Hi Amanda,

I think it is important to me for almost the same reasons as you described below ... if I can add to anything, I will say it satisfies my spiritual and philosophical quest, that is why I decided to join the club actually as it is one of its goals .. it satisfies my intellectual curiosity and it also makes me aware that there is so much more to life than everyday living .. it fills me with awe and inspiration.

Thanks,
Sharmila
=========================================
Sharmila Bose
Intel Corp JF1, 1st fl, pole E17
ESDI Sharmila.bose@intel.com
M/S:JF1-18 Phone: (503)712-1601

-----Original Message-----
From: Duncan, Amanda [mailto:amanda.duncan@intel.com]
Sent: Monday, April 03, 2000 6:27 PM
To: 'science@lists.pdx.edu'
Subject: thoughts on the Big Bang

Hi, everybody.

After Friday night's lecture, I'd like to hear people's ideas about why knowledge of the Big Bang is important to them. Thinking about the great distance and time scales that are involved in the story of the history of the universe makes many people feel small and insignificant. I find that it adds to my sense of significance to realize that we are part of this grand process that extends so far beyond ourselves. Knowledge of the history of the universe connects us to things almost unimaginably far away and long ago. The part of space that we occupy now was once close to everything else in the universe. We can see into the distant past by looking at far away objects today. How strange and wonderful!

What do other people think?
Amanda