Subj : Re: The universe
To   : JOHN WILSON
From : TODD HENSON
Date : Thu Nov 02 2000 07:11 pm

>  TH> You fail to see what was being said. He kept complaining about my
>  TH> words regarding other
>  TH> temporal realities other than this one. I mentioned the many
>  TH> worlds theory to illustrate the
>  TH> concept that it IS possible and certainly not illogical to speak
>  TH> of temporal contexts that are
>  TH> outside of the continuum that we live in.
> 
>      An awkward solution to indeterminancy, at best. Liebentz had
>      the idea: refuted with humour by Voltaire in "Candide"


It's not awkward or refuted at all. It's a very natural question if you're
going to assume that the 
universe had a beginning in the first place. If the universe didn't exist,
then it logically could not 
create itself. Sooooooooo, what brought it into existence? What is it that
exists on a level that 
is transcendendent to the universe, which created the universe? 


>      Certainly not illigical to speak of heaven. (Which is I think
>      `outseide of temporal contexts' :-)


Not a bad thought.


>      ...but to think in this wise is to think in terms of science fiction
>      or theological constructions.
> 
>      I do confess, I cannot imagine `other temporal' constructs...
>      Unless you mean my thinking, for example, that I am eternal. (Which I
>      only believe on Tuesdays and Thursdays :-)
> 
>      
>  >  TH> And, look at the language you are using. You speak of a beginning
>  >  TH> of the universe. If the
>  >  TH> universe had a beginning, then it is perfectly rational to wonder
>  >  TH> about what came before it.
>  >
>  >   Nope. `what time was it?' before time itself started is fun
>  >   but meaningless.
>      
>  TH> See above.
> 
>      <Frustratedly> Oh, nuts to you! And your repeatedly used and often
>      irritating and seemingly smug: "See Above" !! As if you made a point
>      that was beyond comment!
> 
>      The word "before" in your sentence is meaningless in the context of
>      what was there "before" time.
> 
>      See Previous.


My reply at the onset of this post addresses  that.

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