WHAT WAS THERE BEFORE THE UNIVERSE EXISTED?

In a state of nothing, no matter, no forces, etc. what is there that could be considered "unstable"? There's nothing to *be* unstable. Furthermore, if there is nothing to *be* unstable, what forces would begin boiling the nothing? There are no forces. There is nothing. So, out of nothing a force of boiling begins to act upon *the nothing*, apparantly "boiling" it, each bubble becoming an expanding universe. Ta dah. There never was nothing. It was always something. What it is becomes unclear.

he is the first, the last, and everything in between

of course the only way we can do that is by continuing to ask this question, explore new theories and make suggestions. some say drugs open up the mind or at least offer the ability to see things on a whole different perspective. give em a try!

i think the concept of 'parallel universes' is a bit much, to assume we are that important that there could be alternative versions of us living alternative lives just cos we chose different numbers on our lottery tickets one week etc. is a bit egotistical, naive and so on...but then if were as insignificant as we consider ants to be, then why do we have such strong emotions, or indeed, the capability of sentient thought at all?

there is also talk of reality being an illusion but this is generally without real concrete logic and just inspired by The Matrix or whatever. Reality is defined purely by itself, not its inhabitants. To exist is to exist and nothing else.

I see the universe as an illusion of sorts. A bit like when you have a mirror in front of you and one behind you and you can see yourself spiralling into infinity - or when the person on tv has a tv behind them showing that person on tv...this is similar to how we see the universe and its lifespan. we see ourselves as at the beginning of the spiral, the spiral has no real end of course. Numbers are also infinite...as is the Internet - a model of the universe itself. The Internet came out of something else - it is a virtual world. Perhaps we are also existing in something that came out of something else that we cannot see.

All this doesnt mean there is no God - or a divine force - or fate - its fun trying to fit as many pieces as possible together

"Before the universe, there was Da Funk."

lol

The big bang came out of a butt

the original funk

over my face.
I can feel it happening.
Everything I thought I knew about emotions, about my emotions, has changed.
Everything.
Here it is.

a table covered in crumbs

We know for certain, for instance, that for some reason, for some time in the beginning, there were hot lumps. Cold and lonely, they whirled noiselessly through the black holes of space. These insignificant lumps came together to form the first union--our Sun, the heating system. And about this glowing gasbag rotated the Earth, a cat's-eye among aggies, blinking in astonishment across the Face of Time.

Was it really noiseless? The music of the spheres maybe?

the original funk
over my face.
I can feel it happening.
Everything I thought I knew about emotions, about my emotions, has changed.
Everything.
Here it is.

I feel this ^

...but then if were as insignificant as we consider ants to be, then why do we have such strong emotions, or indeed, the capability of sentient thought at all?

there is also talk of reality being an illusion but this is generally without real concrete logic and just inspired by The Matrix or whatever. Reality is defined purely by itself, not its inhabitants. To exist is to exist and nothing else.

But not this ^

so here for the lumplore

the actual answer is usenet (ned raggett)

before this universe was one exaclt ylike it at its moment of death and everything repeats endlessly

we built the pyramids