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Why is there something rather than nothing?

Rational Agnostic

Well-Known Member
So, why is there something rather than nothing? "God" is of course not an answer to the question, since asserting the existence of God only raises the same question (where did God come from?). As it turns out, the question produces a paradox, since any attempted explanation produces the same problem. As for me, I am content to say that there does not have to be a reason anything exists. I would assert that the universe exists, and that's all we can know. Any attempted explanation only raises the same questions again.
 

Windwalker

Veteran Member
Premium Member
So, why is there something rather than nothing? "God" is of course not an answer to the question, since asserting the existence of God only raises the same question (where did God come from?). As it turns out, the question produces a paradox, since any attempted explanation produces the same problem. As for me, I am content to say that there does not have to be a reason anything exists. I would assert that the universe exists, and that's all we can know. Any attempted explanation only raises the same questions again.
Which is why people say that to try to understand God with the rational mind, inevitably leads to unresolvable paradox. That's where faith comes in. It doesn't need to solve the paradox. It's the same conclusion you came to.
 

9-10ths_Penguin

1/10 Subway Stalinist
Premium Member
Which is why people say that to try to understand God with the rational mind, inevitably leads to unresolvable paradox. That's where faith comes in. It doesn't need to solve the paradox. It's the same conclusion you came to.
So... to paraphrase:

- why is there something instead of nothing? God.
- why is your answer "God?" I don't know and I don't care to know.

Right?
 

Jumi

Well-Known Member
I don't feel a need to guess why there is something. It's not knowable to humans anyway.
 

Unveiled Artist

Veteran Member
So, why is there something rather than nothing? "God" is of course not an answer to the question, since asserting the existence of God only raises the same question (where did God come from?). As it turns out, the question produces a paradox, since any attempted explanation produces the same problem. As for me, I am content to say that there does not have to be a reason anything exists. I would assert that the universe exists, and that's all we can know. Any attempted explanation only raises the same questions again.


I was listening to a non-christian sermon that described god as the mystery of what we don't know. So, instead of looking into what the origin is, which I feel is counterproductive, we are content it is a mystery; and, we call that mystery, god. As such, when we pray, worship, and so forth, we are connecting with this mystery because it gives us a sense of mysticism. It also lets many to be grateful for things that are beyond what they see, but also what they feel, what they have faith to experience, and how they connect with the unknown.

So, I wouldn't say it isn't wasteful (making a generalization) just god doesn't need to be a deity floating in the sky in order to be the source and mover as life itself.
 

Willamena

Just me
Premium Member
So, why is there something rather than nothing? "God" is of course not an answer to the question, since asserting the existence of God only raises the same question (where did God come from?). As it turns out, the question produces a paradox, since any attempted explanation produces the same problem. As for me, I am content to say that there does not have to be a reason anything exists. I would assert that the universe exists, and that's all we can know. Any attempted explanation only raises the same questions again.
There is something because something is something. There is no nothing. Nothing is nothing.
 

ratiocinator

Lightly seared on the reality grill.
I was listening to a non-christian sermon that described god as the mystery of what we don't know. So, instead of looking into what the origin is, which I feel is counterproductive, we are content it is a mystery; and, we call that mystery, god. As such, when we pray, worship, and so forth...

I can't remember who said something like "I refuse to anthropomorphise my ignorance and worship it" but I wholeheartedly agree with them.
 

youknowme

Whatever you want me to be.
There is something because something is something. There is no nothing. Nothing is nothing.

Well nothing is something, and if nothing is something then something is nothing, which means something equals nothing and nothing equals something, so existence is both nothing and something.
 

viole

Ontological Naturalist
Premium Member
There is something because something is something. There is no nothing. Nothing is nothing.

Good point. There can only be something, for the ontology of nothing prevents it from existing without undercutting its own meaning.

But i am sure that true experts of nothing might not agree.

Ciao

- viole
 
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Nakosis

Non-Binary Physicalist
Premium Member
So, why is there something rather than nothing? "God" is of course not an answer to the question, since asserting the existence of God only raises the same question (where did God come from?). As it turns out, the question produces a paradox, since any attempted explanation produces the same problem. As for me, I am content to say that there does not have to be a reason anything exists. I would assert that the universe exists, and that's all we can know. Any attempted explanation only raises the same questions again.

Unlikely science will ever have an answer either. It seems there always something around to cause something. It doesn't seem possible to bridge the gap between an absolute nothing, assuming there was such a point in the past to something. I just accept this is something we will never have a answer for.
 

Unveiled Artist

Veteran Member
I can't remember who said something like "I refuse to anthropomorphise my ignorance and worship it" but I wholeheartedly agree with them.

That's weird. Why would he or she call it ignorance? Anything can be anthropomorphised for the benefit of self and others. It doesn't need to be abrahamic-related. I wouldn't anthropomorphise ignorance but, if I wanted to, maybe I would love and compassion. I'd probably "worship it" by living love and compassion as two huge values that define my being.

That's an example. Taking god out of the box kinda helps with how we define and treat "god". I disagree with it being ignorance, just personal preference.
 

ratiocinator

Lightly seared on the reality grill.
That's weird. Why would he or she call it ignorance?

You talked of a mystery, that is something we don't know the answer to, i.e. we are ignorant of the answer, then calling it god and then you talked about worshipping. I don't see how that isn't worshipping ignorance.

In the context of this thread, I have no idea why there is something rather than nothing and I don't understand why I would want to call that ignorance god, let alone worship it. Makes no sense to me.
 

Unveiled Artist

Veteran Member
You talked of a mystery, that is something we don't know the answer to, i.e. we are ignorant of the answer, then calling it god and then you talked about worshipping. I don't see how that isn't worshipping ignorance.

In the context of this thread, I have no idea why there is something rather than nothing and I don't understand why I would want to call that ignorance god, let alone worship it. Makes no sense to me.

I can see that. Everyone has their own spin, if they have one, in how they relate to the mystery of life. Some people don't care and go on with the life they experience around them. Many others say there is something in them, something "more" about life they are called to know beyond what they experience. It's like if you have a child. You can say you love your child and focus more on your family and experience you have now.

Or you can go beyond that, and connect with your love for your child. Ponder in how that parent and child connection is something if broken would actually kill you. That emphasis and connection, the source of it, is what people call god.

As for worshiping it, that is purely culture. Some parents would like their youth to respect them by bowing. Americans are more "eye-to-eye" approach of respect. Children in both cases are expected to help their parents. The reasoning behind this is the connection and love as the source (aka god) with whom these actions (worship rituals) are based on.

I'm sure you can kinda understand that when put in a parent/child perspective?

It's basically no simpler than that. I agree with you that we don't understand worshiping a mystery anthropomorphize as a deity. But that's just concept. Beyond that, they are just making love a higher value and control over their life. Through which, worship (practice of gratitude) within and act of this love becomes the cornerstone of their life. They live in love.

God is love.

Without the cultural jargon, it's pretty easy to understand. Maybe you're hooked on the jargon?
 

ChristineM

"Be strong", I whispered to my coffee.
Premium Member
So, why is there something rather than nothing? "God" is of course not an answer to the question, since asserting the existence of God only raises the same question (where did God come from?). As it turns out, the question produces a paradox, since any attempted explanation produces the same problem. As for me, I am content to say that there does not have to be a reason anything exists. I would assert that the universe exists, and that's all we can know. Any attempted explanation only raises the same questions again.

Rather than there not having to be a reason i prefer to think we just don't know the reason... Yet.

Of all the hypothetical reasons, clashing membranes, spawning universes, vacuum bubbles, colliding universes, dimensional anomalies etc they all have something to their merit, good mathematical probability or observed artifacts in this universe. There is not one hypothesis that holds water that says a god did it.
 

Rational Agnostic

Well-Known Member
Rather than there not having to be a reason i prefer to think we just don't know the reason... Yet.

Of all the hypothetical reasons, clashing membranes, spawning universes, vacuum bubbles, colliding universes, dimensional anomalies etc they all have something to their merit, good mathematical probability or observed artifacts in this universe. There is not one hypothesis that holds water that says a god did it.

No disrespect intended, but I think you misunderstood the point a bit. As far as I can tell, any answer to the question "why is there something rather than nothing" is actually not an answer, because it raises the question again. So because of this, perhaps asking WHY is the wrong question to ask because there is no reason.
 

Rational Agnostic

Well-Known Member
Which is why people say that to try to understand God with the rational mind, inevitably leads to unresolvable paradox. That's where faith comes in. It doesn't need to solve the paradox. It's the same conclusion you came to.

Yes, that's the point. But why posit a God when God clearly doesn't answer the question posed? You say that God is self-explanatory and I say the universe is self-explanatory. The difference is that you attempted to answer a question with an answer that doesn't even answer the question.
 

ChristineM

"Be strong", I whispered to my coffee.
Premium Member
No disrespect intended, but I think you misunderstood the point a bit. As far as I can tell, any answer to the question "why is there something rather than nothing" is actually not an answer, because it raises the question again. So because of this, perhaps asking WHY is the wrong question to ask because there is no reason.

We know of no reason does not mean there is no reason.
 
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Windwalker

Veteran Member
Premium Member
Yes, that's the point. But why posit a God when God clearly doesn't answer the question posed? You say that God is self-explanatory and I say the universe is self-explanatory.
I did not say those words. That wouldn't make any sense to what I said. If God is beyond rationality, then how can that be "self-explanatory"? What is explained? If it's self-explanatory, why faith then? There's no mystery.

The difference is that you attempted to answer a question with an answer that doesn't even answer the question.
I did no such thing. What I said means you go beyond looking to answer a question. You accept the Mystery. That is not answering a question. The "answer" is there is no "answer".
 
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