Einstein and company could not deal with a Universe that had a
beginning. They thought it was infinite and that matter "somehow"
kept replenishing itself.

They were afraid of the Big Bang theory, because it postulated not
only a beginning but the likelihood of someone starting the Universe
as well. Let There Be Light, indeed.

Now decades later some theorists - and these are not some guys
living in their one-room apartments with their pet cat who write
crank ideas to the major universities - are saying that maybe the
Universe didn't start and stop the way we think it has since about
1927 (and especially after 1965), and now we are seeing protests
for an infinite existence. :^)

I recall somebody declaring that matter is neither created nor
destroyed, it merely changes from one form to another. You think
that might apply to the Big Picture as well?

It would not surprise me in the least if this Universe was created
by a being, but not the kind of supernatural God that the masses
think did the job. Nor is our Universe the only one out there.

It is also amazing and amusing at how a tiny species that has
existed for a mere fraction of the life of the Cosmos is so sure
of itself so soon.