How does the existence of the universe prove that there is some timeless, extra-universal intelligence with the power to create universes? If there were a creator, it would add more questions than it would answer.

So the existence of something is proof that it was created purposefully?

If the existence happens to be a perfect construct. Nihilism is not a pass to spew pseudo science.

Define "perfect construct" if you could please; take your time, I'll wait.

We're in agreement about nihilism, but neither is willful blindness.

Look around you... the fact that earth is habitable...the gases of the atmosphere are ideal for humans...the rotation of the planet allow for day and night...the distance from the sun(a little bit closer or further away and we would have been in trouble)...the human body in all its intricacies.

Did your god intentionally design the system so that the sun sometimes gives people skin cancer? And is it intended that this cancer causes them to die slow and painful deaths?

And we have finally come to the first line of defence for atheists...why do bad things happen. I could go on for hours but I would suggest to maybe take this off YN if you are really interested in my answer?

Did you not say the system was "a perfect construct"? The side effect where it kills people prematurely doesn't seem very perfect. Anyways, nice programmed deflection you have there.

LOL

The only thing that proves is that the universe exists. Claiming that someone created it is only moving the question, because who then made the creator?

This is a very famous point raised by theologians many centuries ago. Circular reasoning can hardly count as valid. What if the creator always existed? And besides no major religion deals with this point so I wouldn't have an answer.

What if the universe has always existed, and every few billion years or so, a portion of it explodes outwards into a completely new direction of space?

Apologists have used the same argument for the last several hundred years and have done nothing to push the discussion forward.