QW, what do you specifically mean by "always existed"? (and apologies if you have already stated previously...).
I ask as "always" surely refers to the passage of time, and if there truly was no passing of time prior to t=0, i.e that time itself was created at that point, then "always" begins at t=0.
So to me "always existed" only has meaning while time passes, and thus a "something from nothing" universe could also be said to have "always existed".
To conclude that they are distinct one must assume that there was a state preceding t=0 where time also passed, which I understand is what you probably imply with the "always existed", so really I'm probably just pointing out that the description of "always existed" could be considered ambiguous.
Or maybe it's just me.
Similarly, "God did it", and I think this view has been suggested previously, might merely be seen as an explanation that doesn't quite go back far enough... i.e. either God has always existed and thus the full answer would be "always existed" or God was caused from nothing, and thus the answer would be "something from nothing"... At least as far as the larger universe is concerned (I.e. The universe from which our own arose).
I ask as "always" surely refers to the passage of time, and if there truly was no passing of time prior to t=0, i.e that time itself was created at that point, then "always" begins at t=0.
So to me "always existed" only has meaning while time passes, and thus a "something from nothing" universe could also be said to have "always existed".
To conclude that they are distinct one must assume that there was a state preceding t=0 where time also passed, which I understand is what you probably imply with the "always existed", so really I'm probably just pointing out that the description of "always existed" could be considered ambiguous.
Or maybe it's just me.
Similarly, "God did it", and I think this view has been suggested previously, might merely be seen as an explanation that doesn't quite go back far enough... i.e. either God has always existed and thus the full answer would be "always existed" or God was caused from nothing, and thus the answer would be "something from nothing"... At least as far as the larger universe is concerned (I.e. The universe from which our own arose).