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Figuring out a TOE is just like figuring out a big cosmic riddle. Barring laughter, this riddle may be the calling of the human race, the much sought after "meaning of life" that philosophers have always pondered.

It is the purpose of this thread to argue that the cosmic riddle can be boiled down to one simple question. How did the universe start?

The big bang, as it is called, confounds our insipid minds; we seem aghast when considering the prospect of actually conceiving the concept. The big bang itself is an act of God, if you will, so we would do much to elucidate its mechanism.

The problem should be approached like a riddle. As many have stated on this board, all the cards are out, we have all the pieces of the puzzle we need, we just have to fit it together. All it takes is a good guess.

But before I start preaching I want to know people's opinion. Is the question of how the universe started, once answered, the cornerstone to the TOE? Do you think if somebody guessed how the universe started that all other conclusions would follow?