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From: gwyn@brl-tgr.ARPA (Doug Gwyn <gwyn>)
Newsgroups: net.physics
Subject: Re: Time
Message-ID: <10339@brl-tgr.ARPA>
Date: Wed, 1-May-85 17:01:25 EDT
Article-I.D.: brl-tgr.10339
Posted: Wed May  1 17:01:25 1985
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>     3- the universe has finite age, but no first moment. 
Not possible in any meaningful sense.

>     Following a timelike path backwards towards the initial discontinuity
>     would be analogous to asymptotically approaching an unreachable point,
If the "time" you are talking about is a parameter along your infinite path,
then you are saying that it extends from -infinity.
>     assuming you could go backwards thru time in the first place.
No need to "go" anywhere; we're talking about matters of description, not
action.

Please remember that "time" in relativity is a coordinate and does not have
a global invariant meaning.  In general there is no absolute "time" one can
apply to the entire cosmos (although some cosmologies happen to have one).

>     Is there such a thing as a person who understands general relativity?
Sure, why not?