Does the Universe Have a Purpose

Counter arguments 1) The premise of this is to prove that the universe has ultimate purpose and thusly the existence of god. In his first argument my opponent presents that the universe has come into existence and so, must have a cause for coming into existence. While the universe does indeed have a cause for coming into existence (http://en.wikipedia.org...) it did not necessarily have a purpose for coming into existence. The presumption that cause necessitates purpose is flawed. For example a rock is worn down by flowing water for years and eventually become sand. Yet the rock has no inherent purpose of being eroded and the river has no divine plan in its course. They are simply two natural forces interlocked in a cause and effect relationship. So yes, the universe has a cause for coming into existed as he purports, but no it did not have a purpose for coming into existence as the premise states. 2) My only qualm with argument 2 is that the procession from point 3 to point for 4 is non sequitur. The universe must contain itself, and the means of its continuation must exist. Yet in no way is it implied that the means of propagating the universe must exist outside of the universe. If my opponent will elaborate on this point, rather than making a broad generalization, I believe it will do much for the debate. Until he presents adequate explanation for this rational, I believe that should be disregarded as an argument. 3) The mistake in this logic is that people are capable of creativity and imagination. The idea of perfection is one that is as human as imperfection. Many people devote their lives to the pursuit of perfection, in art, in sports, and in technology. The very means of our sentience is the result of the ever-lasting search for biological perfection, evolution. So, to assume that humanity is alien to the concept of perfection is yet another skewed perception. When viewed in this light, the argument that god must exist because humanity cannot come up with the idea of perfection on their own, is a paper thin one at best. In fact, it makes sense that when confronted with a state they could not achieve, "perfection", they made up a being, "god", to personify the state they could not exist in. Humanity created god hold in the face of the realties of chaos and chance that we live in, as a beacon calling out to lost souls that redemption and personal perfection are possible. God is a symbol of perfection as a flag is a symbol for a country. It doesn't mean anything unless you believe in it. And as much as we may desire, just believing in something does not make it real. 4) It is true that there are desires that we cannot satiate. It is true that there is a yearning, a desperate desire to believe in god because he offers one thing that cannot be granted by anything on earth. Escape from death, from the human condition, and absolved of our personal guilt, shame, and reservation. That is what god offers. Yet just because we desire it does not mean that it exists. We can work through guilt; abandon shame and reservation, yet nothing in this universe can allow for the escape of our simple truths. You cannot escape from death, you cannot transcend humanity, and you cannot have all of your desires filled because as humans our only natural desire is to desire more. More food, more sex, more money, more love, more life. Since "we know ourselves to be limited and imperfect" does it not make sense that we would desire for things that do not exist? Humanity is a work in progress, not a magnum opus. Arguments I challenge my opponent with this riddle of theodicy, regarding the perfection of god. Explain how god can be Omniscient, Omnipotent, and Benevolent while there is still suffering in the world. If god is Omniscient and Omnipotent, then he has created a universe he doesn't care about and thus would not bother with an ultimate plan. Thus suffering. If he is Omnipotent and Benevolent, then perhaps he created the world, but as he is not all knowing he cannot have a divine plan. Thus suffering. Benevolent and Omniscient, then perhaps he is an observer in the universe, but cannot effect it in any way. Thus suffering. If he has all three of these traits then it allows for the existence of a perfect god as you imply, yet to have all these traits are impossible in a world of suffering. Thus God cannot exist in a perfect form. For god to have the power to create the universe and also see through an ultimate plan he must have all three traits. I present a second challenge. I have proposed a probable start and end of the universe (big bang and heat death). I challenge my opponent to name any possible signs of an ultimate purpose for the universe. Since the burden of proof generally lies on the side with little to no evidence I believe that this is a reasonable request.