[noden1 (OP)]

if our existence is a by product of the big bang why do we engage in the search for the meaning of life and gravitate towards the existence of a supreme being we may refer to as god.

[Ians Daddy]

Agnostically: Because the grass is always greener on the other side.

Spiritually: Because that is our job that we were "wired" for...to get closer to God.

Just a thought.

[chris]

Because we have no idea what existed before the Big Bang. There must have been something, and the idea of the entire universe coming into existence from a single tiny point about 10 billion years ago is very difficult to cope with mentally !

Therefore we look for ways to explain our existence and understand the relationship between space and time in an attempt to predict what might have preceeded the big bang.

Chris

"I never forget a face, but in your case I'll make an exception"
 - Groucho Marx

[Donnah]

We search for meaning because as a species we are arrogant enough to believe that our existence is more meaningful (important) than other forms and are seeking to verify our opinion.

[Quantumcat]

There may be nothing before the Big Bang - perhaps when Time started.

Am I dead? Am I alive? I'm both!

[chris]

It's impossible that everything came from nothing. Something must have preceeded the big bang.

I don't know if other people get this, but trying to comprehend the incomprehensible - i.e. what existed before the universe began - makes me feel strange in a way I can't describe ! Am I alone or do others get this funny 'sensation' ?

Chris

"I never forget a face, but in your case I'll make an exception"
 - Groucho Marx

[Donnah]

Chris, it makes me feel strange too.  If I concentrate fully on something incomprehensible to me, I feel like the top of my head sort of opens up.  

Can you describe a little more what it feels like for you?[?]  What does everyone else experience, focusing on the incomprehensible?

[cuso4]

quote:Originally posted by Quantumcat

There may be nothing before the Big Bang - perhaps when Time started.

Am I dead? Am I alive? I'm both!

Hey Quantum, welcome back. How's France?

Angel

[Quantumcat]

France is great!

And its possible there was nothing before the Big Bang if thats when time started lol

Am I dead? Am I alive? I'm both!

[chris]

But energy can't come from nowhere so there must have been energy there initially that was then coverted into mass and light elements (hydrogen, helium and a few atoms of lithium) ?

Chris

"I never forget a face, but in your case I'll make an exception"
 - Groucho Marx

[Quantumcat]

the only thing we have experienced is linear time so of course thats the way we try to think about things, there may be something other than time but we cant know it therefore the question of what was before the big bang will go on until the human race disappears even though it makes No Sense to ask that question since there was no 'before' the big bang! =) we cant know how time came about to exist so i cant answer your question of where all the energy came from im sorry!

Am I dead? Am I alive? I'm both!

[chris]

Well I'm very disappointed in you for not being able to predict what heralded the big bang. Shame on you !

Chris

"I never forget a face, but in your case I'll make an exception"
 - Groucho Marx

[Quantumcat]

Haha, shame on me.

Am I dead? Am I alive? I'm both!

[Ians Daddy]

Could one take the basic elements that started it all and run a controled experiment? Water, carbon, etc. Seal it off and see if something grows? That's after the big bang, but supposedly where it all sprouted from. Has this ever been done? Is it possible?

[Quantumcat]

Do you mean like the pribiotic soup or whatever its called? I think someone did do that inthe early years of DNA history, but I forget when/who and I think they did get a few organic molecules forming, but cant remember. been too long.

Am I dead? Am I alive? I'm both!

[genegenie]

Someone did some experiments that created amino acids and other organic molecules by passing a spark through water, methane, ammonia and hydrogen. I don't know much else about it, or if it really provided any answers.

[Ians Daddy]

I believe it's called "Primordial Soup". I'd love to try / see that done.

Lisa Simpson lost a tooth and it fell into an old plate of food. It created an empire of micro-people who worshipped her. Gotta love the Simpsons.

[Quantumcat]

lol I remember that episode.

Am I dead? Am I alive? I'm both!