Atheists: would you say that matter has always existed in some form?

Question

I read this in an answer to another question. Just curious if everyone agrees.

Answer 1

Yep. That is the most likely explanation.

Now it could have been in the form of energy. Matter and energy are just different forms of the same thing.

Answer 2

Since the beginning of time as we know it.

Before then the current laws of physics become questionable. I can only say that I do not know. Maybe someday I will know, maybe I will not.


Also this relies on Einstein's equation. There was no matter at the moment of the big bang, just a very high energy flux. Energy and matter are just different forms of the same thing.

Answer 3

We we seem to interpret it that way.



This is more easily understandable if one considers the actual scale of the components of an atom. If one takes into account the fact that the neutrons, protons and electrons of an atom actually have huge spaces between them it becomes clear that the atoms that make up seemingly solid objects are made up of 99+ percent empty space.

This alone does not seem too important till you add the idea that the atoms that make up seemingly solid objects are more of a loose conglomeration that share a similar attraction but never really touch each other.

At first glance this does not really seem relevant, but closer analysis reveals that this adds a tremendous amount of empty space to solid objects that are already made up of atoms that are 99 percent space. When so-called solid objects are seen in this light it becomes apparent that they can in no way be the seemingly solid objects they appear to be.

We ourselves are not exceptions to this phenomenon.

These seemingly solid objects are more like ghostly images that we interpret as solid objects based on our perceptual conclusions.

From this we must conclude that Perception is some sort of a trick that helps us to take these ghostly images and turn them into a world we can associate and interact with. This clever device seems to be a creation of our intellect that enables us to interact with each other in what appears to be a three dimensional reality.

I hope that helps to answered your question.

Love and blessings Don

Answer 4

The relationship between matter and energy is difficult to understand at best. It is likely that long ago, all that is matter now existed in the form of Energy. As to what was "before" that I cannot say. In the totality of space time and the Universe, it is difficult to speak of "Time" in terms that we understand it today.

Answer 5

I accept that matter existed always but I accept even more that energy has always existed.
It was the natural attraction via gravitational effect that caused a whole bunch of matter to gradually form one huge lump which compressed itself due to its fluidity and its own gravitational pull ON ITSELF until it converted that energy into heat energy and .... eventually .... BANG!

Answer 6

Possibly, in the form of energy since E=mc^2, but not necessarily.

Answer 7

Mmmm... the current laws of known physics say that energy cannot be destroyed, it only changes form. Matter is one of those forms and can quite obviously be destroyed (i.e. you have to keep filling your car's gas tank).

Based on that I would say no to your question.

Answer 8

The assumption that at one time there was nothing has nothing to support it. In other words, until there is a reason to think differently, yes.

Christian and other religious belief tends to encourage the thought that at one time there was nothing and humans think that this seems to make "sense"; however, there is nothing to indicate that this is actually true or is necessary.

Answer 9

No. I don't think most atheists would say that. I think most would say that matter did not exist, and then the Big Bang caused it to exist.

Not sure why I got so many thumbs down..... the big bang theory does say that matter did not exist until after the big bang. The material elements did not exist during a singularity state.

Answer 10

Depends on what theory you agree with. Since there is no evidence on what happen back them a theory's contradict themselves it is hard to say yes or no.