A few questions

[Eilonnwy]

1. Do you think it is possible to know why the universe exists?

I don't know, but I do know there doesn't have to be a why. It can just exist.

2. How do you think morality can exist without objective authority or verification?

Because it's evolutionary advantageous. Morals are displayed in some other animals, like our close ape relatives. The idea that being good to your species helps propagate your species is not hard to understand. We can agree that murdering is wrong based on the idea that we don't want to be murdered ourselves. Morals that come from an authority figure are weak morals in my opinion. If your morals are based on the fact that you think you will go to hell if you don't listen, well that to me is the height of immorality. Morals are based on people to people interaction and very subjective, but it has one basic principal. Do onto others as they would have you do onto them. (Notice the difference, I'm not citing Jesus's supposed golden rule)

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?

Because this is the only life you have. I like being alive and knowing my friends, interacting with people, and enjoying books, TV, games, etc... The meaning my life has is the one I give it, and knowing there is no afterlife doesn't make life less valuable, it makes it infinitely more valuable. Let's say the afterlife is like a delicious cake. If you know that you will have as much delicious cake as you want and that the one you have now is not the only one you will have, doesn't that make it less valuable? But on the other hand, if you know this is the only cake you will ever have and that you can be almost certain you won't have one again, wouldn't you want to savor it? Wouldn't you want to make sure it lasts and that you enjoy it as much as possible? And wouldn't I be willing to make an agreement to not steal someone's cake or destroy it so that no one will steal or destroy mine? Life is so valuable because it's the only one we know we have absolutely, so why wouldn't we want to make it the best we possibly can?

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?

If someone chooses to believe in a religion, that is their choice and I would never take away their right to do so. However, wouldn't believing in things that we can determine are most true infinitely better? Dealing with life in terms of reality helps us to make the correct decisions. Beliefs determine our actions, and if people are making incorrect choices on superstitions, isn't that something we would want to prevent? Especially if those erroneous beliefs lead to shootings at abortion clinics and terrorists flying planes into skyscrapers. Children today die because their parents refuse to believe vaccines are safe or that their prayers can cure cancer. Religion is a security blanket that refuses to let people deal with reality on reality's terms. I'd much rather people deal with the world the way it is rather than hiding behind their scriptures and prayers. I reject the notion that religion makes life easier. Religion tells you that you're a lowly sinner and you need to constantly appease a sky bully so that you don't burn in hell forever. It lies to you and gives you false hopes. It pretends it has all the answers, when really it stunts intellectual growth and honesty. It prevents people from recognizing their own potential by making everything good in their life the result of god, but everything that is bad their own fault. It is also interesting to note that based on studies, the secular nations are the healthiest and that the most religious nations and impoverished and war torn.

5. Can you be absolutely certain, without a doubt, that God or something supernatural does not exist?

I would say that it's impossible to know anything with absolute certainty. I reject it. For all we know we could be living in a matrix-like world. How could we know? We don't, and it doesn't matter. What matters is what we do know and what we have. Just because we can't know with absolute certainty doesn't mean we can't make judgment calls based on the most current and accurate information we have. The evidence for God and Jesus is lacking, in other cases extremely suspect, and then in other cases contradictory. Based on my own inquiry I have come to the conclusion that it is more likely than not that God and Jesus do not exist and that until they are proven with accurate and falsifiable evidence, it is more logical to reject the claims of God. Being able to make judgments calls based on our current information and willingness to change our mind should the evidence show us otherwise is the best thing we can do intellectually and morally. I don't claim absolute knowledge, but I do my best to make the most accurate decisions based on the best available evidence.

[Forrasis]

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.

[josef rosenkranz]

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quote='scameter' pid='19750' dateline='1244445056']

You got so many interesting answers,each in a most personal view,here are also my opinions:

1. Do you think it is possible to know why the universe exists?

We humans are a actually a link of the evolution of life on earth.Why would we have to have all the answers of how and why the world ticks as it does?

Our knowledge of how the world ticks is in a continue progress .What we don't know today we might know to morrow or may be some issue will remain not understandable for ever.

The hidden problem of your question though is that where you atheists do not know why the world ticks as it does ,we religious people do, because the world was created by God.
That's the confusion between scientific knowledge and the blind belief in a supranatural force.
Moerover whereas religion only apparently gives the right answer about the existence of the universe we atheists know,for real, why God exists ond who created him:not other than men.
Men were not created in God's image but exactly the other way around :God was created by man in his image.
Pretty heretical.What?

. How do you think morality can exist without objective authority or verification?

Again ,your question implies the assumption that only religion is capable of assuming the task of morality,which is really partly correct.
In the past religion had indeed an important role in spreading ,preserving and even enforcing principle of morality,but we live now in a new era of secular states where the civil society has mostly overtaken this role.
No doubt about it that religion continues to play an important role on what concerns morality but no more an absolute role as in the past.
We see in some of Islamic countries the moral laws of the society imposed by "shaaria".
The view of it is far from being acceptable by western principles whether secular or religious.

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?

I have very bad news for you : there is no afterlife.
Not a single soul in thousands of years has succeeded to return from the "other world" in order to tell us something about it.
All we "know" about the other world is from religious scriptures written whithout any, even the slightest,doubt by human beeings,resulting from their fantasy.
The ethical way of life is imposed by our understanding that only in such a way we can live peacefully in a society and pursue happiness .This we can achieve without the help of religion.

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?

The tendency to convince other people about the rightness of atheism is of the same kind as the tendency of each individual to convince people close to him of his opinions of all kinds ,personal material,moral ,scientifical,you name it.

5. Can you be absolutely certain, without a doubt, that God or something supernatural does not exist?

Here you have struck incidentally on a problem which divides atheism.

[Anymouse]

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?

1. Maybe. I am comfortable with an answer "I don't know."
2. Objective authority and verification comes from within ourselves, and our neighbours. People do not need someone from outside to tell them "If it harms no one, do what you want."
3. Because it benefits us. If I do not want to be robbed, for example, it behooves me to behave in such a way (I don't rob my neighbours). Morals and ethics are developed by societies so they can live with themselves. You don't need someone to come in from outside and say "Robbery is wrong."
4. Give someone a lie for comfort? That bothers me regardless of my undisclosed religious opinions. No, I do not think the truth needs to be defended by a lie.
5. The crux of Pascal's Wager. But if you believe that something supernatural exists, you are then stuck with the question, "Which something?" Or maybe, "All the somethings proposed by humans are wrong and it is really something different."

[Arcturus]

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. Yes, provided that there is a creator, which would give it a purpose. Otherwise, I think not. If you meant it in terms of a scientific question, I would say no as well, given that science only works within our universe, and any questions about causation and physics cannot be resolved if it means going beyond the boundaries of the spacetime manifold.

2. Morality is an inherent part of human nature, shaped by years of evolution. Complex species that can organise among themselves and act in an altruistic manner increases their probability of survival in comparison to species that do not. An extreme example of altruistic behavior would be that of ants.

3. As mentioned above, ethics have their roots in human evolutionary psychology. Each person has their own reason to live. To me, being able to live at all in an otherwise hostile universe is a miracle to cherish.

4. It doesn't bother me, until their beliefs impinge onto my life. It doesn't bother me if they simply believe in god, but it bothers me when they want their beliefs to be taught in schools, indoctrinated into children, used as a means to justify violence etc. I am tolerant towards those who simply mind their own business. In fact, most of my friends are theists and we get along pretty well.

5. No. I am an agnostic atheist. I am absolutely certain that the christian god, as well as the gods of the religions, do not exist. However, I am an agnostic towards the deistic god.

[Girlysprite]

As for a discussion on morality, try this discussion on this board: http://atheistforums.org/thread-6881.html (named: how do we behave?). The whole issue has been dissected into great detail there.

[Kayenneh]

1. Do you think it is possible to know why the universe exists?

I just think it's the curiosity of humans that make us want/need the universe to have a reason to exist. I just think it's a fantastic sum of chances that made the universe what it is, and that there's no greater plan behind it all.

2. How do you think morality can exist without objective authority or verification?

Easily. People like order in their lives. An effective group of individuals must know what to do and not to do in order to survive. If we all went anarchistic on each others asses, we would not survive for long. And no verification? Rape a girl with a family who loves her dearly, and you can be sure that they'll (given the chance) cut your balls off or beat you to death. No action comes without a reaction. You just need to find out who's authority is the most valid one.

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?

Because if you're a lazy cunt, people don't like you, but work for your society and you get perks. It's as easy as that. And life is short, but I at least want to live it for as long as I can (not eternally, mind) and as painless as possible, so that is great motivation for me to e.g. exercise.

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?

Because I can never agree with people who want to stay ignorant.
If you choose religion because it makes your life easier somehow, then you are lazy and stupid. Atheists care because we know the lies religion brings and what horrors it brought into this world, just because of a fairytale.

5. Can you be absolutely certain, without a doubt, that God or something supernatural does not exist?

Never. I always reserve the right for someone to prove me wrong.

[Cinjin]

1. Do you think it is possible to know why the universe exists?
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?

It's these two isn't it?
This is REALLY what it all comes down to isn't it?
The truth is simply that too many people need some kind of reason for it all. There just has to be a "Why?" and of course an answer for that "Why." The world can't just be what it is can it? Your life has to have some kind of deep philosophical existential meaning, otherwise it's just not worth living.

Take that one factor out of the equation and what have you got? Fix this ONE glitch and what have you got?

Freedom. A planet full of people that aren't worried about the judgment of gods, enjoying their lives and letting others do the same.

Stop asking why and enjoy your life for what it is.

[Gawdzilla]

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?

Without God, What Grounds Right and Wrong?

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?

I don't care. I do care when they try to invade our schools, our government, our bedrooms, our minds, with their own personal delusions.

5. Can you be absolutely certain, without a doubt, that God or something supernatural does not exist?

Not even interested in God, anymore than I'm concerned about the existence of unicorns. When you look at the Universe rationally, the question of "God" becomes comical. [/quote]

[Doubting Thomas]

1. Do you think it is possible to know why the universe exists?

If you mean how the universe came to be, then possibly yes. This is what the Big Bang theory hopes to prove. If you mean "why" as in a cosmic reason for our existence, there's nothing that says there has to be a reason like that. I personally don't need any cosmic or supernatural reason for my existence, I'm just happy to be here on the planet for the short time I get.

2. How do you think morality can exist without objective authority or verification?

People know they would like to be treated decently, and most people reciprocate. That's how the idea of "treat others as you want to be treated" came about. But in general, the laws of the society are usually needed to keep order.

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?

Again, it goes back to the "treat others as you'd want to be treated" idea. Societies throughout history have known that allowing people to murder, cheat, or steal isn't good for society. And frankly, the idea of eternal punishment has not had much of a deterrent on Christians committing crimes, since the majority of people in prison in the U.S. are Christians.

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?

I don't care what religion someone wants to believe in until they try to force it upon me or into the public or government. When we have religious people who try to hinder scientific advancement because of ancient superstitious religious beliefs, then I have a problem. We rational, thinking people know that religion tends to hamper a society. Furthermore, spreading the idea that I am not as good a person as they are because they believe in a religion or believing that I'm an evil, immoral person because I don't follow a religion harms my quality of life.

5. Can you be absolutely certain, without a doubt, that God or something supernatural does not exist?

Not totally 100% certain, but the burden of proof is upon those making the religious or supernatural claims. So far it's fairly obvious to me that all beliefs in gods or the supernatural appear to be made up by superstitious humans who couldn't understand the world & universe they live in. As science progresses, we find fewer and fewer reasons to keep believing in the superstitions, especially when they don't stand up to scientific discovery.