13 Questions

[everythingafter]

1. What evidence would convince you of God’s existence?

A scientifically modern, non-contradictory holy book that doesn't read as if it was written in bronze/iron age Palestine would go a long way. A book written thousands of years ago that includes information about DNA and natural selection would be a marvel! Maybe I just expect too much from this omniscient, all-powerful god to whom folks spend so much time groveling.

2. You see the words, “I love you” written in the sand at the beach. Is this man-made? If so, how do you know?

The implication here is absurd. Nonetheless, I would conclude a pair of lovers had just come through that portion of the beach.

3. If the God of the Bible were real, would He set the rules or would man set the rules?

What rules? Ethical? Scientific?

4. Do moral laws exist? If so, do they exist independent of humans? How do you know what they are?

To say "moral" implies religiousity in a way, which loads the question. I think it is in man's best interest to generally be kind to one another and live in civility. If it had been otherwise, civilization as we know it would have crumbled long ago. Animals other than humans display altruistic behavior toward one another. So yes, while there is no one to set these "laws" or even a set of laws, I think there is something hard-wired within us to generally act in this way. It caters to our intrinsic struggle to survive. Sure, given all the wars, humans have historically not been kind to one another, but within those warring societies, we find internal ethical machinations.

5. If everyone on earth believed that rape were morally right, would it still be morally wrong?

Again, to say it is "morally wrong" or right, conjures up religion or a supernatural being to decree that it's so. Rape is not in man's best interest individually or societally. If everyone on earth practiced it, I don't think humankind would survive for very long.

6. What is the most dangerous religion on Earth?

Islam.

7. Where did the laws of logic come from?

From the mind of man.

8. How did non-rational events and processes lead to a rational human mind?

After the Big Bang, evolution by natural selection. Before the Big Bang, who knows? The difference between scientists and believers is that at least scientists are comfortable saying "We don't know" when certain "gaps" have not been filled, whereas believers just make up stuff about gods and omniscience without a stitch of proof. Just because it seems "non-rational" to you doesn't mean there wasn't a natural explanation for why there is something rather than nothing and to phrase it thusly loads the question

9. Why do some atheists such as Carl Wieland and Alister McGrath become Christians?

Why do some former believers (pastors even) such as John Loftus and Dan Barker and myself become atheists?

I think questions 10-13 are splitting hairs between the words "belief" and "think" and distinguishing between them seems to me a futile exercise. I'm not sure why there wasn't a "believe" version of question 13, but no, I don't necessarily think life began on Earth. It could have, but given the sheer number of possible planets in the universe, it's quite likely that there is, or once was, or will be life elsewhere. And since ice has already been discovered on other planets, it's quite likely indeed.