I believe the answer to this question is ------by means of repeatable and verifiable evidence.
I would say that there is probably one supreme (or ultimate) principle of reality (or of existence). Where I would disagree with you is in your belief that the ultimate principle is a “Being” because once you personalize such a principle it is anthropomorphized in much the same way as the pagans personalized their gods. Additionally, the personalization of such a Being is not parsimonious. Your religion certainly proves this point. The several doctrines of your faith, in fact, demonstrate an extremely complex Deity.
The “big bang” is itself is a theorized concept based on repeatable and verifiable evidence The theory is consistent with observations of the past and present states of the universe; it is widely accepted within the scientific community as it offers a comprehensive explanation for a broad range of observed phenomena, including the abundance of light elements, the cosmic microwave background, large scale structure, and the Hubble diagram for certain supernova. These observations are themselves repeatable and verifiable and provide the basis for the theory.
OK. This is a different issue altogether. Your real question is what evidence is there for how the big bang occurred. You are not asserting that “the big bang” is evidence which defies repetition and verification. Instead, it appears you are now asking “why” did the big bang occur.
That is presently an unknown. Perhaps you are right. Perhaps you are not. It is simply unknown. Will it always be so? Once men thought humans could never fly. Once, people would have been considered lunatics if they opined that we could ever walk on the moon. This is a very bizarre cosmos that we are part of—never say never.
Post #575
A principle presupposes personal existence for at least two reasons. It implies insight into reality and it also unifies the different aspects of reality. It is not an abstraction in the sense you are using it but rational creative power. Nor is it anthropomorphic but ratiocentric - in contrast to the eccentric view of materialists who reduce existence to a heterogeneous set of fortuitous events which are valueless and purposeless (using their power of reason to demonstrate that reason itself is a freak of nature).
There is no reason to believe submicroscopic events are the source of truth, goodness, freedom, justice, beauty and love. Materialism is self-refuting.
False.
Belief in the power of reason is itself an act of faith because it cannot be based on thin air!
By a process of magical transformation - according to Darwin and his disciples.Tony
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There is no reason to believe submicroscopic events are the source of truth, goodness, freedom, justice, beauty and love. Materialism is self-refuting. **
Indeed! How can an atom know itself, its past, or its future?
For some reason you seem to be reacting defensively. Catholics and other Christians do not doubt the value of science, that is self-evident. All we are saying is that science itself accepts as self evident fact the underlying structure of reality with which Philosophy deals. I speak as a Thomist here. And that philosophical perspective helps understand the reasonableness of Faith. But certain, aggressive " scientists " step beyond the bounds of legitimate science to condemn philosophical reasoning, and claiming for itself the sole source of truth.
It would take a leap of faith to accept your statement since you haven’t provided any hard evidence to demonstrate it.
You just gave science first place in importance by bringing up Darwin and substituting your own “science”.
