Explaining the fact that we exist

[robvalue]

Thank you

I'm glad to be back too! Many things still bother me, but I found out the rules cover more than I was aware so I don't feel the despondency I once did.

If you're interested, I have the names of many common logical fallacies with examples to help identify them on my website, here.

[brewer]

I don't need to explain it, all you have to do is touch me. No, not there, right here. Touch it. TOUCH IT!

Maybe I don't exist. (sigh)

[Fake Messiah]

You're right. This topic could have been replied with old atheist meme. Like this one:



And heck when we're at it why not these two as well:

[TheMonster]

This is a question that I wrestled with superficially when I first became an atheist. I was content with my answer to this question for a while, but after a recent discussion with a Christian friend of mine, the entire topic just became confusing to me. And, like I said in my introduction (http://atheistforums.org/thread-45867.html), I need some help when walking through difficult questions.

The question is this: "There were many transitional points in our universe's history that led to us existing. If one of them failed to produce the results that it did, we wouldn't be here, existing. Isn't it too much of a coincidence? Each transition point was against huge odds, and each of them was an extraordinary coincidence. How is it possible that we are existing against such overwhelming odds?"

I had a basic response to this like, "just because it's extremely unlikely, doesn't mean it can't happen", but I am not satisfied with the answer. Can anybody lead me through the basic thought process behind why we can exist against such overwhelming odds? I have my own thoughts, but I am willing, and needing to restart my thought process. 

Thanks!

But it happened. People win lotteries. Triplets are born. Natural disasters strike in the most unlikely places. 
You have to look at it retrospectively and understand that natural laws were at work and still are. If you understand this, you understand the basis of science and how everything came to be. 
I for one think it is amazing that the universe essentially organized itself and in that process created sentient beings that are pondering the very existence of the universe that created them. Sort of like the universe studying and understanding itself. And all this thanks to the laws of physics!
As Richard Dawkins says (I paraphrase), the proper understanding of the universe is indeed more fulfilling and awe inspiring than the fictional stories of any religion. 
"Can we not appreciate the beauty of a garden without believing that fairies live under it too?"

[Edwardo Piet]

The question is this: "There were many transitional points in our universe's history that led to us existing. If one of them failed to produce the results that it did, we wouldn't be here, existing. Isn't it too much of a coincidence? Each transition point was against huge odds, and each of them was an extraordinary coincidence. How is it possible that we are existing against such overwhelming odds?"

Three words:

"The Anthropic Principle."

/thread

[Neo-Scholastic]

"The Anthropic Principle."

...a.k.a. speculation to avoid the obvious.

[Edwardo Piet]

Atheists cannot account for apparent cosmological fine-tuning except by appealing to necessity (brute fact) or chance (multiverse).

Your logic is patently lacking.

[Edwardo Piet]

"The Anthropic Principle."

...a.k.a. speculation to avoid the obvious.

No, that's not what the anthropic principle is.

God is only "obvious" to you because you're very good at jumping to conclusions and you're not logical enough to recognize how appallingly pathetic the fine tuning argument is and other arguments for God are.

[Minimalist]

Atheists cannot account for apparent cosmological fine-tuning

I'd like to know where this alleged "fine-tuning" is?  An overwhelming percentage of your precious universe will kill you within a heartbeat.  Your god is one shitty tuner.

Face it.  You evolved from a small band of ape-like creatures who adapted to a narrow range of environmental conditions and were lucky enough to survive and continue evolving.  You'll just have to deal with it.  That makes you special enough without inventing ridiculous gods to worship.

[AceBoogie]

to OP

I would suggest you not bother yourself with this. It seems that it's an unanswerable question at this point in time and it's very likely that this is not a question we'll ever be able to answer. And, quite honestly, does a lack of an explanation of the origins of life suggest anything about a god? If so, why? Because some people say that it does?

This is one of the main problems I have with this whole god idea. Where does it come from? A book? So because a book tells people something they believe it? What about Harry Potter? Does he exist because someone wrote it in a book?

If no one ever thought of the concept of god until 2016, would we still buy it? If it was never an idea until 2016, would any rational, intelligent person even think about it twice?

I think not.