Hello.
Just because chemical reactions, naturalistic evolution and our biological/psychological traits matter a lot, that doesn't mean everything is random.
Quote:If the universe is entirely material (which it must be under atheistic thinking), then everything that exists or happens is fundamentally just chemicals reacting. Chemicals, however, cannot act reasonably or morally. We can't take one test tube and say that the mixture in it is "more right" than the one in another tube. Natural laws simply dictate their behavior.Atheism is the lack of belief in gods or the belief no gods exist - Atheism alone doesn't correspond to materialist perspectives. It is true that the majority of atheists will be materialists as well, but both positions are not mutually exclusive - Take the example of Buddhists, they don't hold belief in a universal creator/god but they do not believe the universe is entirely materialistic. Acting morally or ethically, as you put it, are mostly socially constructed concepts that derive from our necessity to regulate our conducts, and yeah I consider morals and ethics to be a biological and naturalistic result of our species' evolution - I also believe our morals and ethics will reach a greater level of perfection with time - Just compare what's moral or not right now in secular countries with 200 or 300 years ao.
Quote:Humans and their thoughts and beliefs, as parts of the universe, are merely chemicals as well. Every idea is a natural string of reactions in the brain. The reactions in one mind lead someone to be an atheist while the reactions in another mind lead to a theist. Sort of like different outcomes in two test tubes.Just because there's some randomness involved, that doesn't mean we possess no control over our reason or decisions.
Quote:On what basis then can we say that one thought or belief is more rational than another? Dead chemistry can't be spoken of in terms of reason. We are all parts and products of a giant chemical universe, atheists and theists alike. How can the universe be behaving unreasonably in one place but not in another? It just is. Lines of reasoning become totally subjective since we are all slaves to our particular chemistry. But if reason is subjective, we lose any grounds we had of evaluating statements. If my chemistry makes me think you are unreasonable and yours does the opposite in your brain, since no reaction can be said to be rationally superior to another, then there can be no meaningful debate. Ideas are all equally natural. Isn't that kind of a problem?Check above ^
Just because chemical reactions, naturalistic evolution and our biological/psychological traits matter a lot, that doesn't mean everything is random.
Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you