When considering whether or not there is a creator or origin of the universe, there are really just 4 options, even though most people only think of 3. They are:
- The universe has no origin because it has always been.
- The universe has no origin because it originated itself.
- The universe has an origin that has similar traits to the originated but is an upgrade from what we are able to witness or experience, such as a supreme being or that we are living in a simulation.
- The universe has an origin that has no traits comparable to the originated, which would be zero finite attributes.
Which one do you think is true? Is it the one that makes the most sense to you? Do you have an option that doesn’t fit into one of these 4 categories? For me, the answer is pretty obvious, but I think it would be more interesting to explore each of them.
The Universe Has Always Been
The argument for an eternal universe seems logical on the surface, thanks to the mathematical concept of infinity and the law of conservation of matter and energy. There are two things to consider that could expose such a conclusion as flawed, fallacious, or false once we dig deeper.
Let’s take a closer look at infinity. In math, it is measurable and can go on indefinitely. That is not the same as immeasurable and without beginning or end. Many times, people conflate potential infinity with actual infinity because both use the word “infinity” and are considered limitless.
Set theory is an example of such conflation. No collection of finite traits can be truly infinite; to claim otherwise is a logical contradiction, not a subtle distinction. Wordplay and appeals to authority would be attempts to use logical fallacies to defend logical fallacies. Infinity can never be reached by accumulation because it is a distinct and completely unbounded concept.
It is important to remember the law of non-contradiction. Something cannot be measurable without having a beginning or an end. Why? Because measurement begins and ends. While measurement itself depends on at least one witness, the traits being measured are independent of any onlooker.
If there comes a point at which something measurable becomes immeasurable, that point marks the end of what was being measured. If there is no such change, the entirety of anything that has potential infinity is measurable. That includes the things we need for existence and cognition, like space, time, matter, and energy.
Of course, the law of conservation seems to confirm that the universe is eternal, despite the contradiction. Have you considered what evidence we have that matter and energy cannot be created or destroyed? It is the same evidence that shows neither matter nor energy can create or destroy. Of these two conclusions, only one is free from contradiction: matter and energy have no ability to create or destroy.
The Universe Created Itself
It is the non-contradictory interpretation of the evidence leading to the law of conservation that debunks the idea of the universe creating itself: There is no detectable reality with the power to create or destroy. If you want to use the fact that we are not omniscient to keep a gap in knowledge open for the existence of a contradiction, we cannot even speculate on the characteristics of what we would be looking for.
Besides, something must exist in order to do anything. That makes self-creation impossible, or at the very least, an illogical supposition. Any argument against logic is oxymoronic or contradictory in nature because it would be an attempt to use logic to invalidate itself while being logical. Would such mental gymnastics be worth the effort if the results are faulty conclusions or no certain conclusion at all?
The Universe Has a Creator with Finite Traits
The rational conclusion is that the universe has an origin. Whether you believe there is a supreme being or that we are living in a simulated universe, neither can explain the universal origin because they would both be finite. While finite things can produce and/or reproduce, they require a beginning of their own, which eliminates them from being the penultimate origin.
I understand the intellectual appeal they both possess, especially for those accustomed to personifying anything superior to us. Creating implies acting, and our control over computer simulations opens the possibility that superior beings could be doing the same with us.
The problem is that neither theory provides any practical answers. The theory of a simulated universe provides no insight into the simulators’ traits. Any supreme being would have finite traits, so He, She, It, or They would require an origin for the same reason the universe requires one. Besides, a creator with traits like the created, no matter how upgraded they are, would be a contradiction.
That’s not to say it is impossible for there to be a simulation or superior beings. Unless they reveal themselves, we will never know. If a supreme being or beings actually exists, He, She, It, or They would tell you that they are not the Creator, and only the Creator deserves worship.
The Universe Has a Creator with No Finite Traits
The only way there could be an origin for the finite is if that said origin has zero finite traits. Such a conclusion is internally consistent and doesn’t contradict anything else we have a logical sound reason to believe:
The law of non-contradiction makes it impossible for the infinite to have any finite traits. The fact that every measurement or count begins with none works as observable and repeatable evidence that the existence of the countable presupposes the existence of the uncountable. Zero’s role as math’s foundational reference point gives us a working example of this concept within our most objective system for describing reality.
Conclusion and Analogical Summary
The idea of an eternal universe goes against our ability to measure. The idea of a self-creating universe is impossible because something must exist in order to do anything. The idea of a creator described in the same terms as creation contradicts the very premise of a creator.
Based on the information we can gather, the logical conclusion is that everything finite has an origin that is not finite. While the lack of finite attributes would lead people to believe it is impossible to know if there is an origin or understand It, if It exists, zero’s necessity and role as math’s foundational reference point provide answers where we assumed there could only be mystery.
I’ve summed up the logic and conclusion with the analogy: God is to reality what zero is to math. Unfortunately, people tend to hold rigidly to the idea that God must be a being or that a concept cannot relate to reality because we discovered it.
A god is an object of worship. Those who think there can only be one true God believe it must be the Creator of all. The tendency to imagine the unseen and to personify the powerful leads people to assume God is a being of some sort. The analogy avoids such contradictory thinking.
Zero is a concept that describes reality, just like all numbers do. Claiming there is a reality they must describe is not saying they are real, as in a part of the physical reality. To pretend zero as the foundation of math cannot represent something real because we can have no physical example is a case of special pleading and implies the foundation of our most objective system of describing reality is fictional.
God is to reality what zero is to math: the Origin of all that is finite, which has no finite traits and is the only reality worthy of worship, can be understood by recognizing how the reality is like zero’s role in math, as the foundational reference point. Any other interpretation misunderstands the claim.
Why would you or anyone want to misinterpret what I’m saying? Recognizing the connection between the foundation of math and the reality it objectively describes eliminates every schism and contradiction within theology. To remain confused in the face of such clarity reveals that you were never seeking the truth. You really want the freedom to invent without repercussions.
Explore the unseen constant at the foundation of math, and you will find God. Apply what you learn to reality, and you will find peace. God is to reality what zero is to math.
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