where angels fear to tread

[Elendur]

True or false: Several billion years ago there existed a formation of mass and/or energy that eventually spawned the material for the known universe.

- True

- False

- Other (please elaborate)

With reservation due to choice of words:
True.

 

[Nithavela]

False

I didn't know you were an atheist, AV. You should change your faith icon.

Also: Propably true.

 

[AV1611VET]

I didn't know you were an atheist, AV.

Amen! Thank you for the compliment!

 

[essentialsaltes]

True or false: Several billion years ago there existed a formation of mass and/or energy that eventually spawned the material for the known universe.

Yes, the Big Bang occurred. (I, too, have quibbles about your wording.)

 

[Loudmouth]

True or false: Several billion years ago there existed a formation of mass and/or energy that eventually spawned the material for the known universe.

- True

- False

- Other (please elaborate)

That is what the evidence indicates. We have confirmed experimentally that mass can condense from energy as temperatures shift from the extreme heat of the early universe to the cooler temperatures in the expanded universe. The CMB confirms that temperatures 300,000 years ago were still hot enough to prevent hydrogen atoms from forming, and only when the universe cooled could hydrogen form and allow light to pass freely.

 

[AV1611VET]

We have confirmed experimentally that mass can condense from energy as temperatures shift from the extreme heat of the early universe to the cooler temperatures in the expanded universe.

So, according to cosmic evolution, it literally rained cats & dogs in earth's early history?

 

[Loudmouth]

So, according to cosmic evolution, it literally rained cats & dogs in earth's early history?

Can you please cite a scientific paper that says it rained cats and dogs?

 

[dysert]

True or false: Several billion years ago there was a cataclysmic event (e.g., an explosion or rapid expansion) of the formation of mass and/or energy (from the previous question). This event resulted in the dispersion of all matter and energy that exists in the known universe today.

- True

- False

- Other (please elaborate)

 

[Nithavela]

Wouldn't describe it like that.

 

[Shemjaza]

True or false: Several billion years ago there was a cataclysmic event (e.g., an explosion or rapid expansion) of the formation of mass and/or energy (from the previous question). This event resulted in the dispersion of all matter and energy that exists in the known universe today.

- True

- False

- Other (please elaborate)

Basically true, also the expansion of space/time.

 

[Kunjax]

True or false: Several billion years ago there was a cataclysmic event (e.g., an explosion or rapid expansion) of the formation of mass and/or energy (from the previous question). This event resulted in the dispersion of all matter and energy that exists in the known universe today.

- True

- False

- Other (please elaborate)

Essentially true.

 

[Strathos]

As the saying goes:

Atheists rush in where angels dare to tread.

Look for a lot of requests for definitions

How do you expect people to answer questions if the asker isn't clearly defining what they're asking about?

 

[Euler]

Sloppy wording, but essentially true.

(Not sure how these questions relate to me being either atheist or 'evolutionist' at this point?)

 

[Elendur]

True or false: Several billion years ago there was a cataclysmic event (e.g., an explosion or rapid expansion) of the formation of mass and/or energy (from the previous question). This event resulted in the dispersion of all matter and energy that exists in the known universe today.

- True

- False

- Other (please elaborate)

Again, reservations due to wording but essentially true.

(Also I should add to this, and my previous answers, that these are extremely tentatively held positions by me since I don't know the results leading up to these conclusions. They hold no importance to me and I would easily discard the answers should they seem to be wrong)

 

[Simmeh]

True or False: In eternity past, there was nothingness.

- True

- False

- Other (please elaborate)

I'm tempted to go with 'false', just because the question is poorly formed. I'm guessing by the discussion you want to know what I (we) believe things were like before the Big Bang. If that is indeed the question, then the best response is "Other: I don't know yet"

True or false: Several billion years ago there existed a formation of mass and/or energy that eventually spawned the material for the known universe.

- True

- False

- Other (please elaborate)

Again, not really well worded, but this is basically true from my understanding.

True or false: Several billion years ago there was a cataclysmic event (e.g., an explosion or rapid expansion) of the formation of mass and/or energy (from the previous question). This event resulted in the dispersion of all matter and energy that exists in the known universe today.

- True

- False

- Other (please elaborate)

A bit better than the last two, and again a true enough representation of my understanding of cosmology.

Now, I still fear that we may end up at some sort of inane, illogical, presup-esque loop at the end of all your questions, but you seem to be acting pretty genuine so far, if a bit confused on terminology.

 

[AV1611VET]

How do you expect people to answer questions if the asker isn't clearly defining what they're asking about?

Speaking from experience, I can say I don't expect it.

Despite giving clear definitions of what I believe, others still don't get it.

I'm of the persuasion that people can actually talk themselves out of understanding something, if they don't believe it in the first place.

In other words, there's such a thing as "asking too many questions."

If someone says something, and that starts a game of "twenty questions," by the time they reach that twentieth question, the original statement is long lost.

 

[dysert]

At this point I guess I should apologize for the vagueness (or "sloppiness") of the wording of the questions. On the one hand, I want them to be a bit vague because I don't want to introduce any bias by asking the questions. On the other hand, I'm not a scientist (obviously) so I can only use the language of the layman. If you find the wording sloppy, please feel free to qualify your answer by elaborating and using unsloppy language.

And I also remind everyone that I have no ulterior motive in asking the questions. I have no intention of dropping some climactic "conclusion" in here based on the answers. I am just trying to make sure I understand where "you guys" are coming from without getting bogged down in technicalities, counter questions, etc. So far I think it's going well (for me at least). So thanks for your contributions.

 

[Shemjaza]

At this point I guess I should apologize for the vagueness (or "sloppiness") of the wording of the questions. On the one hand, I want them to be a bit vague because I don't want to introduce any bias by asking the questions. On the other hand, I'm not a scientist (obviously) so I can only use the language of the layman. If you find the wording sloppy, please feel free to qualify your answer by elaborating and using unsloppy language.

And I also remind everyone that I have no ulterior motive in asking the questions. I have no intention of dropping some climactic "conclusion" in here based on the answers. I am just trying to make sure I understand where "you guys" are coming from without getting bogged down in technicalities, counter questions, etc. So far I think it's going well (for me at least). So thanks for your contributions.

I think people are being a little paranoid, but I wouldn't take it personally.

Just be aware of the context of C&E discussions often featuring gotcha questions designed to misrepresent someone's beliefs or dishonest people claiming to be be "just curious" or "on the fence" when they clearly have an agenda.

 

[Elendur]

At this point I guess I should apologize for the vagueness (or "sloppiness") of the wording of the questions. On the one hand, I want them to be a bit vague because I don't want to introduce any bias by asking the questions. On the other hand, I'm not a scientist (obviously) so I can only use the language of the layman. If you find the wording sloppy, please feel free to qualify your answer by elaborating and using unsloppy language.

And I also remind everyone that I have no ulterior motive in asking the questions. I have no intention of dropping some climactic "conclusion" in here based on the answers. I am just trying to make sure I understand where "you guys" are coming from without getting bogged down in technicalities, counter questions, etc. So far I think it's going well (for me at least). So thanks for your contributions.

if (honest intentions == 1) {
I appreciate your questions, you're doing fine
} else {
shame on you
}

 

[bhsmte]

Speaking from experience, I can say I don't expect it.

Despite giving clear definitions of what I believe, others still don't get it.

I'm of the persuasion that people can actually talk themselves out of understanding something, if they don't believe it in the first place.

In other words, there's such a thing as "asking too many questions."

If someone says something, and that starts a game of "twenty questions," by the time they reach that twentieth question, the original statement is long lost.

Main difference between fundamentalists and those who are not.

Fundies hate probing questions, because they risk exposure and that is not pleasant.