Probably even less satisfying to most folks would be the thought that the universe has simply always existed, and always will. No beginning, no end -- it's just here (something we already know as fact). It's, by far, the simplest explanation, but people need to know the how and why.
We are less than ants in regards to our understanding of the universe, yet we try to act like we do understand it with undeserved arrogance.
Agree completely. I said recently in another thread that we aren't even out of our infancy yet when it comes to technology and understanding the universe.
Much easier to comprehend a “without end” than a “without beginning”. There has to be a first cause, or some derivative - but then what caused that?
However, I do sense the period of existence of the universe is near infinity on both sides of the equation.
There are 3 questions I call the big 3:
1. How did anything come into existence?
2. When does time begin?
3. How can there ever be an end boundary for either time or space?
As you ponder these questions they all lead toward infinity, which leads to infinite universes...and well...I don’t like to go there because it induces a headache. LOL.