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ensure that an expanding universe must run down (entropy is a measure of disorder).
A steady state, finite universe having no new energy input is so unstable it cannot exist and the other alternative is that our universe will implode keeping the conservation law intact at least until the point where the laws of physics fail.
In thinking about how a universe might begin or end, the orthodox scientist operates within the restrictions of the unwritten rules. Philosophically speaking, it is imperative that scientists should continue to operate within the rules at least until they have exhausted every possible 'natural' explanation for observable phenomena--at which point their only valid 'scientific' conclusion should be that no 'natural' explanation has been found.
There is a foolish line of reasoning in existence among some scientists (and many lay people) that appears to arise from the irrational denial of a "First-Cause," which is, of course, an untestable hypothesis and therefore inadmissible as being 'scientific.' This irrational line of reasoning is illustrated by arguments such as that since life exists, it must be inevitable that it will generate itself spontaneously. The same line of thinking is applied by the godless scientist to the existence of the universe--since it is here, then it must be possible for it to create itself--an obviously untestable hypothesis resting upon a previous untestable hypothesis and therefore worthless, scientifically speaking.
Leaving out the fact that The Urantia Book insists upon a God who is First Cause in whom and through whom all things exist, there is yet another reason for scientific cosmology and the cosmology of the book being at variance.
The Urantia Book tells us that energy flow into the grand and master universes is continuous and controlled. In our universe of Nebadon, there may be few signs that this is so at the present stage of universe development. However at some future date it will attain life and light and the book states, "This era of light and life, inaugurated by the Teacher Sons at the conclusion of their planetary mission, continues indefinitely on the inhabited worlds....these worlds settled in light and life are destined to go on throughout the eternal ages of all future time." (681)
That would appear to indicate that the suns of light and life planets will be need to be prevented from running down, becoming red giants, and swallowing their inhabited planets in the process. Finally, for the Grand Universe, when all seven superuniverses are at life and light, the whole system settles down to last throughout eternity in perfected energy equilibrium. In such a state, it seems the stars must shine unchanged, forever.
Science will have discovered that energy flow in the universes is controlled long before the Grand Universe attains light and life, but for the present, at least on Urantia, to stick with their own tried and tested rules, true scientists should be satisfied with what can be observed and limit their speculation to what can be empirically demonstrated. If they want to talk about God, then they need to take off their lab. coat and put on their theological or philosophical hats.
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