A question or two that STILL need an answer..., page 1
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reply posted on 16-12-2009 @ 05:13 AM by Maslo
reply to post by Tobeornottobe



Science`s answer may not be so fancy or entertaining as religion`s answer, but at least its honest: We don`t know yet.

There are various hypotheses, and maybe LHC or working theory of quantum gravity will give us an answer. I think there was obviously something, since something can not come from nothing, but anything else about the nature of this pre-big bang "something" is just speculation now. There is no reason to antropomorphise it.

www.google.com...




reply posted on 16-12-2009 @ 05:50 AM by sirnex
reply to post by Tobeornottobe



I am trying to figure out what to believe in. Before I make my decision I'd like to ask a creationist and an athiest a question or two (And obviously continue doing more research).


I'm not going to answer from either side, instead I'm going to answer with honesty and openness.

It doesn't matter what you believe in or what you want to be real. Reality will always undeniably still be reality and we will always still exist within the confines of reality bound by all its laws and rules.

If there is no God, then he isn't real and thus no reason to believe in him.

If there is a God, then he is real and there is a reason to believe in him.

Yet, until either has been proven, there is no reason to be closed minded to the possibility while still reserving judgment of blind belief in it's truth at either end.

If you want something to believe in, believe in what is absolutely known to be real, which is mostly nothing right now. So there isn't a whole hell of a lot there to believe in. So instead, just believe that reality is real and reality exists as we exist in it. This is the only thing we know to be absolutely true to reality.

[EDIT TO ADD]

Forgot to welcome you to ATS. I would also like to warn you about ATSIS. ATSIS is a nefarious group here on ATS, the ATS Ignorance Squad. They will tell you what is "true" and then demand you accept that truth without backing that truth up, without showing the work so to speak. If you ever ask them for evidence or research, they will attack you viciously, calling you ignorant and a troll. Their favorite argument is always "You just don't understand and this is something you just have to understand."


Good luck and hope you enjoy your stay here, but always be on the look out for ATSIS and please never join their ranks. ATS is about denying ignorance, not joining the squad.

[edit on 16-12-2009 by sirnex]



reply posted on 16-12-2009 @ 05:52 AM by TheWalkingFox
reply to post by St Udio



Not to be ironic, but... Jesus hopping Christ, would you people stop with the "it's only a theory" crap? It doesn't get you anywhere, and it just proves that you have no flipping clue what the hell it is you're talking about.

A scientific theory is something that is backed by every available shred of evidence. Evolution, gravity, heliocentrism, the big bang, they're all "theories" in the same way that the Pythagorean theorem is.

Tell you what. If you can find me a right triangle that doesn't adhere to the pythagorean theorem, I'll accept your "just a theory" horsepie. deal? Grt cracking.


reply posted on 16-12-2009 @ 06:28 AM by GobbledokTChipeater
reply to post by Tobeornottobe



Yeh I know, I'm just a grumpy kitty sometimes. Welcome to ATS


reply posted on 16-12-2009 @ 07:22 AM by Agree2Disagree
reply to post by TheWalkingFox



HOLD UP JUST A MINUTE...

so you're equating pythagorean theorem...WHICH WE CAN APPLY IN DAILY LIFE...and the BIG BANG...WHICH WE CAN'T REPLICATE....tell me...how do you do this!?

A2D


reply posted on 16-12-2009 @ 07:48 AM by sirnex
Originally posted by Agree2Disagree
reply to
post by TheWalkingFox



HOLD UP JUST A MINUTE...

so you're equating pythagorean theorem...WHICH WE CAN APPLY IN DAILY LIFE...


This isn't quite exactly what he said, seems your sensationalizing through misinterpretation.

As he said, a scientific theory is backed by empirical evidence.

In the scientific or empirical tradition, the term "theory" is reserved for ideas which meet baseline requirements about the kinds of empirical observations made, the methods of classification used, and the consistency of the theory in its application among members of the class to which it pertains. These requirements vary across different scientific fields of knowledge, but in general theories are expected to be functional and parsimonious: i.e. a theory should be the simplest possible tool that can be used to effectively address the given class of phenomena.
source

A theorem is derived from a theory.

Theories are distinct from theorems: theorems are derived deductively from theories according to a formal system of rules, generally as a first step in testing or applying the theory in a concrete situation.
Same source.

Despite general applicability, it may or may not be true. For hundreds of years it was assumed that the Earth was the center of the universe based on observation. Yet a theory called heliocentrism overturned this erroneous belief. So, despite the label of theory, this label should never be used as a negative derogatory insult of science.

and the BIG BANG...WHICH WE CAN'T REPLICATE....tell me...how do you do this!?


Given the above definition of a theory, there is no real problem here as the theory is a theory, not a proof. Man in ancient times couldn't figure out how to fly and pronounced that heavier than air flight was impossible because they couldn't figure out how to do it. Lack of know how or inability to replication should never be considered an end all.

Don't misconstrue me, I'm equally against the big bang myself, but possibly for different more valid reasons than your of it's only a theory. Use critical thought a little more, it'll help.


reply posted on 16-12-2009 @ 07:57 AM by Agree2Disagree
reply to post by sirnex



I'm sorry the big bang is not a theory in the same sense that:

The atomic theory of matter: all matter is made up of atoms.
The law of conservation of mass and energy: in chemical and physical reactions, mass and energy stay the same, in atomic reactions, mass is changed to energy or energy to mass according to the formula E = mc2.
The cell theory of living things: all living things are made up of cells.
The theory of evolution: all life on earth evolved from simple forms.
The tectonic theory of geology: the surface of the earth is composed of tectonic plates, which move slowly.
The galactic theory of astronomy: planets orbit stars, stars cluster in galaxies.
The periodic table of elements: atoms are distinguished by their atomic number and atomic weight, and can be arranged in a table which illustrates their properties.
The theory of relativity: scientific laws hold in different frames of reference.
Quantum theory: the smallest amount of energy is a "quantum unit", and all energy comes in multiples of this amount.


are...If it is and I'm wrong...show me the EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE...

simple.wikipedia.org...

You see... a scientific theory must be a TESTED and EXPANDED hypotheses.....tell me then...how was the big bang "theory" TESTED???

edit to add:
To be a scientific theory, a theory must be tested a large number of times, by many different scientists in many different places, and must pass the test every time.

same source as above...
A2D


[edit on 16-12-2009 by Agree2Disagree]


reply posted on 16-12-2009 @ 08:04 AM by sirnex
Originally posted by Agree2Disagree
reply to
post by sirnex



I'm sorry the big bang is not a theory in the same sense that:

The atomic theory of matter: all matter is made up of atoms.
The law of conservation of mass and energy: in chemical and physical reactions, mass and energy stay the same, in atomic reactions, mass is changed to energy or energy to mass according to the formula E = mc2.
The cell theory of living things: all living things are made up of cells.
The theory of evolution: all life on earth evolved from simple forms.
The tectonic theory of geology: the surface of the earth is composed of tectonic plates, which move slowly.
The galactic theory of astronomy: planets orbit stars, stars cluster in galaxies.
The periodic table of elements: atoms are distinguished by their atomic number and atomic weight, and can be arranged in a table which illustrates their properties.
The theory of relativity: scientific laws hold in different frames of reference.
Quantum theory: the smallest amount of energy is a "quantum unit", and all energy comes in multiples of this amount.


are...

simple.wikipedia.org...

You see... a scientific theory must be a TESTED and EXPANDED hypotheses.....tell me then...how was the big bang "theory" TESTED???

edit to add:
To be a scientific theory, a theory must be tested a large number of times, by many different scientists in many different places, and must pass the test every time.

same source as above...
A2D

[edit on 16-12-2009 by Agree2Disagree]


There are contrary theories to a lot of those theories you listed that have 'evidences' for them as well, both observed and experimental. BBT is claimed to correct due to predicted observations. What the theory predicts is what is observed, but in my opinion I find those predictions to be based on certain assumptions which is why I don't personally subscribe to it. But my opinions are not the end all of scientific inquiry and could be wrong. BTW, if I'm not mistaken, isn't BBT derived from relativity, or at least some of the observed predictions of BBT?



reply posted on 16-12-2009 @ 08:20 AM by wdkirk
Big Bang:
The universe as we know it is expanding outward from what we think is a galactic center.
en.wikipedia.org...

As for God:
Maybe a long dead entity that left no trace of itself.

I guess "it" (God) could be alive or omni present and may be one of many but that just asks the question of "who created God(s)".

There's absolutely no proof of Gods existence other than blind faith. When I say God, I mean the all powerful not some group of rogue aliens that bio-engineered us the be worker drones like some would think.

I like the questions, but, unfortunately, I have no answers other than speculation.

Live free or die.


reply posted on 16-12-2009 @ 09:00 AM by cjcord
I am still new here as well, but you (OP) have posted something I have been spending a lot of time studying and wondering about.

First, I would like to point out that though many members of ATS are very intelligent and very well read, not all of us think the same way. I happen to know for fact that many people seem to get "theory" and "idea" mixed up. They define them the same way. A theory is an idea yes, but it is not JUST an idea. This is important to recognize when debating and learning.

A few posters above have stated all that I personally feel to be truth, in varying ways. I was raised Jewish, went to Hebrew school for much of my life- then was left wondering what that meant. There were many precepts of Judaism that I could not agree with on a moral level. There were too many unanswered questions and contradictions in the Torah for me to feel sure.

I became a Catholic, tried Baptist churches, Pentacostal, Lutheran, and Universalist. Then I became a pagan. Though I learned much from all of this, I still could not get straight answers to my questions. So I looked outside religion. Science seemed to answer many of my questions. Logic, and awareness of psychology, answered even more. So at present, I have my own "ideas".


Such as, the idea of "God" is a coping mechanism. We are only human, we can only understand abstract concepts to a limited degree. We can theorize and experiment to try to understand some things, and we have a rational mind that allows us to say "Well, we don't know for sure, but the most logical assumption is..." I believe what is tangible, or what can be made apparent via tangible means. Anything else is too complex for me to understand now. For some, their way of handling what they cannot understand, or what their moral fibre demands, is to be dependent on "a power greater than ourselves". For is we can;t figure it out- someONE had to. Very few people can handle the knowledge that they cannot explain something. There MUST be an explanation! Hence, God.

We are fragile in these thin skins. What happens after we die? The idea of a void and nothingness quite frankly, is terrifying to most. There HAS to be more- else- what is the point? God.

Societal pressures and norms are psychologically based. As is everything the electricity on our brains portrays as thought and will. Yes, there is a reason we feel the way we do, the way we think, the things we believe. Chemical reactions happen, there is a cause and effect. But that seems too simple for we complex creatures. Define emotion. Can't just be chemicals! God. Or DMT. Which is a chemical...>.> I digress...


I am not an atheist or a religious person. I am a realist. I believe in reality, as was so eloquently stated above. I know what I know because I can see it, feel it, taste it, and test it. I am not comfortable putting my destiny in the hands of an unseen creator who has had no tangible evidence in my life. Unless by creator you mean cause and effect, in which case, I am a believer.

So reality it is, but what defines reality. We fallible humans? What if we are wrong? Does it really matter? We live for whatever reason. I prefer to live without guilt and negativity. It has nothing to do with sin or redemption, but everything to do with what feels good to me. Bottom line, all we can believe in is what we know. And fact- we don't know everything yet.


reply posted on 16-12-2009 @ 09:09 AM by Agree2Disagree
reply to post by sirnex



They can claim whatever they want about the big bang...the simple fact of the matter is that it is postulated from observances that we make AFTERWARDS...we have no way of knowing that what we THINK caused what we observe is really what happened....so technically, it can't be replicated or validated scientifically...it's just a well-thought out guess....unlike other theories...that can be validated scientifically....

A2D


reply posted on 16-12-2009 @ 09:19 AM by cjcord
Originally posted by Agree2Disagree
reply to
post by sirnex



They can claim whatever they want about the big bang...the simple fact of the matter is that it is postulated from observances that we make AFTERWARDS...we have no way of knowing that what we THINK caused what we observe is really what happened....so technically, it can't be replicated or validated scientifically...it's just a well-thought out guess....unlike other theories...that can be validated scientifically....

A2D


This comment only raises more questions, which might derail the topic.

How do we know what we guess is even real? How do we know that what we think we see, is really what there is? We can prove theories only with what we know to be fact, But what if the facts are misunderstood or not at all like what really is? What is the definition of reality? Who defined it? And how do we prove they were right? What if right is wrong? I know, silly questions, my apologies. But what if?


reply posted on 16-12-2009 @ 09:27 AM by Agree2Disagree
reply to post by cjcord



The point is...the theory of relativity...observed...through our observations it's deemed "correct"....atomic theory...observed...through our observations it's deemed "correct"....etc etc

big bang theory....not observed...cannot be deemed "correct" through our observations...because our observations aren't relevant to the timeframe....the big bang happened in an instant...relativity...atomic theory...they persist...there's no 'one' point in "time" when they happened......

A2D
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