(January 30, 2014 at 11:48 pm)Lek Wrote: I have a powerful desire to know why the universe exists and our purpose for existence as individuals.
I am very interested in what can be discovered about the existence of the universe.
We each define our own purpose. There is no 'grand purpose'.
Right now, somewhere in the universe, there are suns blowing up and asteroids colliding with planets by the 1000's, utterly destroying them. It will happen to the Earth in the future. The universe does not care about whatever purpose you believe we have.
Quote:I don't see science as a way to discover this.
What is your justification in making this statement? Every discovery ever made that has explanatory power, has been done using the scientific method.
While it may be true that there are things about the universe and existence science may never be able to find out, faith is not the other option.
And even if you are correct, what makes you think that believing in Iron Age tribal deities gets you any closer to discovering anything about the origin of the universe?
Why do you think you have it right, and the Hindus, Zoroastrians, Sikhs, etc, etc have it wrong?
Quote:Do atheists search for the same thing and, if so, what is their source or method?
Over 70% of the world's physicists are atheists.
They use the scientific method. What method should they use?
Quote:I think most atheists don't see any purpose at all.
Not in the way you mean.
You'd believe if you just opened your heart" is a terrible argument for religion. It's basically saying, "If you bias yourself enough, you can convince yourself that this is true." If religion were true, people wouldn't need faith to believe it -- it would be supported by good evidence.
