There is wide agreement among scientists that the universe had a...

There is wide agreement among scientists that the universe had a beginning. Most also agree that before that beginning, something real must have existed. Some scientists talk about ever-existing energy. Others postulate a primordial chaos as the preexisting condition. Whatever terms are used, most presuppose the existence of something—something without a beginning—that extended back infinitely.
So the issue comes down to whether we presuppose some thing eternal or some one eternal.
Which of these alternatives seems more reasonable to you?