Discussing "Nothing"

EarlJam · Post by **EarlJam** » November 24th, 2009, 10:40 pm

Okay folks, let me first assure you that I have been drinking and/or smoking nothing.

I got to thinking about the concept of "nothing" today. In short, no matter how small the smallest particle, it is still something and had to have a day one.............right? Also, it had to have a space to exist in and that space is, was, ............something.

No matter your spiritual beliefs, the concept of nothing, if focused on intensely has to be baffling. Anyone have any insight on this? in particular, it totally blows my mind that the very first piece of matter ever to exist (even if microscopic), had to have a "day one." And it had to have a space in which to exist. Imagine that space. If I ask you to imagine "nothingness" what do you see? Most people see nothing but white or black empty space. But that is still baffling because that white or black space is.....................something!

How is it even possible that we are here?

I am a Christian, but when I think of such matters it just, well, drives me a bit bonkers. At some point in history, something had to come from nothing. How is that possible? Perhaps I need a Valium.

Feedback? Please discuss.

-Let there be EarlJam

devildeac · Post by **devildeac** » November 24th, 2009, 10:50 pm

EarlJam wrote:Okay folks, let me first assure you that I have been drinking and/or smoking nothing.

I got to thinking about the concept of "nothing" today. In short, no matter how small the smallest particle, it is still something and had to have a day one.............right? Also, it had to have a space to exist in and that space is, was, ............something.

No matter your spiritual beliefs, the concept of nothing, if focused on intensely has to be baffling. Anyone have any insight on this? in particular, it totally blows my mind that the very first piece of matter ever to exist (even if microscopic), had to have a "day one." And it had to have a space in which to exist. Imagine that space. If I ask you to imagine "nothingness" what do you see? Most people see nothing but white or black empty space. But that is still baffling because that white or black space is.....................something!

How is it even possible that we are here?

I am a Christian, but when I think of such matters it just, well, drives me a bit bonkers. At some point in history, something had to come from nothing. How is that possible? Perhaps I need a Valium.

Feedback? Please discuss.

-Let there be EarlJam

.

devildeac · Post by **devildeac** » November 24th, 2009, 10:51 pm

devildeac wrote:
EarlJam wrote:Okay folks, let me first assure you that I have been drinking and/or smoking nothing.

I got to thinking about the concept of "nothing" today. In short, no matter how small the smallest particle, it is still something and had to have a day one.............right? Also, it had to have a space to exist in and that space is, was, ............something.

No matter your spiritual beliefs, the concept of nothing, if focused on intensely has to be baffling. Anyone have any insight on this? in particular, it totally blows my mind that the very first piece of matter ever to exist (even if microscopic), had to have a "day one." And it had to have a space in which to exist. Imagine that space. If I ask you to imagine "nothingness" what do you see? Most people see nothing but white or black empty space. But that is still baffling because that white or black space is.....................something!

How is it even possible that we are here?

I am a Christian, but when I think of such matters it just, well, drives me a bit bonkers. At some point in history, something had to come from nothing. How is that possible? Perhaps I need a Valium.

Feedback? Please discuss.

-Let there be EarlJam

.

As close as I could get.

Lavabe · Post by **Lavabe** » November 24th, 2009, 10:51 pm

EarlJam wrote:How is it even possible that we are here?

It beats the alternative.

Very Duke Blue · Post by **Very Duke Blue** » November 24th, 2009, 10:53 pm

OMG, too late this night to even ponder. i'm not sure I can even go there. My husband has a book you may wont to read. I'll find out the title and author and get this to you.

EarlJam · Post by **EarlJam** » November 24th, 2009, 11:12 pm

Very Duke Blue wrote:OMG, too late this night to even ponder. i'm not sure I can even go there. My husband has a book you may wont to read. I'll find out the title and author and get this to you.

That would be awesome, thanks! I would love to read a recommended book on this topic.

-EJ

TillyGalore · Post by **TillyGalore** » November 25th, 2009, 7:41 am

EarlJam wrote:Okay folks, let me first assure you that I have been drinking and/or smoking nothing.

I got to thinking about the concept of "nothing" today. In short, no matter how small the smallest particle, it is still something and had to have a day one.............right? Also, it had to have a space to exist in and that space is, was, ............something.

No matter your spiritual beliefs, the concept of nothing, if focused on intensely has to be baffling. Anyone have any insight on this? in particular, it totally blows my mind that the very first piece of matter ever to exist (even if microscopic), had to have a "day one." And it had to have a space in which to exist. Imagine that space. If I ask you to imagine "nothingness" what do you see? Most people see nothing but white or black empty space. But that is still baffling because that white or black space is.....................something!

How is it even possible that we are here?

I am a Christian, but when I think of such matters it just, well, drives me a bit bonkers. At some point in history, something had to come from nothing. How is that possible? Perhaps I need a Valium.

Feedback? Please discuss.

-Let there be EarlJam

The very first particle, even microscopic, had to have a creator.

Miles · Post by **Miles** » November 25th, 2009, 8:43 am

The concept is baffling and tons of fun to read about and contemplate. If you really want to bend your mind, expand the thoughts to include time (spacetime). Time didn't exist before the universe was created either.

CameronBornAndBred · Post by **CameronBornAndBred** » November 25th, 2009, 9:19 am

devildeac wrote:
EarlJam wrote:Okay folks, let me first assure you that I have been drinking and/or smoking nothing.

I got to thinking about the concept of "nothing" today. In short, no matter how small the smallest particle, it is still something and had to have a day one.............right? Also, it had to have a space to exist in and that space is, was, ............something.

No matter your spiritual beliefs, the concept of nothing, if focused on intensely has to be baffling. Anyone have any insight on this? in particular, it totally blows my mind that the very first piece of matter ever to exist (even if microscopic), had to have a "day one." And it had to have a space in which to exist. Imagine that space. If I ask you to imagine "nothingness" what do you see? Most people see nothing but white or black empty space. But that is still baffling because that white or black space is.....................something!

How is it even possible that we are here?

I am a Christian, but when I think of such matters it just, well, drives me a bit bonkers. At some point in history, something had to come from nothing. How is that possible? Perhaps I need a Valium.

Feedback? Please discuss.

-Let there be EarlJam

.

CameronBornAndBred · Post by **CameronBornAndBred** » November 25th, 2009, 9:20 am

My head is not ready for quantum physics this morning yet.

DukeUsul · Post by **DukeUsul** » November 25th, 2009, 9:35 am

Speaking of trying to get quantum mechanics and general relativity to work well together, I recently read this article in Scientific Americanabout a new concept of gravity and spacetime. Horava gravity theory has an interesting effect, in essence it would indicate that the Big Bang was in fact a Big Bounce, where all the content in the universe collapsed down to a very small size and then exploded out again. Other theories suggest the same thing. So there might not have been nothing before the Big Bang. There might have always been something. Whatever "something" is. I guess I'd define "nothing" as the absence of all mass-energy. But even the perfect vacuum of spacetime has energy - it's a quantum foam of virtual particles popping into and out of existence.

Maybe I don't believe in "nothing?" I need to think about that.

Lavabe · Post by **Lavabe** » November 25th, 2009, 9:42 am

DukeUsul wrote:Maybe I don't believe in "nothing?" I need to think about that.

I believe the children are our future... ;)

Rolvix · Post by **Rolvix** » November 25th, 2009, 11:14 am

SPOILER ALERT!!!

-----
God
-----

cl15876 · Post by **cl15876** » November 25th, 2009, 1:39 pm

Lavabe wrote:
EarlJam wrote:How is it even possible that we are here?
It beats the alternative.

agree! ;)

cl15876 · Post by **cl15876** » November 25th, 2009, 1:42 pm

CameronBornAndBred wrote:My head is not ready for quantum physics this morning yet.

Along with VDB and CB&B. .... I am NOT ready to try and embrace this thought so I can formulate a comment! I just accept the unknown for what it is... and move ON! ;)

EarlJam · Post by **EarlJam** » November 25th, 2009, 3:18 pm

Lavabe wrote:
DukeUsul wrote:Maybe I don't believe in "nothing?" I need to think about that.
I believe the children are our future... ;)

Excellent!

By the way, a friend of mine and I were talking about those lyrics a few years ago. Whitney sings, "I BELIEVE the children are our future..."

Isn't that more of a fact vs. a belief? I mean, if the children are not our future, who are? Robots?

Anyway. Last time I saw Whitney Houston, she had lost so much weight she was almost down to..............nothing.

-EARLJAM

Lavabe · Post by **Lavabe** » November 25th, 2009, 8:11 pm

EarlJam wrote:Last time I saw Whitney Houston, she had lost so much weight she was almost down to..............nothing.

-EARLJAM

She was on Dancing With the Stars last night, and it was BAD (compared to what her voice was like in the 80's).

Post by **YmoBeThere** » November 25th, 2009, 8:16 pm

She's under the 30 year rule...

Devil in the Blue Dress · Post by **Devil in the Blue Dress** » November 25th, 2009, 8:58 pm

When you say nothing, do you mean absence of matter? Is this what Einstein meant by the formula for relativity?

I'll leave that thought hanging there while I go bake those fine brownies for tomorrow's Thanksgiving gathering.

OZZIE4DUKE · Post by **OZZIE4DUKE** » November 26th, 2009, 8:15 am

I think the Big Guy said it best, when he told Moses

I am that I am

and the first corollary

It is that it is

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