Interview an Atheist

[AceBoogie]

Origins:

Who knows? I think that biologists have a basic understanding of how life began on Earth but I'm not sure how much we really 'know' or have evidence for.

Morality:

I don't really believe in right or wrong. I believe there are things that are constructive to my health and well being and things that are destructive to my health and well being and I believe that many of those things tend to extend to the rest of people and humanity. For example, heating healthy foods is good for everyone, so one could consider eating healthy to be the "right thing to do."

Purpose in life:

The purpose of my life is to intelligently follow my creative, sexual, romantic, financial and nomadic desires. Everyone has to decide for themselves what purpose their life must serve. There is no higher or divine purpose.

Death:

I assume that there is no life after death and I live my life under that assumption. There is no reason to believe in any sort of afterlife and though I certainly suppose that it's a possibility, I absolutely have no belief in it. Life is a one time thing, as far as we know. That's why it is so important to live life well, work hard, play harder and enjoy yourself. Treat people well and do things that you love and spend time with people whose company you enjoy. There is no fairytale after life so why would I live my life like there is?

[robvalue]

Hello,

For a class I am taking I am required to interview someone and learn about their personal world views and beliefs.  This is in no way to demean or preach to them, but instead listen and learn about others world views.  If anyone would be willing to let me listen to their world views I would greatly appreciate it!  It will be 4 basic questions:  Origin:where's do we come from?  Morality:  how do you determine right from wrong good from bad?  Purpose: What is our purpose in life?  Destiny:  What happens once we die?  Thank you!

Origin: If you mean us as a species, we evolved from other apes. If you mean life on this planet, science is still working on it but it appears to have been a very slow transition from non-life materials to what we now call life. This is a sliding scale, not non-life suddenly becoming life.

Morality: Things which help people/animals are good, things which hurt them are bad, in my opinion. Good and bad are subjective though.

Purpose: No objective purpose. We make our own purpose.

Destiny: Most likely when we die our consciousness ceases and we decompose. There is no evidence to suggest otherwise.

[pocaracas]

Now you've done it, dude.... you were nice to us.
We are now all compelled to answer you little questions, even though our answers are somewhat similar!

Hello,

For a class I am taking I am required to interview someone and learn about their personal world views and beliefs.  This is in no way to demean or preach to them, but instead listen and learn about others world views.  If anyone would be willing to let me listen to their world views I would greatly appreciate it!  

Worldviews... ah... to be up on the ISS and actually view the world...

It will be 4 basic questions:  Origin:where's do we come from?  

"We"? humans? Didn't uncle Darwin teach you that? oh... you're in some weird religious school thing... have you been conditioned to think that the theory of evolution is untrue?

Or are you okay with evolution, it's the actual appearance of life on this planet that bugs you? Scientists, with all their gimmicks can't replicate the emergence of life from simple chemicals... so it must have taken a super being to actually get it done on the planet, millions and millions of years ago, huh?
What I see is that biology relies solely on chemistry - it then stands to reason that its genesis would be solely chemical, too. The exact mechanism by which it happened hasn't been determined yet (may never be). Even if it is found, there will always be people saying that it took some intelligence to arrive at it, so... *poof*

Or are you wanting to ask where the whole Universe comes from? That's for another realm of science, physics (chemistry is, ultimately, all physics, too, you know? - the chemists hate it when we physicists point it out to them hehehehe).
The Universe seems to have come from a highly dense state of mass, energy and space-time, known as the big-bang. There are descriptions of what happened after the big-bang.... but no one knows what the big-bang actually was, no one knows if there is space-time beyond our Universe... no one knows if there was space-time without a big-bang.. it there wasn't, that renders "before the big bang" a nonsense concept, leading to nonsense concerning any causation of the big-bang. But we don't know... maybe there is far more space-time out of our Universe and the big bang simply shrank a local piece of it, due to some quantum foam effect (read about it). Maybe we're in the matrix.... maybe, maybe, maybe... the possibilities are countless. I prefer not to pick sides and remain in the "i don't know" camp. I think that's the most intellectually honest position.

Morality:  how do you determine right from wrong good from bad?  

We are a social species. Like many other social species, we have evolved, probably through trial and error, a sense of what benefits the group (that which is right or good) and what doesn't benefit the group (that which is wrong or bad).

Sure, there's tons of grey areas - that's why different politic opinions exist.

Purpose: What is our purpose in life?  

"our", there you go again.
The purpose of humanity is to be superseded by their offspring who will, hopefully, evolve into something more in tune with the global aspect of things, instead of the shortsighted idiocy we see nowadays.
That, or we go extinct... so, any purpose any of us comes up with turns out to be bollocks.

Destiny:  What happens once we die?  Thank you!

Biologically, our brains stop working., blood stops flowing, our body's protections stop doing their job and we become subject to the omnipresent bacteria that get right to work in decomposing us.

Philosophically, we "live" on in other people's memories... once those die, unless we did something that gets broadcast all over the world (Like Mozart, JFK, MLK, Ceasar, etc) then we become truly gone.

[Rader052612]

Origin:where's do we come from?

This question begs several follow up questions. Do you mean where does all matter come from? Where did intelligent life come from? Where did organic molecules come from?

I think you probably mean the first one, and the answer is we don't know for sure. There are some pretty compelling theories with good evidence, but in the end all we will really ever be able to say for sure is that there are certain physical constraints that must have always been the way they are, and a result of those laws is life--whether it be abundantly common or extremely rare.

We are able to see far back into the past via our most advanced technology, and we know that this universe is very old, and was once very dense and compact. We know that every atom that makes up you and me came from the furnace of a long dead star. We don't know how that became life. It's okay not to know, because claiming to have the answer when you don't is what makes it okay not to search any more.


Morality:  how do you determine right from wrong good from bad?

I would say that I likely determine what is right and wrong and good from bad in the very same way you do. And that's not from a 2000 year old book that condones slavery, the murder of infants, sleeping with your own father, the genocide of the entire human race save for 8 and the repopulation of the earth from those 8 people in the what would be the world's worst inbreeding fiasco, the sale and subjugation of women, blood sacrifice, etc.

We get our morality from the culture we live in, and the micro-society we choose. We get our morality from our sense of empathy, and how far our sense of altruism reaches. Evolutionarily, we are a social species, and the propagation of our genes depended heavily on group cohesion. This still resonates today.


Purpose: What is our purpose in life?

Is there are purpose? I think you must demonstrate that such a thing must exist before asking a loaded question. 


Destiny:  What happens once we die?

The same thing that happened before you were born.

Thank you for going into such depths in your responses.  They are great responses and I'm excited to use these in my paper.  Would you mind expanding on the last two questions?  So that I don't misunderstand you or misinterpret you in anyway.  Such as:  If purpose doesn't exist for all of humanity, does it individually?  How does a person find that purpose if there is one?  If there isn't a purpose at all, in any form for humans, the next best question would be "what is a common goal for humanity to live for?"  And also:  I am assuming you mean nothing when you say "the same thing that happened before you were born.", but so I'm not assuming would you further explain your worldview on this matter?  Thank you again for taking the time to answer these questions!

---

Now you've done it, dude.... you were nice to us.
We are now all compelled to answer you little questions, even though our answers are somewhat similar!

Hello,

For a class I am taking I am required to interview someone and learn about their personal world views and beliefs.  This is in no way to demean or preach to them, but instead listen and learn about others world views.  If anyone would be willing to let me listen to their world views I would greatly appreciate it!  

Worldviews... ah... to be up on the ISS and actually view the world...

It will be 4 basic questions:  Origin:where's do we come from?  

"We"? humans? Didn't uncle Darwin teach you that? oh... you're in some weird religious school thing... have you been conditioned to think that the theory of evolution is untrue?

Or are you okay with evolution, it's the actual appearance of life on this planet that bugs you? Scientists, with all their gimmicks can't replicate the emergence of life from simple chemicals... so it must have taken a super being to actually get it done on the planet, millions and millions of years ago, huh?
What I see is that biology relies solely on chemistry - it then stands to reason that its genesis would be solely chemical, too. The exact mechanism by which it happened hasn't been determined yet (may never be). Even if it is found, there will always be people saying that it took some intelligence to arrive at it, so... *poof*

Or are you wanting to ask where the whole Universe comes from? That's for another realm of science, physics (chemistry is, ultimately, all physics, too, you know? - the chemists hate it when we physicists point it out to them hehehehe).
The Universe seems to have come from a highly dense state of mass, energy and space-time, known as the big-bang. There are descriptions of what happened after the big-bang.... but no one knows what the big-bang actually was, no one knows if there is space-time beyond our Universe... no one knows if there was space-time without a big-bang.. it there wasn't, that renders "before the big bang" a nonsense concept, leading to nonsense concerning any causation of the big-bang. But we don't know... maybe there is far more space-time out of our Universe and the big bang simply shrank a local piece of it, due to some quantum foam effect (read about it). Maybe we're in the matrix.... maybe, maybe, maybe... the possibilities are countless. I prefer not to pick sides and remain in the "i don't know" camp. I think that's the most intellectually honest position.

Morality:  how do you determine right from wrong good from bad?  

We are a social species. Like many other social species, we have evolved, probably through trial and error, a sense of what benefits the group (that which is right or good) and what doesn't benefit the group (that which is wrong or bad).

Sure, there's tons of grey areas - that's why different politic opinions exist.

Purpose: What is our purpose in life?  

"our", there you go again.
The purpose of humanity is to be superseded by their offspring who will, hopefully, evolve into something more in tune with the global aspect of things, instead of the shortsighted idiocy we see nowadays.
That, or we go extinct... so, any purpose any of us comes up with turns out to be bollocks.

Destiny:  What happens once we die?  Thank you!

Biologically, our brains stop working., blood stops flowing, our body's protections stop doing their job and we become subject to the omnipresent bacteria that get right to work in decomposing us.

Philosophically, we "live" on in other people's memories... once those die, unless we did something that gets broadcast all over the world (Like Mozart, JFK, MLK, Ceasar, etc) then we become truly gone.

Thank you for your great responses!  I love being able to read in-depth views, beliefs and worldview's of others!  I can see you are very studied in many of these matters!  It means a great deal you took the time to inform me of your thoughts on my questions!

[purplepurpose]

According to religious philosophy, you mustn't enjoy life, but work for the common good, which is Pain in the ass. I guess, people seeing such painful worldview, refuse to make "leap of faith", because there are no direct evidence to support God idea and "leap of faith" is the only way to go.

[Alex K]

Origin:where's do we come from?

Mommy and Daddy hook up.....usually there is alcohol involved... and one thing leads to another.


Morality:  how do you determine right from wrong good from bad?

If you can go to jail for it, it is probably a bad idea.


Purpose: What is our purpose in life?

To live and reproduce like every other animal. 


Destiny:  What happens once we die?

Not a damn thing.  That's what being dead is all about.

I don't have much to add... I think it was Italian wine, most likely Valpolicella

[brewer]

Hello,

For a class I am taking I am required to interview someone and learn about their personal world views and beliefs.  This is in no way to demean or preach to them, but instead listen and learn about others world views.  If anyone would be willing to let me listen to their world views I would greatly appreciate it!  It will be 4 basic questions:  Origin:where's do we come from?  Morality:  how do you determine right from wrong good from bad?  Purpose: What is our purpose in life?  Destiny:  What happens once we die?  Thank you!

1. Star dust and fortuitous self replicating electrochemical reactions on a goldilocks planet.
2. Parents, then society/humanity.
3. Pursuit of happiness.
4. Life goes on but we don't experience it.

[Cyberman]

Destiny:  What happens once we die?

Not a damn thing.  That's what being dead is all about.

Actually, lots of things happen. We just stop getting invited to them.

[Simon Moon]

Hello,

For a class I am taking I am required to interview someone and learn about their personal world views and beliefs.  This is in no way to demean or preach to them, but instead listen and learn about others world views.  If anyone would be willing to let me listen to their world views I would greatly appreciate it!  It will be 4 basic questions:  Origin:where's do we come from?  Morality:  how do you determine right from wrong good from bad?  Purpose: What is our purpose in life?  Destiny:  What happens once we die?  Thank you!

I will go ahead an contribute my answers to the discussion.


Origin:where's do we come from?

If you mean the universe, then that answer currently is unknown. But just because there is no answer yet, does not mean that positing a god becomes the best answer, by default.

If you mean life, and humans, then the current best answer is, self replicating molecules lead to self replicating simple cells, then, via natural selection, became more complex over vast amounts of time.


Morality:  how do you determine right from wrong good from bad?

HUmans evolved in relatively small groups of 50 to 100 individuals. As with all social species, our survival is dependant on cooperation, reciprocity, kin selection and, in more advanced species, empathy.

All I have to do to determine whether something is right or wrong, is to evaluate if my actions will have a detrimental, positive or null effect on the well being of other people. On a larger scale, since I want to live in a society where I am not likely to be harmed, killed, have my stuff stolen, etc, I will not harm, kill, or steal from other people.

 Purpose: What is our purpose in life?

We make our own purpose.

This is one thing I really don't understand of the theist's position. No one wants to have some authority figure to chose their: hobbies, spouse, college, tastes, their career, etc, etc. But they are fine with an authority choosing their purpose.

Destiny:  What happens once we die?

We most likely end up decomposing and going back into the ecosystem.

There is drastically insufficient evidence to support that there is anything to come after life.

I was nonexistent for billions of years before I was born, and was not the least put out. I will become nonexistent again after I die.