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> Specifically, if the universe is everything that there ever is or ever will be, how can it be contingent upon something external to itself?

It would be contingent upon a necessary foundation within the universe.

So there is one specific part in the universe that is necessary, and everything else around that is contingent.

It can't be contingent on something necessary within itself. Within means being part of the contingency.

Hmm, I don't see the problem -

Everything in the universe is contingent, except for one thing which is necessary. Everything relies on that necessary foundation.

What's the issue?

> Everything in the universe is contingent, except for one thing which is necessary. Everything relies on that necessary foundation.

How do you know this?

How do we know anything, and how do we deem the human mind a suitable tool for ascertaining the result?

At some point I understood that faith is orthogonal to the mind, and the tension was lowered.

Fine, but don't go into conversation and state your object of faith is a fact.

I repeat:

> faith is orthogonal to the mind

Conflating the two is intellectually dishonest, in addition to commonplace.