What time is it where you are? I'm not bright enough to answer this when I'm awake and it is 1:30 a.m. and brain is tired. Just thought I'd ask.LOL

The ultimate answer is, Who give a flying rats ass? And just read hitchhikers guide...everyone knows the REAL answer is 42...I.E

Scientists searching for one of the fundamental keys to the universe found they had been beaten to the answer by the comic cult novel "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy"; and the answer was 42.

In the British novel and radio serial by Douglas Adams, an alien race programs a computer called Deep Thought to provide the ultimate answer to understanding life and the universe.

In the novel, seven and a half million years later Deep Thought comes back with the result - 42.

It's 12:45 here. You don't have to be smart to have an opinion. Everyone's opinion is a part of the final answer.

yeah what he said, see post # 2

Yes, I've read the book and have seen the movie. In a way, my conclusions are similar to "42" but I have more scientific approach.
"Who gives a rat's ass?" I do for one. I think it is the most interesting topic (the universe, consciousness) there is. And I find it fascinating that the thing, the universe, was created and over time produced an object capable of contemplating itself.

I'm not sure i'm up to this one, but i'm always wondering why most people assume that there has to have been a creator. It's a bit like modeling a metaphysical concept based on what WE do... in that we create things.

I don't know why there can't just be ... Existence.

Ok so the earth is part of the solar system, who and when was the solar system created? How did the dinosaurs become extinct?

How long is a piece of string???????????

I believe what the Bible says -- It does not say exactly why, but I think God jus wanted to create something awesome and he wanted some company, too.

The Bible says it was created by his word - God spoke the word, and it came into being.

God is infinite -- was never a beginning or an end. Forever was, and forever will be.

That's what I know, that's what has held true for me for 46 years, and that's what I believe.

I believe that the universe was created by an intelligent force. BUT, that the creation is now independent of the creator. I believe the creator lost control of the universe and it now is adrift on it's own.
peace, t

Just off to work. I do not believe there is a creator. I think the universe emerged from a previous state of void (ie hawkin's big bang or something like that), ie I'm not a steady state theorist. Of course the big bang could have been triggered by a being from the next dimension leaving the gas on.

I believe the universe is god, or the body of god. I think consciousness is a property of highly complicated structures. If we are self-aware and inside the universe, then the universe as a whole must be more complicated than we are and hence, intelligent.
I think it is way to intelligent to be as controlling and judgement as we are and is merely observing the development of it's creation.
I don't think a thing can create itself diliberately, regardless of it's omnipotence. But I think such a thing is unwhittingly possible because of the guaranteed, no creator required, existence of chaos. Motion and spontaneous organization are a properties of an infinitely voluminous, infinitely dimensional chaotic system. M-theory says that our particular universe collapsed into a mere 11 dimensions.

I think it was just a scientific accident. I mean look how many millions of years things took to evolve. I quite like acurious theory about someone leaving he gas on in another dimension. I think he should expand on that and write a novel. Of course HHGTTG ws great and 42 is the obvious answer..lol. It ws just pointing out the futility of even trying to grap the infinity of time and space.

i agree with starfish,i have believed in the bible since i was a little girl and still do,and this is a good discussion,but i believe what i believe and others are going to believe in what they believe,one way or the other i don't care who believes in what,as long as i believe in what i want to.

Exactly lively. Everyone has the freedom of choice to hold their own beliefs.

YAWN