[_ Old Earth _] where does the universe end?

[Gabe]

A question i alway seem to find myself discussing with freinds. Does it have an end (and if so:what's outside) or is it infinite? Probably a silly question but i find both concepts hard to get my head around. Are there any scientific views regarding this and/or what are your own views?

 

[John]

I think there is much out there always getting bigger, God has an infinite canvas.

 

[Barbarian]

The best guess is that the universe is limited in size, but without a boundary. Think of the surface of the Earth as a two-dimensional analog. It's got a limited size, but no boundaries, since it folds back on itself.

The universe seems to be like that, only in three dimensions.

 

[platos_cave]

The best guess is that the universe is limited in size, but without a boundary. Think of the surface of the Earth as a two-dimensional analog. It's got a limited size, but no boundaries, since it folds back on itself.

The universe seems to be like that, only in three dimensions.

Pretty sure that was the best guess 20 or 30 years ago. Current cosmology has expanded the "universe" outside of our "observable" little bubble and given it an infinite status.

 

[Gabe]

Hi Platos, do you know what the reasoning is behind the shift in opinion?

 

[platos_cave]

Hi Platos, do you know what the reasoning is behind the shift in opinion?

From what I can tell it's the provision of better explanations. Of course, there are many different cosmological models regarding pre-big bang states (and regarding big bang states!), but the old Inflationary Models are just that, old.

 

[Paidion]

Current cosmology has expanded the "universe" outside of our "observable" little bubble and given it an infinite status.

I think virtually all astronomers believe in a finite Universe. I have heard it said that if the Universe were infinite, the entire night sky would be lit up with solid light.

 

[platos_cave]

I think virtually all astronomers believe in a finite Universe. I have heard it said that if the Universe were infinite, the entire night sky would be lit up with solid light.

You heard right, regarding the concepts regarding our own universe, but that doesn't much affect the concept of a multiverse, or meta-universe.

You would be wrong if you stated virtually all astronomers believe in a finite meta-universe.

 

[VaultZero4Me]

The term universe can mean a couple of things, but is usually short hand for the observable universe. The observable universe is finite in the number of stars and distance across.

There are models with an infinite universe.

 

[Free]

I have heard it said that if the Universe were infinite, the entire night sky would be lit up with solid light.

I don't think that would necessarily be the case since the light of those stars which are infinitely far from Earth would take an infinite amount of time to reach us, so we would never see it.

 

[Rick W]

So atheists can believe in something unobservable?
interesting

 

[VaultZero4Me]

So atheists can believe in something unobservable?
interesting

Again, observing something does not mean actually seeing it with your own eyes. You can observe things indirectly.

No one claims that other unvierses exist outside of our own with any surety. They are just a few possible consequences of other theories they are working on, in particular string theory.

Technically, these alternate universes would not exist for us because we would be unable to have any effect on each other, nor be able to measure them.

 

[Paidion]

I don't think that would necessarily be the case since the light of those stars which are infinitely far from Earth would take an infinite amount of time to reach us, so we would never see it.

What is the meaning of Object A being an infininite distance from Object B?

To my mind, such a concept is meaningless. Otherwise object A does not exist with respect to object B, or vice versa.

 

[VaultZero4Me]

I don't think that would necessarily be the case since the light of those stars which are infinitely far from Earth would take an infinite amount of time to reach us, so we would never see it.

What is the meaning of Object A being an infininite distance from Object B?

To my mind, such a concept is meaningless. Otherwise object A does not exist with respect to object B, or vice versa.

It means that with respect to each other, they do not exist, but they may be a consequence of another theory. You would not be able to scientifically verify the existence through observational means.

 

[Paidion]

It means that with respect to each other, they do not exist, but they may be a consequence of another theory. You would not be able to scientifically verify the existence through observational means.

Hmmmm... According to this thought, maybe God is an infinite distance from the earth.

 

[platos_cave]

It means that with respect to each other, they do not exist, but they may be a consequence of another theory. You would not be able to scientifically verify the existence through observational means.

Hmmmm... According to this thought, maybe God is an infinite distance from the earth.

wouldn't that require God to be a part of space?

 

[VaultZero4Me]

It means that with respect to each other, they do not exist, but they may be a consequence of another theory. You would not be able to scientifically verify the existence through observational means.

Hmmmm... According to this thought, maybe God is an infinite distance from the earth.

He can not be omnipresent and infinitely removed at the same time.

 

[researcher]

A question i alway seem to find myself discussing with freinds. Does it have an end (and if so:what's outside) or is it infinite? Probably a silly question but i find both concepts hard to get my head around. Are there any scientific views regarding this and/or what are your own views?

Dunno. Maybe it ends at the water above the heavens (sky, space etc).

Psa 148:4 Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, And ye waters that are above the heavens.

Unless that is a figurative verse where "waters" means "people" like in Revelation

"The waters which thou sawest,... are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues." Rev 17:15

 

[Godbless]

A question i alway seem to find myself discussing with freinds. Does it have an end (and if so:what's outside) or is it infinite? Probably a silly question but i find both concepts hard to get my head around. Are there any scientific views regarding this and/or what are your own views?

Hi Gabriel
I believe the outer perimeter is were God dwells, but not surreptitious to one internal abode (unverse/cell)but countless universes/cells always expanding through His intent.