RE: atheist vs agnostics.
February 7, 2013 at 11:36 am
(This post was last modified: February 7, 2013 at 11:37 am by Zone.)
(February 7, 2013 at 11:11 am)Stimbo Wrote: if there is one, it's not a matter of either a higher power or coincidence.
Either there is some kind of deliberate reason, purpose or direction to the universe, and this requires a higher power of some kind or there is no such thing. If there isn't such a thing then it's entirely fluke chance that everything is here at all and we're here to experience it. I think it's somewhat unlikely to be a chance myself even if no religion has managed to sell me their wares. I really don't think they know anything more than I do.
(February 7, 2013 at 11:11 am)Stimbo Wrote: Yes, the Universe is indeed a complicated place, but operating as we've evolved to do on the human scale we tend to overlook or at least underestimate the power yof physics on a Universal level.
I think the purpose of the universe if it has one is to form civilisations of organic beings, everything being set up toward that end in a sequence from the Big Bang onwards. What we understand about the universe, cosmology, organic evolution and so on are ours observations of the sequence taking place. Though is unlikely to have anything to do with the Bible or the Quran, all that stuff ultimately comes from us as far as I'm concerned. I'm agnostic in the sense that I have no idea what is ultimately initating the process or why but that's my opinion on the subject.
(February 7, 2013 at 11:11 am)Stimbo Wrote: If some higher power was constantly involved in the Universe in any way, it and/or its effects would by definition be detectable.
Only if it's the traditional God of religion that can intervene against the natural order we understand with miracles and such. But there isn't anything like that as far as I can tell, certainly no evidence for that so no good reason to believe in it. And it won't be something outside the universe that dips in and leaves a tell tale trace of itself either it would all be one complete natural system, with a purpose or goal of some kind.
(February 7, 2013 at 11:11 am)Stimbo Wrote: As AronRa once put it, "Anytime a supernatural entity reaches into the prime material plane, it should pull its arm out dripping with physics. It should leave evidence. But it doesn't."
That's the kind of thing I woukld reject as well. Though I would also reject what AronRas brand of atheism. So agnosticism it has to be for me, seems to be what I'm stuck with.
