How big is the universe?

[Rhondazvous]

The theory of relativity contains both the speed limit as well as cosmic expansion as built-in features, so you seem to suggest that relativity is inconsistent - but it isn't. It explicitely tells us how cosmic expansion arises from the dynamics of spacetime through a change of all length scales, which is a completely different thing than movement of an object through space. Both phenomena have in common that distances between objects change, but the cause and nature of this change is completely different. Ordinary movement through space only allows an increase in distance of twice the speed of light at maximum, whereas when the universal rulers themselves change as is the case in cosmic expansion, such limits do not apply because the increase in distance does not come from relative movement but from a change of the cosmic rulers built into spacetime (called "the metric" in technical terms). Both phenomena were not postulated separately but are described by the very same theory, Einstein's General theory of relativity, and coexist as two different physical processes.

Okay, now I see the rubber band and raisin bread dough analogies coming into play and things are making sense. So the expansion of space doesn't follow the rules as the movement of objects would.

I want to see if i can get a copy of Bertrand Russell's The ABCs of Relativity or maybe there's a Relativity for Dummies book out there.