Does the universe have total net energy of zero?

Hi DesignTheorist,I think a debate about whether the universe has zero net energy that is based upon evidence would be great. I could consider promoting the thread if you can eliminate the parts of the proposal that might drag the thread into a discussion of whose quote means what, such as this:

Hi DesignTheorist,I don't think you understand what I'm trying achieve. I'd like to avoid having discussion threads that turn into arguments about what someone thinks or what their quotes mean. My goal is discussions of the evidence.This means that for purposes of discussion I don't care what Hawking or Davies or Silk or Krauss think the data means. I want people to discuss the data and render their own interpretations of what it means.Your proposal in Message 1 did a good of doing that, except that it left the door wide open to arguments about quotes. If you can close that door I can consider promoting the thread.

There's nothing wrong with quotes. Frequently the words of our best minds are the best way to make a point or explain something complex.But I fear you're making quotes the central focus of discussion when they should play only a supporting role. This fear springs from when you present some quotes and then say something like, "I want to know who's wrong here, Krauss, Davies, Silk or Hawking." Presentation and interpretation of the evidence should be the main focus.

Hi DesignTheorist,You're right, I misunderstood. I thought you had arrived at interpretations of Hawking, Davies, Krauss and Silk that had them at odds with each other. It doesn't actually matter to me whether they agree or not, I just didn't want to open a thread arguing about the meaning of quotes from famous physicists.I see where you're going now and think it would make a great thread. If you give me the okay I'll make a few edits to your opening post just to make sure no one arrives at the same misinterpretation I did.

Thread copied to the Does the universe have total net energy of zero? thread in the Big Bang and Cosmology forum, this copy of the thread has been closed.