci-fi space novel you could ever read!... not that a good episode of the Chapelle's Show won't do that, but you know what I mean! Personally, I believe God wants us to explore the universe and understand the laws that govern it, but I'm sure the Revalations although symbolism do forshadow an incredible battle between good and evil, and this planet's just not big enough to host something so paramount.The first day I joined this forum(I'll never forget this), somebody quoted some airhead scientist that said, in summary:"The universe is just too big to be just a stage for a battle between Good and Evil"Man was that guy full of it! No amount of space could be big enough for there to not be evil, and some good to challenge it. And since disorder increases with time naturally that means intelligent life will inevitably become corrupt with time. So after all this time, you'd think we would have killed eachother off. But for some reason this 'disorder' keeps getting supressed somehow. Now if that's not something to ponder about I don't know what is; so in short I believe this universe is a stage for something huge, and who wouldn't want to be a part of something that big? And besides, too bad! They live in it .

---

Wanna feel God? Step onto the wrestling mat and you'd be crazy to deny the uplifting spirit. http://www.BadPreacher.5u.com (incomplete, but look anyway!)

S-U-C-K-E-D.I was thinking something much bigger, by the way. A Wrinkle In Time showed the universe at the mercy of a big machine that could be beaten by talking to it. Pfft! Weak chi...

---

Wanna feel God? Step onto the wrestling mat and you'd be crazy to deny the uplifting spirit. http://www.BadPreacher.5u.com (incomplete, but look anyway!)

Haven't read it since 4th Grade so a lot of details have slipped. Still, it's not my kind of book; mainly because there was way too much dawdling around before they actually got to the thing.

I've said it to a lot of people before, and I'll be more than happy to say it again(directed at the proverbial Feynman, not you ofcourse):NO AMOUNT OF SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE CAN CHANGE THE FACT THAT YOUR PHILOSOPHY IS FULL OF SHITand honestly, I want a bumpersticker that says that. No offense against scientists in general so PLEASE DON'T start calling me a fundie who is biased against science or anything, but what you showed me just reinforced my observations that scientists aren't philosophers...This message has been edited by Born2Preach, 07-07-2004 07:28 PM

---

Wanna feel God? Step onto the wrestling mat and you'd be crazy to deny the uplifting spirit. http://www.BadPreacher.5u.com (incomplete, but look anyway!)

Yeowch.(Edited in) You do realize that I was NOT saying philosophers were better than scientists, right?This message has been edited by Born2Preach, 07-07-2004 08:56 PM

Okay, I respect your opinions and I hope you respect mine, but next time could you please apologize to the person who you aimed the agressive remark at in the first place? Please don't generalize; the last sentence appeared to encompass all philosophers, not just a few. Not all philosophers are like stupid tourists. Again, 'they' would refer to the last plural subject, which was 'all philosophers'. This is just not right. I agree, no class of people are better than any other in that respect.
However, you really need to think about why we have philosophers; they're not just around to try and impede scientific progress like you're portraying them to be in your posts.I'll do some amateur philosopher to explain my point, althought we should probably start a new thread if this discussion continues.Knowledge, Wisdom, Wit. The three pillars of enlightenment in my opinion. Science deals with the first and only the first, and philosophy the second.Knowledge is raw, nuetral information. It can potentially create wonderful things, like vaccine and electric cars. But it can equally well create terrible things like poision gas and atom boms. Wisdom incompasses the understanding of right and wrong, adding the 'why' to all these incredible discoveries; without it we'd have long made nuclear winter.A little off topic, but please understand that both these people have their equally important places.This message has been edited by Born2Preach, 07-08-2004 06:08 PM

---

Wanna feel God? Step onto the wrestling mat and you'd be crazy to deny the uplifting spirit. http://www.BadPreacher.5u.com (incomplete, but look anyway!)

Please enforce your statement with concrete evidence. Apology accepted, you imbecile. Oh, sorry about that.

I wasn't specific on that, sorry. I meant people can use the knowledge to create the items mentioned. I agree completely. I pointed it out in the post that you first replied to. I realize I didn't quote him exactly, but the quote you gave me did nothing to change my opinion that the philosophical point he gave is not a good one. Apology accepted, and I'm sorry if my responses were a little cocky. I do that sometimes.

---

Wanna feel God? Step onto the wrestling mat and you'd be crazy to deny the uplifting spirit. http://www.BadPreacher.5u.com (incomplete, but look anyway!)

Please, I know you're not trying to insult my intelligence, but I understand just how big the universe is. From this, I get the impression that both you and Feynman just don't understand how big this all-to-real drama is. Hey now, just because we can't see it doesn't mean God can't. How do we know there aren't other things going on in other parts of the universe? I really doubt this 'drama' as we're calling it will all take place on earth; there's a great big universe out there and if God is any fun he'll allow us to take the battle to the next level, because divine space battles rule.

---

Wanna feel God? Step onto the wrestling mat and you'd be crazy to deny the uplifting spirit. http://www.BadPreacher.5u.com (incomplete, but look anyway!)

I didn't mean a literal battle. Please don't take me seriously when I say things like "divine space battles rule". I meant that we may only be a small part of a divine plan that expands throughout the universe.
But this is only speculation, so I don't think we could get a full topic going on this. And no, I don't really enjoy violence on the level of a full-scale war or anything where people get killed; my bloodlust is limited to wrestling and boxing, which are great because you get to hit people. I can't complain, and if you or anyone else are going to deny that we all have a primal desire to hurt once in awhile, then you're crazy.P.S. He's still a woozle!

---

Wanna feel God? Step onto the wrestling mat and you'd be crazy to deny the uplifting spirit. http://www.BadPreacher.5u.com (incomplete, but look anyway!)