Answers needed

[Simon Moon]

Hi everyone!

I'm not sure whether this is the right place to post this, but I'd really appreciate some answers to some/all of the following questions. I'm interested in how an average atheist thinks about these topics. It would be great if you could give some explanation for your answers. I'm coming from a protestant worldview.

1. Does God exist?
2. Where did the universe come from?
3. Does my life have a purpose?
4. Why do people suffer?
5. Is there life after death?
6. Can I distinguish right from wrong?
7. Can people know truth?

Sorry for being point form. 

I'll play...


1. Which God? 

I do not see sufficient demonstrable evidence to support the claim that a god does exist, therefore I do not believe one does. My disbelief is not dogmatic, and I am willing to alter it given sufficient evidence. 

2. This is currently unknown. All the evidence points to a natural explanation, no gods needed.

But the important thing is, just because the answers are currently unknown, does not mean that saying "god did it" becomes the best explanation, by default.

3. Everyone's life has purpose. It's the one we all give ourselves. 

4. It is the natural result of a universe and a planet that is not here just for our benefit. 

5. There is drastically insufficient evidence to support believing that there is. 

6. Yes. Using our naturally evolved sense of empathy, altruism, cooperation, we are able to distinguish behavior that is best for humanity's well being.

7. Please define 'truth' as you mean it.

[Louis Chérubin]

I recently listened to Richard Dawkins speak as part of a panel discussion. He mentioned that perhaps life came from an extraterrestrial source. Is that not vaguely similar to "naked humans created from the dust"? Really, the question of life's origin may be more thought-provoking than you take it to be. Why do you feel that God is not an alternative explantation?

No you didn't and no it isn't. You heard that either in the film "Expelled - No Intelligence Required" or a video of selected highlights from it; that or a likely edited panel discussion in which he talks about the disingenuous interview technique used in that film. Professor Dawkins has written and spoken at length about the experience and how Ben Stein's question, of what scenario Dawkins could imagine in which so-called 'intelligent design' might conceivably be possible, was curiously omitted in order to make him sound as though he believes in aliens. For the record, he doesn't now and didn't then think that aliens seeded life on this planet; and further, went on to say that even granting the possibility, at some point there must have been something like Darwinian evolution to bring about the original lifeforms in the first place. Check your sources in future, because it just seems like you're lying  at this point.

Here is the clip I watched. I've watched maybe two minutes of "Expelled" before finding it unsatisfying. I know Dawkins is being facetious (as he often is), but the point I was making is that even atheistic scientists are not conclusive about the origin of life on earth (I think you may agree with that?). Again, I don't care/know what Ben Stein has to say. :-D

http://thesciencenetwork.org/programs/th...life-panel

[The Grand Nudger]

....lol....

[LastPoet]

Atheistic scientists....

I swear, can't tell a joke to the real thing with these fellows. How can someone with so much lack of knowlege even function?

[JesusHChrist]

Atheist scientists specialize in:

atheist physics (No gods guiding the path of arrows in flight! Nosireebob!)
atheist chemistry (No gods involved in making gasoline flam! Or is it inflam?)
atheist biology (Ah, the sticky wicket! God surely has a hand in making a nekkid rib woman from a dirt man. How *else* could it happen?)

[KevinM1]

1. Does God exist?

Your god? No. A god? I don't know.

2. Where did the universe come from?

I don't know. The Big Bang is the best working theory we have, but is subject to change. I also don't really care outside of the "Hey, that's neat" factor.

3. Does my life have a purpose?

I don't know. Who are you and what do you do?

4. Why do people suffer?

Because reality is uncaring? The universe really doesn't seem to care about who gets cancer and who doesn't, who gets killed in a tsunami and who doesn't, who gets injured in war and who doesn't, etc. Shit happens.

5. Is there life after death?

I don't know. I lean towards not.

6. Can I distinguish right from wrong?

I don't know. Can you?

7. Can people know truth?

About what?

Oh, don't get me wrong, I know the game you're trying to play. It's an old one, and not very convincing at that. I give my life purpose by doing what I can to leave the world a slightly better place in my wake. I don't need a deity in my life to hold me at the precipice of hell to do good. I'm neither an infant nor psychopath who needs the persistent hand of a father figure to guide my every action.

I have no need for gods, even if they did exist.

[Louis Chérubin]

Good morning!

I'm having slight brain overload from reading all the different trains of thought from last night, so I'll just respond here to some of the recurring topics.

1. Several people have inquired what I mean by “god.” I mean a super-natural force evident through nature.
   
2. The topic of atheism and origins also came up. What is the purpose of distinguishing between definition and practice? Atheism is the lack of belief in the existence of god(s) (NOAD). It follows that atheists don’t believe the universe came into existence through god. This is a description of the atheist’s ultimate conclusion, not his thought process, so please don’t be offended.
   
3. Most people have assumed that I take the existence of God as a priori truth. I’ve stated several times that my interpretation of evidence (facts that are available to everyone, nothing new) is what leads me to God.
   
4. Regarding my motives, I’m a premed university student on summer break. No sermons being prepared. :-) Though why would you care?
   

Again, (sorry for the broken record effect) thanks for sharing your beliefs. From this experience, I've concluded that forums are great for uncovering raw humanity. :-P I'm sure that all of you are delightful face-to-face.

lol. Sorry for the apologies too. Can you tell I'm Canadian? 

---

Atheistic scientists....

I swear, can't tell a joke to the real thing with these fellows. How can someone with so much lack of knowlege even function?

lol. I do need to be more sensitive to the context. Please delete that word from my comment.

[Jenny A]

Good morning!

I'm having slight brain overload from reading all the different trains of thought from last night, so I'll just respond here to some of the recurring topics.

[1]Several people have inquired what I mean by “god.” I mean a super-natural force evident through nature.

Supernatural means beyond or outside nature.  Can you explain what you mean by evident through nature?  If you mean a supernatural force working by natural means you have a contradiction in terms.  If you mean a supernatural force that affects the natural world then I need a definition of what the boundaries of the natural world are so I know what it would be to be outside the natural world.  If you mean the natural world is evidence of a supernatural force you have a losing proof of god masquerading as a definition of god.

[2]The topic of atheism and origins also came up. What is the purpose of distinguishing between definition and practice? Atheism is the lack of belief in the existence of god(s) (NOAD). It follows that atheists don’t believe the universe came into existence through god. This is a description of the atheist’s ultimate conclusion, not his thought process, so please don’t be offended.

Yes but, not thinking that the universe was created by god does not imply knowledge of whether: 1) the universe has always been or came into existence at some point in time; (2)  if the universe came into existence at a point in time, that it was created;  or (3) if the universe came into existence at a point in time, how it did so.

[3]Most people have assumed that I take the existence of God as a priori truth. I’ve stated several times that my interpretation of evidence (facts that are available to everyone, nothing new) is what leads me to God.

Then I can't image what facts those are.  Perhaps you could enlighten us?

[4]Regarding my motives, I’m a premed university student on summer break. No sermons being prepared. :-) Though why would you care?

I really don't care what your background is as it isn't relevant to what you have to say.  I don't see how your future profession could have much to do with your motives. Though given you the reasoning skills you've displayed so far and your general understanding, I'd love to know who you are so I can avoid being your patient in future.  Sound's dangerous.

[5] Again, (sorry for the broken record effect) thanks for sharing your beliefs. From this experience, I've concluded that forums are great for uncovering raw humanity. :-P I'm sure that all of you are delightful face-to-face.

lol. Sorry for the apologies too. Can you tell I'm Canadian?  

Yes people are ruder, or blunter online.  No, I couldn't tell you were Canadian by you appology for apologizing.

[Louis Chérubin]

[...]
1. Does God exist?
2. Where did the universe come from?
3. Does my life have a purpose?
4. Why do people suffer?
5. Is there life after death?
6. Can I distinguish right from wrong?
7. Can people know truth?
[...]

1. Yes. I am God. Yay! Blessed he, who onto me cometh, yada yada yada...
2. I got really, really drunk one week...
3. Yes. Fetch me some booze.
4. Because you touch yourself at night. Now - how about that booze?
5. No. There's barely any life before...
6. I hope you can, kiddo. Prison is not all sunshine and pony-rides...
7. Yes. But first they have to let go of the fairy-tales.

Hope that helps...

Are you a Hemingway fan? If so, I'm very glad to meet a fellow literarian!

---

[4]Regarding my motives, I’m a premed university student on summer break. No sermons being prepared. :-) Though why would you care?

[*]I really don't care what your background is as it isn't relevant to what you have to say.  I don't see how your future profession could have much to do with your motives. Though given you the reasoning skills you've displayed so far and your general understanding, I'd love to know who you are so I can avoid being your patient in future.  Sound's dangerous.

[*]
This was for the poster who wondered whether I was a preacher. Feel free to ignore it.

[Napoléon]

1. Does God exist?
2. Where did the universe come from?
3. Does my life have a purpose?
4. Why do people suffer?
5. Is there life after death?
6. Can I distinguish right from wrong?
7. Can people know truth?

If I asked you the same questions what would it achieve?