Q's from a theist

[leo-rcc]

Environment:
1. What is the predominate belief of your family and friends?
Ex- my family consists of mainly atheists while my friends tend to be mainly theists.
2. What is your general location? (If U.S. please use northwest, northeast, etc.)
3. Have you changed your beliefs in the past?
Ex- I used to be a theist then I became an atheist at age 15.
4. What is your highest level of education?

1. Dunno for sure, I never ask. Some are still Roman Catholic, some are protestant, some don't believe in any gods at all.

2 Netherlands

3 Not really, though I was in church a lot in my childhood.

4 Secondary agricultural and horticultural school.

Cosmology/Physics:
5. Many people have argued that the “big bang” implies a finite universe. Some people (myself included) believe that a finite universe tends to have more theistic leanings. How would you respond to this?
Ex- I believe that we are one of many universes.
Ex- I do not believe in the “big bang”.
6. If you have not already answered above- do you believe in a finite or eternal universe?
7. How would you respond to the fine tuning argument?

5 I don't know, and have no opinion on it. It doesn't interest me at all.
6 see 5
7 Silly argument, look up the puddle argument.

Biology:
8. Do you believe in IDT (Intelligent Design Theory), TOE (Theory of Evolution), or other? (Seems like a weird question but there are some atheists that believe that we were designed by aliens)
Ex- I believe in neo- Darwinism.
9. Based on the question above, what would you say are the general points that back up your belief in this?
Ex- Fossil record, embryology, etc.
10. How does a belief in [response above] relate to an atheist/agnostic belief?
Ex- If our origins can be explained in a naturalistic way then I believe the origins of the universe can be explained in a naturalistic way too.
Ex- My belief in [response above] is not related to my atheist/ agnostic beliefs.

8 I "believe" in ToE as much as I "believe" in magnetism and electricity. It has been demonstrated time and time again to be a viable scientific theory, so I have no problem accepting it as the best possible explanation of speciation.
9 "belief" is really the wrong phrase, see 8
10 Not at all.

Other:
11. Do you believe that morals are relative/preference? Please Explain
12. Is your belief partly due to something that you may not be able to explain to others?
Ex- I have had numerous events occur in my life that are partly responsible for my belief.
Ex- I don’t know how to explain it. It seems almost as if it’s instinct… it just seems right to me.

11 Morals are subjective, therefore relative.
12 What belief?

[adam_1992p]

Environment:
1. What is the predominate belief of your family and friends?
My whole family are muslims except for my agnostic sister. I have a few atheist friends and mostly theistic friends.
2. What is your general location? (If U.S. please use northwest, northeast, etc.)
Currently in Morocco, but going to go to NY. Have been living in the UAE most my life.
3. Have you changed your beliefs in the past?
I was an extremely retarded devout muslim at 7 to 14 and then became a closet Apatheist for a short while and then a closet Atheist and at 17 to 18 I became an Agnostic Atheist.
4. What is your highest level of education?
High School so far, going to college soon.

5. Many people have argued that the “big bang” implies a finite universe. Some people (myself included) believe that a finite universe tends to have more theistic leanings. How would you respond to this?
Well originally the universe was in a hot and dense state and expanded rapidly. Whatever happened before that no one knows. Religious people tend to claim they do with gods. I like most people am content with my ignorance of the "before times." We really just have no idea how we got here as a whole.
6. If you have not already answered above- do you believe in a finite or eternal universe?
I believe that the universe is so massive that we cannot possibly think it has a limit. There could be more "universe" past our own perspective with the best technologies we have. I guess I don't really know.
7. How would you respond to the fine tuning argument?
It doesn't make a load of sense to begin with. Scientists have located other planets in the universe that are in the so called "goldilocks zone" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gliese_581_d So immediately if there is a God he didn't make this universe especially for us.

8. Do you believe in IDT (Intelligent Design Theory), TOE (Theory of Evolution), or other? (Seems like a weird question but there are some atheists that believe that we were designed by aliens)
It's not a matter of believing in Evolution. Evolution is a theory and a fact, it's more a matter of accepting it. It's a theory in the sense that it's a scientific explanation that explains phenomena and incorporates evidences. Evolution has overwhelming evidence. Intelligent design doesn't make that much sense because many scientists can point out many flaws in the designer. For example why would God put our prostate directly near the bladder so that when the prostate swells we can't pee well. That is just one of many other flaws in design.
9. Based on the question above, what would you say are the general points that back up your belief in this?
In terms of Evolution (fossil record shows transitional forms, DNA relativity, meticulous studies in embryology show our relation to our ancestors in the past, and new fossils are found all the time.)
10. How does a belief in [response above] relate to an atheist/agnostic belief?
Well the origins of the universe is still one of the greatest mysteries of science. Sure we can explain our own origins quite well and the explanation gets stronger everytime. But as to how it all got here? Why were here? What happened before the big bang? It's all unknown. This is why I found it comfortable to be an Agnostic Atheist. I don't claim absolute knowledge of any God and I don't deny it might exist. As an Atheist however I don't believe in Gods until evidence presents itself to be accurate. I am also strictly atheist towards any organized religion claiming a God to exist. I found all of them to be nonsensical. The idea that we're going to be going to heaven or hell when we die doesn't make any sense. It is painstakingly obvious that we made this up to escape our own mortality. What kind of a god would burn his creations over and over forever. Paradoxically what's the point of going to heaven and doing whatever you want forever? It makes your life right now that much more meaningless because you'll be going to this playground to live the rest of your days doing whatever you want. Eventually you will get bored of immortality.

11. Do you believe that morals are relative/preference? Please Explain
Morals are important and you don't need a religion at all to be moral. In fact most religions are extremely immoral. The bible promotes slavery, incest, sexism, racism, and the Koran promotes the chopping off of hands of thieves and is discriminate against woman. Morals are truly developed when your parents raise you and as you mature you use logic and reasoning to be a good or bad person. For example I know I shouldn't kill anyone because I have no intention to and it won't benefit me at all. Plus I'll possibly serve a life time jail sentence or be executed and end my own life. As an Atheist I have one life and I must make the best of it.
12. Is your belief partly due to something that you may not be able to explain to others?
I believe the way I do because I need evidence before buying into something. The only reason I was a Muslim was because I was indoctrinated plain and simple. At my current state I can never go back because I know the Koran can't be the word of God.

[Epimethean]

Damn, some GREAT responses here. Makes adding mine an anticlimax.

[adam_1992p]

Damn, some GREAT responses here. Makes adding mine an anticlimax.

Add yours anyway, all atheists are interesting in their own way =)

[Epimethean]

I will. The thought you put into yours makes me want to take proper time to do this. You did a great job.

[MilesTailsPrower]

Lol this was the first post i replied to when i joined. Looking back on the response i have, im pretty interesting...? Bored as hell.

[fr0d0]

Environment:
1. (people) Mostly atheists. Wife is Christian. 3 JWs. 1 Sikh. Rest of family all atheists.
2. (location) Wales UK
3. (changed beliefs) X atheist
4. (education) Uni drop out.

Cosmology/Physics:
5. (Origins) I assume current popular scientific theory
6. I'm open to either idea
7. (Response to fine tuning argument) Thinking scientifically, I don't. Spiritually God is in charge.

Biology:
8. I assume evolution to be the most plausible theory
9. (why) evidence
10. (how does that relate to belief) it has nothing to do with it

Other:
11. (morals are relative/preference?) Can be
12. (Is your belief partly due to something that you may not be able to explain to others?) No