The Universe... End or Endless

[aviatrix]

I hope I can explain this in a way that makes sense.
When I think of the universe, and honestly, I don't know if this belongs in here or not, I hope it does. When I think of the universe, I try to think as far out into space as I possibly can. This being said, I ultimately begin feeling a little queasy, oh I don't know, just weird, because I can't picture where it ends. If it does end what's on the other side? I mean how can it not end? Yet, I don't think we're in a big fish bowl because that would be in another universe or something and then where does that end? Does anyone understand what I'm trying to say? I'd really like to know what people think about this. I realize that I've probably been conditioned to know that all things come to an end therefore I have a hard time fathoming something without end. How could that be possible?

[RedZephyr]

Originally Posted by aviatrix

I hope I can explain this in a way that makes sense.
When I think of the universe, and honestly, I don't know if this belongs in here or not, I hope it does. When I think of the universe, I try to think as far out into space as I possibly can. This being said, I ultimately begin feeling a little queasy, oh I don't know, just weird, because I can't picture where it ends. If it does end what's on the other side? I mean how can it not end? Yet, I don't think we're in a big fish bowl because that would be in another universe or something and then where does that end? Does anyone understand what I'm trying to say? I'd really like to know what people think about this. I realize that I've probably been conditioned to know that all things come to an end therefore I have a hard time fathoming something without end. How could that be possible?

What is the universe? It's everything in existence. No, the universe has no beginning and no end. The reason people find that impossible to believe is that as humans, we are incapable of fully understanding or imagining things that are not limited in time and space.

[sonrisa]

so you don't agree with the Big Bang then?

[Akamu]

As some physicists theorize, the Big Bang that we refer to could be one of an infinite line of Big Bangs....and endless cycle of the expansion and constriction of the universe.

However, looking at it another way...If it is true that time and space are woven together and the singularity that existed before the Big Bang occurred contained both of these things, then our concepts of cause and effect go out the window. What happened outside of this singularity would not have been bound by time and therefore did not necessarily have to have a prior cause in order to trigger an effect. I realize this contributes absolutely nothing towards the goal of ascertaining the truth of the universe's origins or demise, but it is one way to escape that seemingly inescapable chain of cause and effect that we so often dwell upon.

[schrodinger]

Trying to decide if the Universe is infinite or finite is just asking for a big headache! But this decision, and resulting headache, is totally unnecessary. Infinite and finite are just two opposing forces, one is the opposite of the other and one cannot exist without the other. Experiment: Tie a rope to an immovable object, and then pull on the rope with as much force as you like. Let’s call the force you apply “infinite”. That is not to say that you apply infinite force, it is just a label. The immovable object exerts an equal and opposite force on the other end of the rope. If it did not, you would move in the direction you are pulling, but you cannot move because of the opposing force. Call the force that the immovable object exerts “finite”. Can you see now that one force cannot exist without the other? Can you also see that the force on the rope is neither “infinite” nor “finite” but rather is the sum total of both? So it is with the Universe.

[j000han]

Originally Posted by RedZephyr

What is the universe? It's everything in existence. No, the universe has no beginning and no end. The reason people find that impossible to believe is that as humans, we are incapable of fully understanding or imagining things that are not limited in time and space.

If you close your eyes and look at what you see,
do see any bounderies?
what is on the left side where does it end?
what is on the right side where does it end?
what is above/below where does it end?
what is in front/behind where does it end?

[aviatrix]

I have to say I am so intrigued by all these answers. Seriously, I'm absorbing them like a sponge. Thank you all for being so patient and expressing yourselves in ways that I can understand. Just reading these make me feel better about not knowing I guess, kind of comforted in some way. I can actually think about it and not feel so lost in some black abyss. I can say ok, what about this, or this, and picture them and there is something semi concrete to hold onto. Does that make sense? I do think it's rather sad that in order to have some semblance of peace of mind about this I have to make something concrete (for lack of a better word) out of it. There are so many things that I believe/accept without hesitation or fear, and without "knowing", this just hasn't been one of them. I suppose that would belong in philosophy though.

[jufa]

Aviatrix, there is no answer to this question unless one can explain their beginning or end, for conscious aware brings a person to ask such a question begins with them.

So one has to answer to themselves whether their life began at birth, and ends at death because they are a part of the universe. If one concludes birth is their beginning, and death is their end, then what of the elements of the universe which formed their bodies, which were not born, nor could be dying? Do these elements die? And if they do, then science has been wrong in their assumptive experiments which says nothing in the universe is eliminated.

[aviatrix]

Hello jufa my friend,
I see what you're saying here, and it is my belief that my essence, my energy doesn't die or disappear. I know there is no answer to my question only ideas, theories, and opinions. However, that is what I asked for, and was given. I don't feel that I am overwhelmed by what the universe consists of, only the universe itself. Whether this is one and the same, well, is up for debate.
Now, in order not to stray too far from science into too much philosophy here, let me pose this question to you all.
Think organ transplants. It is a fact that some people who have had a transplant believe they have acquired tastes for things they didn't like before, cravings they never had, dislikes for things they used to love, what seem like memories of things, people and/or places they never knew, only to find that the donor had these likes, dislikes, did these things, went these places, knew these people. They couldn't have possibly known this before being told by those who knew the donor. So....
Is this phenomenon something that is in the tissue, nerves, cells of the donor organ and carried over this way to the recipient or is our very essence imprinted on every fiber of our physical being therefore leaving a bit of us behind within the body (and soul?) of another?

[sonrisa]

Aviatrix--I see what you're saying here, and it is my belief that my essence, my energy doesn't die or disappear.

-- that's not just your belief, that is the 1st Law of Thermodynamics- energy can neither be created nor destroyed....

the question is- where do we go after we leave our bods....