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26 November 2012

is the universe infinite?

This will be short.

In my Time, Space, and Material arguments for the existence of God I pose a dichotomy between two different ways the world could be: either it's infinite or it's not. Either ways I suggest God must exist. However, I never came to a conclusion about which way the universe probably is. In fact, I really had no opinion at the time. However, I've been gradually leaning one way. Today, I found another piece of evidence to support my speculation.

Jeremiah 31:37 "Only if the heavens above can be measured and the foundations of the earth below be searched out will I reject all the descendants of Israel because of all they have done, declares the Lord."
First of all, it's pretty clear that God is assuming that the heavens and earth cannot be measured. On the surface, this implies that they're infinite. However, he may just be saying that we humans can't measure the sky and earth. I mean, even now we can't, and if space is expanding at the speed of light we never will be able to. This is probably the case, but it's possible it implies the universe is infinite, so I lean in that direction.

Another point is that I think God wouldn't make things limited because then we might reach the end. Suppose space was only a couple hundred light years across. If we got to the edge we'd be confused, end up categorizing all of space, and just sit on our haunches waiting for the rest of time until God came back. Such a finish might point too strongly to God and make the choice of believing in him no longer very free. We'd just all assume it and not truly believe in him, or invent other Gods who made the universe (think ancient religious explanations of the sun and moon).

Anyway, I'm leaning towards an infinite universe.
This does NOT mean all the things listed under Futility of the Finite are true. If God made the universe he can make earth the only place that has human beings.

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