Register | Sign In


Understanding through Discussion


EvC Forum active members: 65 (9162 total)
7 online now:
Newest Member: popoi
Post Volume: Total: 915,816 Year: 3,073/9,624 Month: 918/1,588 Week: 101/223 Day: 12/17 Hour: 1/0


Thread  Details

Email This Thread
Newer Topic | Older Topic
  
Author Topic:   Why was the world created?
Open MInd
Member (Idle past 1253 days)
Posts: 261
Joined: 01-24-2007


Message 1 of 59 (411972)
07-23-2007 12:37 PM


There seems to be many theories and explanations about "how" the world came into existence. Most religions would say that a supernatural being just made the world and the methods that were used couldn’t be understood. The scientists on the other hand, have come up with a very sophisticated explanation of how this world has evolved from nothing. Although I understand that there is enough debate on which path is true, I want to ask the question of why the world exists. According to religions, why did the supernatural create a world? According to the scientific community, why did the nothing turn into something? My oppinion is that a "nothing" does not have a choice in the matter. Being nothing, it does not have any capabilities and it will do only nothing. Therefore I dont think there is any answer to the question according to the scientists other than the nature of nothing is to become something. Although most religions do not offer a good answer to this question, I don't think it is logical for the scientists to dismiss this question. If no why can be thought of than the scientific theories are not complete, and the religions that answer this question will be more credible than science.
Edited by Open MInd, : No reason given.
Edited by Open MInd, : No reason given.

Replies to this message:
 Message 2 by Adminastasia, posted 07-24-2007 5:03 PM Open MInd has replied
 Message 5 by New Cat's Eye, posted 07-25-2007 5:21 PM Open MInd has not replied
 Message 7 by Chiroptera, posted 07-25-2007 5:34 PM Open MInd has replied
 Message 8 by jar, posted 07-25-2007 5:37 PM Open MInd has not replied
 Message 12 by macaroniandcheese, posted 07-25-2007 9:08 PM Open MInd has not replied
 Message 13 by Taz, posted 07-25-2007 9:18 PM Open MInd has not replied
 Message 16 by sidelined, posted 07-26-2007 7:15 AM Open MInd has not replied
 Message 28 by Brian, posted 07-26-2007 11:49 AM Open MInd has not replied
 Message 36 by Parasomnium, posted 07-26-2007 6:50 PM Open MInd has not replied

  
Adminastasia
Inactive Member


Message 2 of 59 (412421)
07-24-2007 5:03 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by Open MInd
07-23-2007 12:37 PM


Hi Open Mind,
You have some long 'paragraphs' and repeated sentences here. This definitely can't fly without some cleaning up. If I look between the repeats, my guess is that it is a bit broad.
Get back to me when you are finished.
Edited by Adminastasia, : No reason given.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by Open MInd, posted 07-23-2007 12:37 PM Open MInd has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 3 by Open MInd, posted 07-25-2007 2:20 PM Adminastasia has not replied

  
Open MInd
Member (Idle past 1253 days)
Posts: 261
Joined: 01-24-2007


Message 3 of 59 (412600)
07-25-2007 2:20 PM
Reply to: Message 2 by Adminastasia
07-24-2007 5:03 PM


Why the world was created.
I dont know how that repeat happened but I fixed it. I also narrowed the topic to a question on how credible the scientific theories can be if they dont give an explanation of why the world exists.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 2 by Adminastasia, posted 07-24-2007 5:03 PM Adminastasia has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 10 by Phat, posted 07-25-2007 8:01 PM Open MInd has not replied

  
AdminNosy
Administrator
Posts: 4754
From: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Joined: 11-11-2003


Message 4 of 59 (412643)
07-25-2007 5:03 PM


Thread moved here from the Proposed New Topics forum.

  
New Cat's Eye
Inactive Member


Message 5 of 59 (412647)
07-25-2007 5:21 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by Open MInd
07-23-2007 12:37 PM


If no why can be thought of than the scientific theories are not complete,
Science doesn't ask why. Scientific theories will be scientifically complete without the answer to why.
and the religions that answer this question will be more credible than science.
Yes, they'll be more credible on the answers to the question of why, but they won't be for the questions of how.
According to religions, why did the supernatural create a world?
Because god willed it. God wants us to exist. Why does god want us to exist? I don't really know.
If we exist simply to worship him then what does that make of god?
If we exist just to enjoy existing, then that's aswefully nice of god and thanks are due.
According to the scientific community, why did the nothing turn into something?
No reason. It was inevitable.
You do know that it doesn't say that nothing turned into something, right?

This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by Open MInd, posted 07-23-2007 12:37 PM Open MInd has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 6 by Brian, posted 07-25-2007 5:28 PM New Cat's Eye has not replied

  
Brian
Member (Idle past 4959 days)
Posts: 4659
From: Scotland
Joined: 10-22-2002


Message 6 of 59 (412649)
07-25-2007 5:28 PM
Reply to: Message 5 by New Cat's Eye
07-25-2007 5:21 PM


If we exist just to enjoy existing, then that's aswefully nice of god and thanks are due.
You must think that everyone has as good a life as you do.
What about the little baby that is born and lives for two days in agony before dying, should that baby be grateful to God?
Brian.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 5 by New Cat's Eye, posted 07-25-2007 5:21 PM New Cat's Eye has not replied

  
Chiroptera
Inactive Member


Message 7 of 59 (412651)
07-25-2007 5:34 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by Open MInd
07-23-2007 12:37 PM


If no why can be thought of than the scientific theories are not complete, and the religions that answer this question will be more credible than science.
I dunno. Maybe there is no "why". Maybe the universe simply exists. In that case, the religions that think they answer this question are simply wrong.

I've done everything the Bible says, even the stuff that contradicts the other stuff! -- Ned Flanders

This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by Open MInd, posted 07-23-2007 12:37 PM Open MInd has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 18 by Open MInd, posted 07-26-2007 10:54 AM Chiroptera has replied

  
jar
Member (Idle past 394 days)
Posts: 34026
From: Texas!!
Joined: 04-20-2004


Message 8 of 59 (412652)
07-25-2007 5:37 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by Open MInd
07-23-2007 12:37 PM


Science is very credible.
The mechanical why the world exists are pretty simple. The why explanation is that the world is the result of gravity and collisions.
Doesn't seem to be much of a mystery there.

Aslan is not a Tame Lion

This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by Open MInd, posted 07-23-2007 12:37 PM Open MInd has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 9 by PeterMc, posted 07-25-2007 7:54 PM jar has not replied
 Message 11 by macaroniandcheese, posted 07-25-2007 9:07 PM jar has replied

  
PeterMc
Junior Member (Idle past 6090 days)
Posts: 25
From: New Zealand
Joined: 06-21-2007


Message 9 of 59 (412681)
07-25-2007 7:54 PM
Reply to: Message 8 by jar
07-25-2007 5:37 PM


Re: Why was the world created
In leu of a soundbite from whoever was responsible, my guess it would say "It seemed like a good idea at the time".

This message is a reply to:
 Message 8 by jar, posted 07-25-2007 5:37 PM jar has not replied

  
Phat
Member
Posts: 18262
From: Denver,Colorado USA
Joined: 12-30-2003
Member Rating: 1.1


Message 10 of 59 (412686)
07-25-2007 8:01 PM
Reply to: Message 3 by Open MInd
07-25-2007 2:20 PM


Re: Why the world was created.
OpenMind writes:
I also narrowed the topic to a question on how credible the scientific theories can be if they don't give an explanation of why the world exists.
Science is usually in the business of explaining how rather than why.
Your question, in my opinion, is more along the lines of why you exist and why life exists and reality exists. Why is the universe here?
I have a lot more to say and will do so, but right now I need to go across town to a church meeting....I will be back, Open Mind, so keep it open!

This message is a reply to:
 Message 3 by Open MInd, posted 07-25-2007 2:20 PM Open MInd has not replied

  
macaroniandcheese 
Suspended Member (Idle past 3927 days)
Posts: 4258
Joined: 05-24-2004


Message 11 of 59 (412700)
07-25-2007 9:07 PM
Reply to: Message 8 by jar
07-25-2007 5:37 PM


Re: Science is very credible.
that's a how.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 8 by jar, posted 07-25-2007 5:37 PM jar has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 14 by jar, posted 07-25-2007 9:23 PM macaroniandcheese has not replied

  
macaroniandcheese 
Suspended Member (Idle past 3927 days)
Posts: 4258
Joined: 05-24-2004


Message 12 of 59 (412702)
07-25-2007 9:08 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by Open MInd
07-23-2007 12:37 PM


well. i don't know why the universe exists. but if you listen to the christian story, man exists because god was lonely.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by Open MInd, posted 07-23-2007 12:37 PM Open MInd has not replied

  
Taz
Member (Idle past 3291 days)
Posts: 5069
From: Zerus
Joined: 07-18-2006


Message 13 of 59 (412705)
07-25-2007 9:18 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by Open MInd
07-23-2007 12:37 PM


Open mind writes:
I want to ask the question of why the world exists.
Just because you have an almost good sentence doesn't mean it's a valid question. This question is little better than "Why are unicorns pink?" It is a perfectly good english sentence. But the question itself doesn't deserve an answer.
Although most religions do not offer a good answer to this question, I don't think it is logical for the scientists to dismiss this question. If no why can be thought of than the scientific theories are not complete, and the religions that answer this question will be more credible than science.
Let's switch it around and say this. Science has done a hell of a lot more good and has saved more lives than religion could ever do. Science has discovered things (like the hydrogen atom and the speed of light) that religion could not even dream of discovering. If science can't answer such a question, what on Earth makes you think religion can?

Disclaimer:
Occasionally, owing to the deficiency of the English language, I have used he/him/his meaning he or she/him or her/his or her in order to avoid awkwardness of style.
He, him, and his are not intended as exclusively masculine pronouns. They may refer to either sex or to both sexes!

This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by Open MInd, posted 07-23-2007 12:37 PM Open MInd has not replied

  
jar
Member (Idle past 394 days)
Posts: 34026
From: Texas!!
Joined: 04-20-2004


Message 14 of 59 (412706)
07-25-2007 9:23 PM
Reply to: Message 11 by macaroniandcheese
07-25-2007 9:07 PM


Re: Science is very credible.
It's a why as well. If the matter is there, a spherical (semi) body has to result. There is no other possibility.

Aslan is not a Tame Lion

This message is a reply to:
 Message 11 by macaroniandcheese, posted 07-25-2007 9:07 PM macaroniandcheese has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 15 by Taz, posted 07-26-2007 1:56 AM jar has replied

  
Taz
Member (Idle past 3291 days)
Posts: 5069
From: Zerus
Joined: 07-18-2006


Message 15 of 59 (412729)
07-26-2007 1:56 AM
Reply to: Message 14 by jar
07-25-2007 9:23 PM


Re: Science is very credible.
jar writes:
It's a why as well. If the matter is there, a spherical (semi) body has to result. There is no other possibility.
I don't think that's what open mind meant. There's a technical "why" and a rhetorical "why". You're assuming he's asking the technical "why" when in fact he seems to be referring to the rhetorical "why".

Disclaimer:
Occasionally, owing to the deficiency of the English language, I have used he/him/his meaning he or she/him or her/his or her in order to avoid awkwardness of style.
He, him, and his are not intended as exclusively masculine pronouns. They may refer to either sex or to both sexes!

This message is a reply to:
 Message 14 by jar, posted 07-25-2007 9:23 PM jar has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 17 by jar, posted 07-26-2007 9:05 AM Taz has not replied

  
Newer Topic | Older Topic
Jump to:


Copyright 2001-2023 by EvC Forum, All Rights Reserved

™ Version 4.2
Innovative software from Qwixotic © 2024