Your questions ask "why" things are the way they are, and I bet everybody would like to know the answers to them. I know I would. Unfortunately, science deals more with the "how" of the ways of the universe: How gravity and reproduction work, for example, instead of why. Science is based on observation -- specific recordings that can be made with the assistance of the five senses (and maybe mechanical help for measuring certain things beyond the scope of human detection). Because of this, science cannot make any claims as to why certain physical laws function the way they do. The nature of that kind of question requires that a witness was present (or a legitimate record exists from) when those laws were instituted.

Basically, answering "why" questions involves a lot of backtracking. For example: Why does gravity exist? Well, because all objects possess the inherent trait of attraction to one another. But why do they possess that trait? Because it's a scientific law? Because they were made that way? Because that's just the way it is? Because *insert name here* said so? Um, yeah.

The logical jumping jacks required to answer a "why" question of the universe are pretty much road blocks to any kind of definitive answers. Science, while a great way to explore the world we live in, just doesn't account for the meaning, purpose, or reason *for* the world we live in. Finding the answers to those is a job for a very different art. Religion handles that, actually, or philosophy, or just plain theorizing: whatever you want to call it. This is finding an explanation for the "why" questions by searching beyond the constraints of the five senses and traditional science.

Christians (well, members of other religions too, but I don't know as much about them) have a Bible which purports to be an account of the creation of the universe. The Bible contains and implies answers to the "why" questions of the way everything works, though the legitimacy of those answers is up to the beliefs of the individual. Other ideas exist too, of course, like the "scientific" theories that aren't really scientific at all. Like the Big Bang theory, which attempts to explain the origin of the universe but still doesn't answer any key "why" questions: after all, where did the original superdense particle come from prior to the Big Bang? Not to mention that the theory is not scientific by any means, but rather is just a hypothesis that will likely remain unproveable forever. Sorry for sounding snide, but that particular theory seems a little preposterous to me because it is based on so much raw, illogical, uninspired speculation. Also, its heavy reliance on faith makes it a true religion, despite heavy protests from all its proponents that it's NOT. But I digress...

Anyway, I'm rambling. This was a stream-of-consciousness post and I don't even remember what my point was. Oh yeah, "why" questions are pretty much unanswerable by anyone, especially scientists. Religions can attempt to answer them, but invite a lot of skepticism by their very nature. I guarantee that every one of your questions has a definitive, black-and-white answer. Everything has a reason; every effect has a cause. No doubt about that. The problem is, nobody knows those answers for sure. Even if somebody did, he'd likely be shut up quickly by members of another religion/group/sect/laboratory/whatever and it would be very difficult for anyone to believe him in the midst of all the dissent. Deep thinking is tough to do when each person is *positive* that HE'S right and YOU'RE wrong. Progress in any direction at all is next to impossible, especially in this modern politically correct society where everyone takes offense to anything they don't agree with. It's called "being wrong," and I think everybody should try it at least once. Humble pie is very healthy, and stuck-up people just rub me the wrong way sometimes. Anyway, I'm off-topic again.

I wish you luck, Eric, in your quest to find the answers to these tough "why" questions, and if all goes well you'll be able to find solutions that you're at least comfortable with. It's great to know what you believe, regardless of what it is, because then you can start to see just where you belong in this big world. It sure beats just existing in apathy, living until you die without giving a thought to higher things or these all-important "why" questions. I'll shut up now, because I don't want to get another religious debate going on the forum. We've all had enough of that for a while, I think... I just hope it's not too late to avoid it now. Ah well, I'm such a ruckus bringer. :-)

-useless"No, I'm not a science major -- just an avid thinker"ness