It makes a lot of sense that the nature of questions regarding the “beginning” of the universe is nonsensical and anthropocentric, but it still feels like a cheap response that misses the crux of the issue. It feels like “science will fill in that gap eventually” and we ought to trust that will be so.
I think that’s one question that science probably won’t be able to answer. But that’s no reason to just make something up! Maybe we can’t rule out a ‘powerful, intelligent creative entity’ – but why would you even think of that? And of course it just shifts the question to the next level, because where would that entity come from?
Maybe we can’t rule out a ‘powerful, intelligent creative entity’ – but why would you even think of that?
Others have thought of it. I’m asking why I ought to dismiss it. I think we have good reasons to dismiss, for instance, Christianity, because of the positive claims it makes. I don’t see the same contradiction with something like deism.
And of course it just shifts the question to the next level, because where would that entity come from?
This isn’t a compelling argument to me. Can we rule out an intelligent prime mover with what we know about the universe? If so, what do we call the events that first caused everything to be?
I think that’s one question that science probably won’t be able to answer. But that’s no reason to just make something up! Maybe we can’t rule out a ‘powerful, intelligent creative entity’ – but why would you even think of that? And of course it just shifts the question to the next level, because where would that entity come from?
Others have thought of it. I’m asking why I ought to dismiss it. I think we have good reasons to dismiss, for instance, Christianity, because of the positive claims it makes. I don’t see the same contradiction with something like deism.
This isn’t a compelling argument to me. Can we rule out an intelligent prime mover with what we know about the universe? If so, what do we call the events that first caused everything to be?