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Current time: April 28, 2024, 12:56 pm
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Question for Atheists
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There isn't a "why". The laws of physics simply are. The chemical reactions that make biology simply are. Your body, your consciousness are just really, really complicated chemical reactions.
There are what, 100 billion+ stars in our galaxy, and 100zillion galaxies in the observable universe? To think we're somehow special and have a "purpose" is arrogant, and IMO, wrong. Believing we had some grand, cosmic, or divine meaning would be nice...but something being nice and comforting doesn't make it true.  (January 31, 2014 at 11:13 am)ThePinsir Wrote: There are what, 100 billion+ stars in our galaxy, and 100zillion galaxies in the observable universe? To think we're somehow special and have a "purpose" is arrogant, and IMO, wrong. Here, let me enhance the point you're making.... http://www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblog/201...lar-1.html Quote:The Vardanyan model says that the curvature of the Universe is tightly constrained around 0. In other words, the most likely model is that the Universe is flat. A flat Universe would also be infinite and their calculations are consistent with this too. These show that the Universe is at least 250 times bigger than the Hubble volume. (The Hubble volume is similar to the size of the observable universe.)  (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. 
~99.9999% of the Universe is hard vacuum.
~99.9999% of what's left is flaming nuclear fireballs. ~99.9999% of what's left from that is cold interstellar gas. ~99.9999% of what's left from that is barren, airless balls of rock or gas giants, neither of which can sustain life. ~99.9999% of what's left from that is barely habitable planets like Mars. Then we come to Earth.  RE: Question for Atheists
January 31, 2014 at 12:40 pm
(This post was last modified: January 31, 2014 at 1:08 pm by Alex K.)
(January 31, 2014 at 11:49 am)StuW Wrote:(January 31, 2014 at 11:13 am)ThePinsir Wrote: There are what, 100 billion+ stars in our galaxy, and 100zillion galaxies in the observable universe? To think we're somehow special and have a "purpose" is arrogant, and IMO, wrong. It is not true that a spatially exactly flat universe would have to be spatially infinite.There are suitable flat manifolds of finite size, e.g. the three-dimensional torus (S^1)^3  (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 don't see science as a way to discover this. Do atheists search for the same thing and, if so, what is their source or method? I think most atheists don't see any purpose at all.I am curious to know how the universe came about and reached its present state, but no particular concern regarding whether or not there is some overarching purpose to its (and our) existence. My own life has purpose enough that I need not worry about what may happen once I am gone, outside of those things that I might be able to influence in some way or other. Tell me, what do you think you would do if you suddenly discovered that there is no god and that this life is the only one you get?
"Well, evolution is a theory. It is also a fact. And facts and theories are different things, not rungs in a hierarchy of increasing certainty. Facts are the world's data. Theories are structures of ideas that explain and interpret facts. Facts don't go away when scientists debate rival theories to explain them. Einstein's theory of gravitation replaced Newton's in this century, but apples didn't suspend themselves in midair, pending the outcome. And humans evolved from ape- like ancestors whether they did so by Darwin's proposed mechanism or by some other yet to be discovered."
-Stephen Jay Gould  (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. So do most Atheist's, though most of us came to the reality that our purpose is nothing more than a creation from the human ego. I think most us found a purpose for our life as individuals, and what to do with that said life. Quote: I don't see science as a way to discover this. Do atheists search for the same thing and, if so, what is their source or method? Oh ok, so the scientific breakthroughs that have lead to everything that we know now are not good enough for you? The problem isn't science, the problem is you. One great thing about science, even if you don't believe it, science is the best way to find whats true. If you find a better way, please let humanity know, no doubt it'll be the best discovery ever made. Quote: I think most atheists don't see any purpose at all. Why? because when we die we don't believe in an afterlife? So instead we focus on the lives when we are actually living, instead of some crap-shoot that life will be extended when you die. You don't need a god to have a purpose in your life.  RE: Question for Atheists
January 31, 2014 at 1:16 pm
(This post was last modified: January 31, 2014 at 1:17 pm by Minimalist.)
Every time some theist trots out this particular bit of religious silliness I feel compelled to quote Sam Harris.
Quote:There is, in fact, no worldview more reprehensible in its arrogance than that of a religious believer: the creator of the universe takes an interest in me, approves of me, loves me, and will reward me after death; my current beliefs, drawn from scripture, will remain the best statement of the truth until the end of the world; everyone who disagrees with me will spend eternity in hell. RE: Question for Atheists
January 31, 2014 at 1:34 pm
(This post was last modified: January 31, 2014 at 1:35 pm by StuW.)
(January 31, 2014 at 12:40 pm)Alex K Wrote:(January 31, 2014 at 11:49 am)StuW Wrote: Here, let me enhance the point you're making.... Even in a finite torus the universe would still be approximately 100 times larger than the horizon distance. regardless, it's a fecking huge! |
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