[PatrickHenry]

Thank you for one of your always thought-provoking posts. I readily admit that I'm not up to speed on string theory. However, until I'm hit in the face with a solid pie of data and argument that I find convincing, I'll stick with my position that there is no privileged vantage point from which one can be, as it were, exempt from time and yet observe all of the things which occur in time.

I have no problem with the notion that the instant of the big bang was the start of time (whatever that means), at least as a practical matter. That doesn't mean -- to me -- that such a place exists now from which some privileged observer can watch over all the centuries. It may be good theology to posit such a state of affairs, but at this stage of my knowledge (scanty) I just don't see it as a scientific possibility. But I'm open to persuasion.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you so much for your reply!

I readily admit that I'm not up to speed on string theory. However, until I'm hit in the face with a solid pie of data and argument that I find convincing, I'll stick with my position that there is no privileged vantage point from which one can be, as it were, exempt from time and yet observe all of the things which occur in time.

As you wish, PatrickHenry! But I very strongly suspect you will survive me, so please mark your calendar for this prediction:

That the work of Cumrun Vafa and/or his associates will provide the mathematical (geometric physics) explanation for the properties of dark energy as have been observed and are currently being studied by astronomers, physicists and cosmologists - that string theory, specifically duality, will be the key and thus the extra time dimension will become as widely accepted as inflationary theory to explain the observable acceleration of the universe.

My two cents...