(June 8, 2009 at 3:10 am)scameter Wrote: If you would like to know more about my motivations for writing this topic, feel free to view my topic in the Introductions page. But I'll just say I'm asking these questions out of a genuine desire to know the truth through deliberated and careful reasoning, study and contemplation, and to avoid having a belief that is merely comfortable to me or that I assume is true without actually studying it. Ok, to get to the questions (which I will limit to five for now):
1. Do you think it is possible to know why the universe exists?
2. How do you think morality can exist without objective authority or verification?
3. If there is no afterlife, what motivation would/should anyone have for living any particular way, such as trying to live ethically, civilly, healthily, or any specific way?
4. If there is no afterlife and no essential or ultimate meaning to existence, why should an atheist care if someone believes in a religion and, indeed, if believing in a religion would make their life easier, would that bother you as an atheist?
5. Can you be absolutely certain, without a doubt, that God or something supernatural does not exist?
As a note: please try to answer the questions themselves, not ask questions in response or deviate from them, and please try to refrain from insult or assumption towards me in your replies. Thank you.
1. As others have stated above, there is no reason to ask this question unless you pre-suppose that the universe serves a purpose. Therefore, until there is a reason to suspect a purpose, there is no way to answer the question "why", as it is a non-sensical question. The more interesting and relevant question is "How did the universe come into existence (or has it always existed)?" I think we can give an intelligent answer to this question, which will only improve with the more we learn about the universe.
2. Morality could exist without objective authority, it would simply be relativistic and dependent on the social norms of the time and place. It appears, however, that you believe that morality can only be objective if there is a god or other supernatural being to give and enforce such morality. I do not agree with such sentiment. Many modern moral philosophies are based on the idea that morality is objective and is knowable by all rational persons-- no god needed. Moral principles are those principles that any rational person would agree to be bound by in order to live in a functional and prosperous society. Those principles can be determined objectively through reason. Read some Hobbes and Mills to get started and read some John Rawls for a more modern construction of moral philosophy. In short, just because we are atheists doesn't mean we cannot believe in an objective morality.
3. If there is no afterlife, then this is the only existence you have. That makes this life all the more precious to an atheist. There is a reason most religions have to make suicide a sin against god. If they don't, what reason do you have to stay in this world of struggle when the afterlife promises a perfect life? None. Atheists need no such prohibition. This is your only existence. This acts as motivation to seek happiness in this world and any rational person will recognize that happiness can only be obtained through leading an ethical, civil and healthy life.
4. We care because religion affects the world in many negative ways. This is our only life. We don't want our happiness reduced by the superstitions of irrational individuals. We don't want our pursuit of happiness impeded by a morality based in faith versus reason.
5. Outside of analytical truths I do not believe that we can know anything with absolute certainty. The best we can do in relation to synthetic propositions is evaluate the objective justifications put forward for such proposition's truth. If such justifications reach the point of making the proposition more likely than not, then we can be reasonable in holding such proposition to be true, subject to further evidence which may affect our justifications. If a proposition does not have any justification for its truth, then we cannot reasonably believe it to be true. "God exists" does not have any justification for its truth. Therefore, all reasonable persons will reject the proposition as false, pending further evidence.
Atheism leaves a man to sense, to philosophy, to natural piety, to laws, to reputation; all of which may be guides to an outward moral virtue, even if religion vanished; but religious superstition dismounts all these and erects an absolute monarchy in the minds of men. - Francis Bacon
