How about this.
Beginning of life? Abiogenesis.
Beginning of matter? Higher dimensional branes.
Beginning of religion? Primitive nature worship.

It goes like this:
The first law of thermodynamics says matter/energy cannot come from nothing. Therefore, the universe itself could not have formed naturally.

The response:
Formation of the universe from nothing need not violate conservation of energy. The gravitational potential energy of a gravitational field is a negative energy. When all the gravitational potential energy is added to all the other energy in the universe, it might sum to zero (Guth 1997, 9-12,271-276; Tryon 1973).

By the way according to Einstein’s equation e=mc^2 matter and energy are interchangeable. Matter can come from energy and visa versa.

Just a little science lesson for you.

I just discovered this site today (linked to it from Jhuber), and have been having a blast. I’m on your side, believe me, but I think the kid might actually have won that one.(if he’s really a kid)

A lot of people in this thread seem to be unfamiliar with the scientific method: Observe, present an explaination for the observation, then try to prove the explanation WRONG. If proven wrong, modify the explanation and try to prove it wrong again.

I know that’s not the best explanation (I’m no scientist), but my point is, science never has attempted to prove anything RIGHT. Only wrong. Check into this and you’ll see I’m right. Just don’t expect me to prove it.

I’ve had this discussion recently with a JW at my door. The problem is that these people equate atheism to just another belief system, when in fact the opposite is true. They assume that you have your own set of beliefs, and because you cannot answer the same questions they’re asking in their own heads, that your beliefs are are just as valid or invalid as their own. It’s apples and oranges, but they’re just seeing apples.

The answer I gave that shut down the argument was ‘I don’t know. Nobody actually knows for sure, and nobody is saying that they do either. We’re just monkeys really, and may never know that answer - and that’s OK. The Big Bang theory really is just a theory, but it’s not the definitive answer - we’re still working on it. But at least we’re still asking questions. It’s possible that the Big Bang theory will be viewed in the same light as a flat earth in 100 years, but that will only be because we never stopped questioning it. That is far different from the arrogance of assuming you, as a lowly carbon life form on a speck of dust in the universe have the actual answer. I believe only in looking for the answer, not that I already have it.’

Religion is an arrogant, lazy way to give up the essence of life, which is to live and grow and make the world a better place. Why try to make things better when God already took care of it? By believing ‘God did it’, you are skipping the best part of life; the journey.

FYI, the JW at the door gave up after w little while and decided to leave (I had invited him in). I wish we had more holy rollers at the door, they’re fun!

The human fallacy from fearful ignorance is to think that an all powerful superhuman and his sacred begotten son is controling the universe and keeping track of everyone’s wicked souls.

The good news is, that we now know from the invention of the microscope that diseases are caused by bacteria, germs, microbes and parasites and not caused by demons, evil spirits and witch spells and are curable with scientific medicines and not cured through prayer and wishful thinking.

Also we now know that the (heart) is not the center of all thought and emotion and that the heart does not have ears, get heavy, cry or weep, nor can anyone speak to a god throught their heart.

We also now know that the earth is not flat and that the earth is not at the center of the universe, we also know there exist over 125 billion galaxies similar to our own with a high probability of human life out there too, and I’m sure with their own ignorant beliefs also.

Isn’t it about time we abolish 2000 year old thinking?

Before worrying about science Brian would be better off first verifying if there is a creator and then which creator is the genuine one - one should lead to the other.

I keep responding because I see the same questions he’s asking were ones I asked myself at his age. I’ll end it here though.