Did you also learn Newtonian laws of Physics? If so, you can see that you might just be over simplifying your explanation.
I have no problem with a God who works within natural laws rather than circumventing them. Did God create everything out of nothing? He probably could have if He had wanted to. But perhaps matter and energy have always existed, just as God has.
The very existence of matter and energy begs the question "where did these things come from?".
Your statement confuses me somewhat. First you say that you have no problem with a God who works within natural laws, then you admit that God "probably" could have created Ex Nhilo if He had wanted to.
First, from a purely naturalistic view, your statement about the "laws" of thermodynamics is flawed (as well as the rest of the physical "laws"). Current Scientific thinking is that as the time elapsed from the "big bang" approaches zero, the "laws of physics" do not apply. Again, this is an argument from scientific theory only. If natural laws change it follows that God is not subject to them. Second: If you are honestly looking for a creation ex nhilo text in the bible, here it is:
Literal translation: All (things) through him became [came into existence], and apart (from) him came into existence not even one (thing) that came into existence and yet exists.
Wasn't it Julie Andrews who sang "Nothing comes from nothing. Nothing ever will..."?
i never was a big fan of Julie Andrews, though i saw "Mary Poppins" when it originally came out...now if you want to discuss the songs of Dar Williams or the late Kate Wolf, that is another matter
What i would really like to know is what you would consider as "proof"?
Ok wai ming. You stated that the article is flawed. You claim you can refute it. You wanted this debate. So, how about answering some of the questions we have posed?
Hmmm?
Wrong. The very existence of that QUESTION can only come from someone who HAS to think in terms of "beginning, middle, and end."
Our minds do not readily accept the concept of "eternity" or "infinity."
Even when we can "define" the words, or the mathematical constructs, most of us can't deal with something that has no beginning, middle and end.
Matter and energy are because they always WERE and they always WILL BE. Period.
Certainly gave me something more to think about.
The very existence of matter and energy begs the question "where did these things come from?".
As does the very existence of God. Where did He come from?
Your statement confuses me somewhat. First you say that you have no problem with a God who works within natural laws, then you admit that God "probably" could have created Ex Nhilo if He had wanted to.
Perhaps God made a choice between the two. Just because he "could have" done it a certain way, doesn't mean he actually did it that way.
Your scripture reference is a good one. Haven't seen that one before. I can see how it can be used in support of the ex nihilistic point of view. I will ponder it carefully.
What I really would like to know is what you would consider as proof?
After I have passed on, I will ask God how He did it. Until then, I will continue to ask questions and question answers.