Is there a start point to the space-time continum, is there a foreseeable end point?

Answer 1

The Kalam Cosmological Argument formulated by al-Ghazali in about 1100 ad, goes like this:

1. Whatever begins to exist has a cause.
2. The universe began to exist.
3. Therefore, the universe has a cause.

Thru pure logic, al-Ghazali and others determined that an infinite past is impossible, the universe had to start at some point in time. They showed that if the past was infinite, you would have to traverse the infinite to get to today, which is impossible. (I was amazed. Even St. Thomas Aquinas believed in an eternal universe when he developed his proofs of God's existence, stating that if the universe had a begining, his task would be too easy.)

Thus, there is a start point, as shown by science recently, and proven philosophically nearly 900 years ago.

There is no reason to believe in an end point. Data still indicates that the expansion of the universe will continue forever.

Edit: What was time before the big bang and what about God. Hypothesis only: God is consciousness and eternal. This is a reason based rationalization without proof. Is space without limit? Yes. Can we conceive it? Not really, yet it is a fact.

Answer 2

I don't know, but I'm guessing not. I think that the universe keeps expanding until it starts to collapse back on itself, compressing into a tiny dense singularity, which then explodes into a Big Bang. And this just keeps happening over and over. No beginning, no end.

Of course, this theory is based on a conception of space and time which is socially constructed to begin with, and thus may be less than wholly accurate. Space and time don't really exist independent of our observations, so I'm not sure we can make such determinations anyway. But it gets difficult to think about thinks without such models, so we may as well use them (just don't forget they're tools and not Truth).

I'll get off my soapbox. Have a nice day.

Answer 3

Not really in the expanding-contracting universe theory I was checking out on the discovery channel the other day. In the program they said there may have been a series of "big bangs" and that once the universe expands to a certain critical point it colapses back and starts all over again. I'd hate to be there when that happens, then again it would be amazing to see all the stars suddenly rush together while rushing at them on our planet.

Answer 4

This essay touches briefly on various aspects and dimensions of time. To a scientist, time is a relatively simple matter, but when one gets into the Bible time has qualitative and subjective aspects---there is much more to consider. The Bible contrasts time and eternity as well. God is outside of time. He is,

"...the high and lofty one, who inhabits eternity." (Isaiah 57:15)

Time as we know it was created by God---it is part of the creation. (Note A) However the created universe consists of a physical, material world and a spiritual realm---the latter is called in the New Testament "the heavenly places." In the heavenlies time has quite different properties than we usually think about in regard to the physical, material world. Man was created to live in both worlds (the material and the spiritual) at the same "time" and a study of time and eternity (a much neglected subject) carries a number of surprises. The physical universe has been drastically affected by the fall of Lucifer and his angels, and by the fall of man. This means we now live in a damaged, deteriorating "old creation." Time itself has been altered by the fall.

- Lambert Dolphin
http://www.ldolphin.org/time.html

Answer 5

This is one of those questions that require that "reefer" I have heard of from time to time.

J/K

This concept is quite mind blowing and to imagine a start point makes sense, but because we can imagine a start point anyways, makes less sense.

Even if we go all the way back to where curiosity was born, we still may be seeing our beginnings, but we are not exclusive to the entirety of all possible possibilities.

Answer 6

Within this universe there is indeed a start point and an end point... this universe is finite... Will mankind ever truly know which is which?... not likely in this mortal existence... but it is a challenge that has been placed for mankind to undertake.

Answer 7

A start point most certainly. An end point...that's up for debate, it depends on how much matter is in the universe.

Answer 8

Einstein showed that time was a factor of the speed of light. If light is not travelling, ergo there is no time. If you believe in the 'Big Bang', then time did in fact begin. If you believe in the so-called 'Big Crunch', then time will in fact one day stop.

I'm not sure what I believe. I find it pretty hard to get my head around 'no time', but then again, I'm no scientist.

Answer 9

For there to be an end there must be a beginning and there is no beginning because God is without boundaries.

Answer 10

in a nutshell the start was

In the begining....

the end is the return of our LORD Jesus returns ....

o:)NA