There seem to be only two possibilities:

1. From "something" that has always existed.
2. From nothing.

I believe #2 is a grossly inadequate explanation. To derive everything from nothing is literally the most absurd hypothesis ever proposed (ab-surd =without a surd). I'm interested to know whether anyone thinks it is true.

If #1 is true we have to decide what that "something" is. My own view is that it must be a source of energy more powerful than anything we know. What do you think?

Two words:
BIG BANG!

Two words:
BIG BANG !!
The Big Bang theory does not explain what produced the Big Bang nor does it explain consciousness. :confused:

If someone offers an answer, you have to ask how they could possibly know.

Responses similar to 2) are no answer at all, since the "something that always existed" is presumably part of the "everything" the question is asking about.

Philosophically, and mathematically, you have to examine whether by "eternal" you simply mean something that exists at every point along an infinite uni-dimensional time line or if there is some other way of begin eternal, outside of time.

I can't edit my answer? Oh, well. By 2) I meant 1). In future, I'll have to be more careful to keep the item I'm responding to visible.

I can't edit my answer? Oh, well. By 2) I meant 1). In future, I'll have to be more carefull to keep the item I'm responding to visible.

You can edit, Jim. You have a choice of rating, editing or quoting :)

If someone offers an answer, you have to ask how they could possibly know.

Responses similar to 2) are no answer at all, since the "something that always existed" is presumably part of the "everything" the question is asking about.

Philosophically, and mathematically, you have to examine whether by "eternal" you simply mean something that exists at every point along an infinite uni-dimensional time line or if there is some other way of begin eternal, outside of time.

All our knowledge must be based on beliefs because we cannot begin with knowledge (unless introspection yields direct knowledge). So our answers are speculative but, as in science, they can be assessed by their probability. It is not obviously self-contradictory to assert that everything is derived from nothing but where is the evidence?

You have made a valid point about "something that has always existed" being part of "everything". The difficulty can be removed by modifying the question to: "How did everything we know originate? That would include the possibility of a factor beyond time and space. It seems presumptuous to restrict reality to human categories :)

The problem may be with the question itself. Along with a factual question you have thrown in a metaphysical question and it seems as though you are hoping for a metaphysical answer.

Immanuel Kant (in his Critique of Pure Reason) claims that as far as our knowledge about the phenomenal is limited to various categories of understanding. If we try and extend our knowledge to such things as, 'first cause' then we run into trouble. There exists no experience. Scientific or otherwise which will allow us to go beyond the phenomenal world.
We can turn our thoughts inwards or outwards, the result is always the same, metaphysical truths are not attainable. At least in the traditional sense.

I believe in God and His Word as truth, so I believe all things were created by God, the Godhead, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit. Genesis 1: 1&2 "In the
beginning God created the heavens and earth." 2, "The earth was without form, and
void; And the darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over face of the water". Genesis 1:26&27 "Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our
Image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea,
Over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." 27, So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them."
This world was spoken into being by God, He had thoughts on what He wanted this
World to be and be like. We being created in His image and likeness we are creaters
Of our world we live in. He has given us all a mind to think with, and our thoughts
Create our world, they are powerful and should be controlled to think in a good, right manner. God created us in His image so we could reflect His own nature, and make it
Possible for us to develop a deep and intimate relationship with Him. In His Word
The Bible teaches us how to think and do the right things in our life, how to create
Our world. Romans 22 "Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,"
Romans 17 "So then faith (believing) comes by hearing , and hearing by the word of God"
We create good and evil in our world with out thoughts! Beware, what you create
In your mind. Renew your mind with God's Word and create a abundant life for
Yourself.

Love and God's Blessing, Maggie 3

I have a variety of different beliefs about various possibilities, but one theory I like is that of the mult-iverse.
That our universe is one of many other universes floating in some higher level of space, or in another dimension (aka direction; one other than up, down, left, right, and time) And a possible explanation for the energy behind the creation of new universes, or big bangs, is the collision of other universes in this multi-verse space.

That these other universes move about in this higher space, in the same way that planets/asteroids/stars move about in our 3D space. When these universes collide this energy opens up new dimensions of space in which new universes, such as ours, will form.

Scientists are doing tests on part of these theories with particle accelerators, such as the Large Hadron Collider. Slamming tiny particles together at obscenely high speeds, creating micro black holes and opening extra dimensions of space, similar to how our universe may have formed.

You got to remember that you were born into a world of beginnings and endings, births and deaths. Anything that acts or goes through a process of creation decays. By default, by the experience of worldly nature, most all people find it difficult to conceive the idea of something having existed for eternity without a birth to be natural. Perception is reality. ;)