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While in the popular mind, '''eternity''' often simply means existing for an [[infinity|infinite]], i.e., limitless, amount of [[time]], many have used it to refer to a timeless existence altogether '''outside of time'''.  There are a number of [[arguments for eternity]], by which proponents of the concept, principally [[Aristotle]], purported to prove that matter, motion, and time must have existed eternally.   

 

While in the popular mind, '''eternity''' often simply means existing for an [[infinite]], i.e., limitless, amount of [[time]], many have used it to refer to a timeless existence altogether '''outside of time'''.  There are a number of [[arguments for eternity]], by which proponents of the concept, principally [[Aristotle]], purported to prove that matter, motion, and time must have existed eternally.   

==Eternity as a timeless existence==

==Eternity as a timeless existence==

[[Augustine of Hippo]] wrote that time exists only within the created universe, so that God exists outside of time; for [[God]] there is no past or future, but only an eternal present.  One need not believe in God in order to hold this concept of eternity: for example, an atheist mathematician can maintain the philosophical tenet that numbers and the relationships among them exist outside of time, and so are in that sense eternal.

[[Augustine of Hippo]] wrote that time exists only within the created universe, so that God exists outside of time; for [[God]] there is no past or future, but only an eternal present.  One need not believe in God in order to hold this concept of eternity: for example, an atheist mathematician can maintain the philosophical tenet that numbers and the relationships among them exist outside of time, and so are in that sense eternal.

 

[[Near-death experience]] testimonies typically speak of eternity as a timeless existence by stating that portions of experiences in the eternal world lasted, say, "an hour or a month, I don't know.  There was no time."

[[Near-death experience]] testimonies typically speak of eternity as a timeless existence by stating that portions of experiences in the eternal world lasted, say, "an hour or a month, I don't know.  There was no time."{{Who|date=July 2007}}

<center>For lessons on the [[topic]] of '''''Eternity''''', follow [http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Eternity this link].</center>

 

Another facet of eternity is that it is permanent in some aspects. Supposing we are in a state of eternity; a [[person]] could not break a [[pencil]] in two, or walk from a place to another since those actions have a before and an after: a [[time]] in which the pencil was whole and a time in which it no longer was. These changes correspond to time. Basically nothing can happen in eternity in the sense we understand it. In order for actions to happen, there must be a tense that corresponds to a continuing action: a tense in which past, present, and future are combined to form a continual action. One doesn't break the pencil, but one broke the pencil, breaks the pencil, and will break the pencil all at the same instant.

Another facet of eternity is that it is permanent in some aspects. Supposing we are in a state of eternity; a [[person]] could not break a [[pencil]] in two, or walk from a place to another since those actions have a before and an after: a [[time]] in which the pencil was whole and a time in which it no longer was. These changes correspond to time. Basically nothing can happen in eternity in the sense we understand it. In order for actions to happen, there must be a tense that corresponds to a continuing action: a tense in which past, present, and future are combined to form a continual action. One doesn't break the pencil, but one broke the pencil, breaks the pencil, and will break the pencil all at the same instant.

It is also equally possible that God can choose not to exist as he is all powerful, but eternity does not have this choice. After God there may be "nothing", and God himself will be powerless to prevent this so the state of "nothing" may remain forever. This is the very idea of eternity, where a state of series of events or motion or matter will continue in some way or another. This aspect of God and eternity leads to the human mind assuming that both are completely separate entities, and God himself is bound by the rules of eternity.  There are no examples of this, and there never will be. Both entities in this aspect are beyond the "finite" capabilities of the human mind as mentioned above. It cannot be proven or unproven, for if it happened there would be no life or device to document this.

It is also equally possible that God can choose not to exist as he is all powerful, but eternity does not have this choice. After God there may be "nothing", and God himself will be powerless to prevent this so the state of "nothing" may remain forever. This is the very idea of eternity, where a state of series of events or motion or matter will continue in some way or another. This aspect of God and eternity leads to the human mind assuming that both are completely separate entities, and God himself is bound by the rules of eternity.  There are no examples of this, and there never will be. Both entities in this aspect are beyond the "finite" capabilities of the human mind as mentioned above. It cannot be proven or unproven, for if it happened there would be no life or device to document this.

== Science and eternity ==

== Science and eternity ==

Opposite to the cosmic level, in the quantum world, the smallest distance that makes sense is the [[Planck length]]; at this level space-time itself becomes extremely distorted ([[quantum foam]]). Here the uncertainty principle allows particles and energy to briefly come into existence, and then annihilate, without violating conservation laws . Beyond the [[Planck time]] (1.855×10⁴³), time itself as we know it is meaningless.

Opposite to the cosmic level, in the quantum world, the smallest distance that makes sense is the [[Planck length]]; at this level space-time itself becomes extremely distorted ([[quantum foam]]). Here the uncertainty principle allows particles and energy to briefly come into existence, and then annihilate, without violating conservation laws . Beyond the [[Planck time]] (1.855×10⁴³), time itself as we know it is meaningless.

{{quotation|''One finds that time just disappears from the [[Wheeler-deWitt equation]], it is an issue that many theorists have puzzled about. It may be that the best way to think about quantum reality is to give up the notion of time - that the fundamental description of the universe must be timeless.'' Carlo Rovelli, physicist, University of the Mediterranean in Marseille, France. <ref>article Time May Not Exist, http://discovermagazine.com/2007/jun/in-no-time?</ref>

{{quotation|''One finds that time just disappears from the [[Wheeler-deWitt equation]], it is an issue that many theorists have puzzled about. It may be that the best way to think about quantum reality is to give up the notion of time - that the fundamental description of the universe must be timeless.'' Carlo Rovelli, physicist, University of the Mediterranean in Marseille, France. [http://discovermagazine.com/2007/jun/in-no-time Time May Not Exist]?

== Symbolism and eternity ==

== Symbolism and eternity ==

There is a folk story where a wise shepherd boy is brought to a king to answer three questions. The third question he is asked to answer is "How many seconds are in eternity?" The boy responds by telling the king there is a mountain that is one hour deep, one hour long, and one hour wide. It is comprised entirely of diamond and every century a little bird comes to sharpen its beak on the mountain. The boy tells the king that when the mountain is entirely worn down one second of eternity will have passed.

There is a folk story where a wise shepherd boy is brought to a king to answer three questions. The third question he is asked to answer is "How many seconds are in eternity?" The boy responds by telling the king there is a mountain that is one hour deep, one hour long, and one hour wide. It is comprised entirely of diamond and every century a little bird comes to sharpen its beak on the mountain. The boy tells the king that when the mountain is entirely worn down one second of eternity will have passed.

 

==Quote==

== See also ==

The ''progression of eternity'' does not consist solely in [[spiritual]] development. [[Intellectual]] acquisition is also a part of universal [[education]]. The [[experience]] of the mind is broadened equally with the expansion of the spiritual horizon. Mind and [[spirit]] are afforded like opportunities for training and advancement.[http://mercy.urantia.org/cgi-bin/webglimpse/mfs/usr/local/www/data/papers?link=http://mercy.urantia.org/papers/paper37.html&file=/usr/local/www/data/papers/paper37.html&line=122#mfs]

 

* [[Eternal return]]

* [[Pantheism]]

* [[Presentism (philosophy of time)|Presentism]]

* [[Steady-state universe]]

* [[Theory of everything]]

* [[Theory of everything (philosophy)|Theory of everything]] (philosophy)

* [[Teleology]]

* [[Perennial philosophy]]

* [[Eternalist]]

[[Category: General Reference]]

[[Category: General Reference]]