As to whether or not the universe most RE folk adhere to is and isolated system, in thermodynamics and isolated system is a system which does not or can not exchange either energy or matter with its surroundings. By definition, the universe is self contained and therefore cannot exchange energy or matter.
I'm afraid you restating your position doesn't make it any more mainstream or correct. This is why I asked you for a source.
My source is thermodynamics. It's not my position, other than I am in agreement with thermodynamics. It is not something I made up.
Thermodynamics deals with the transfer of energy and matter between systems. It deals with and recognizes 3 different types of systems. Open systems, closed systems and isolated systems. As with many branches of science thermodynamics has specific definitions for the therms used which may or may not align the the common usage for those terms. In thermodynamics the terms Open system, closed system and isolated system have the following definitions:
Open system - A physical system which can exchange both energy and matter with it's surroundings or other systems.
Closed system - A physical system which can exchange energy but not matter with it's surroundings or other systems.
Isolated system - A physical system which cannot exchange either energy or matter with it's surroundings or other systems.
a) So, in thermodynamics terminology an isolated system is by definition a system that cannot receive energy or matter from outside it, and cannot send energy or matter outside it.
b) The universe, by definition is that which contains everything. The universe cannot receive energy or matter from outside it, and cannot send energy or matter outside it.
From a) and b), for the purposes of thermodynamics, the universe meets the requirements of being an isolated physical system.
And, yeas, in science definitions are critically important.
The on-line text on thermodynamics here:
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/introchem/chapter/the-three-laws-of-thermodynamics/ States:
"More simply put: the entropy of the universe (the ultimate isolated system) only increases and never decreases."The RationalWiki here :
https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Laws_of_thermodynamics States:
"The Universe is an isolated system since it is a term to describe the entire spacetime continuum, including all of the energy stored in it. In reality, the Universe is regarded as the only true isolated system, as perfect isolation on a smaller scale is impossible."The on-line text on thermodynamics here:
https://www.learnthermo.com/T1-tutorial/ch07/lesson-C/pg06.php States:
"The universe is an isolated system."But, like I said, it does not matter whether or not the universe is an isolated system. To show if FE UA is in agreement with conservation of energy, all you need to do is define an isolated system as defined in thermodynamics within the FE universe and show how energy is conserved, or failing to find an such a system, show the source and or sink for the energy transfer required. So, I'm at a loss as to why we are stuck at whether or not the universe is an isolated system or not as it is not a requirement to tackle the question at hand.
Anyway, as far as I am concerned we are done here. My challenge was for someone to demonstrate that FE UA was consistent with conservation of energy and this has not been done despite pages of conversation. I really don't care if anyone believes the universe is an isolated system or not. By the pertinent definitions it is, but that is not and never was a requirement to meet the challenge.
Score:
FE - fail.
The last word to you Pete.