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Why do atheists not believe in God?
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Before I understood anything about science and life, I disagreed with teachings from my Christian Sunday school. In my 5 year old wisdom, God was mean and why did I have to listen to anything God said when all he did was blame people for their natural behaviour. Plus I could not see anything to prove an intelligent creator. In later years, to witness the evidence of evolution and scientists increased understanding of universal workings, that inspired me. My faith is in knowledge, and the continued efforts to expand it.
I certainly do not fault anyone for wishing to believe in a god, that is their choice. In fact, my best friend is a devout Christian. But I don't want it shoved down my throat that I'm going to hell for not being religious, or others trying to convert me. How dare anyone else judge me for my choices.
But if we leave each other alone in that area, it'll be fine.
I certainly do not fault anyone for wishing to believe in a god, that is their choice. In fact, my best friend is a devout Christian. But I don't want it shoved down my throat that I'm going to hell for not being religious, or others trying to convert me. How dare anyone else judge me for my choices.
But if we leave each other alone in that area, it'll be fine.
Original post by Supermonkey92
Very good. I agree that it's the more rational position to hold. Obviously, to say that the universe is a brute fact - inexplicable - is to say that their is no explanation. It seems more consistent with every other way we analyse things.
However, I also agree with the point made by Luke Barnes:
'It is important to realise that no amount of progress in physics will change this situation. Imagine the final equation,*the*law of nature, written on a blackboard to thunderous applause. After the adoration dies down, we will still be faced with the question “why does a universe described by that equation actually exist?”. The answer cannot be found in the equation.'
'....... If you are a philosophical materialist – if you believe that everything that exists is ultimately the stuff of physics – then this question is unanswerable. Not just unanswered – I have no problem with questions that science cannot currently answer. It’s because of such questions that I have a job. But materialism simply doesn’t have the resources to answer that question. To be a materialist, one must convince oneself that the question is somehow meaningless, that it is nonsense masquerading as one of the deepest and oldest philosophical questions mankind has ever asked.'
https://letterstonature.wordpress.com/2013/02/18/why-science-cannot-explain-why-anything-exists/
Posted from TSR Mobile
However, I also agree with the point made by Luke Barnes:
'It is important to realise that no amount of progress in physics will change this situation. Imagine the final equation,*the*law of nature, written on a blackboard to thunderous applause. After the adoration dies down, we will still be faced with the question “why does a universe described by that equation actually exist?”. The answer cannot be found in the equation.'
'....... If you are a philosophical materialist – if you believe that everything that exists is ultimately the stuff of physics – then this question is unanswerable. Not just unanswered – I have no problem with questions that science cannot currently answer. It’s because of such questions that I have a job. But materialism simply doesn’t have the resources to answer that question. To be a materialist, one must convince oneself that the question is somehow meaningless, that it is nonsense masquerading as one of the deepest and oldest philosophical questions mankind has ever asked.'
https://letterstonature.wordpress.com/2013/02/18/why-science-cannot-explain-why-anything-exists/
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It's a thought provoking point. However though it might make one uncomfortable to "convince oneself that the question is somehow meaningless" that doesn't mean that this isn't the correct position.
Besides, theism doesn't provide a satisfactory answer. The question it inevitably leads to is 'why did God create us?'. I struggle to understand why theists think that god provides purpose.
Original post by Supermonkey92
when I answered "who knows" ? it means that we can very well accept that the Universe (as we know it) started with the Big bang, but that we don't have any idea about what was before that, or even if it makes any sense to speak of a "before" the Universe (in my personal opinion, it doesn't)
In other words : we are inside a space/time bubble, and we have absolutely no idea of what is outside, or if an outside even exists
best
Original post by RayApparently
It's a thought provoking point. However though it might make one uncomfortable to "convince oneself that the question is somehow meaningless" that doesn't mean that this isn't the correct position.
Besides, theism doesn't provide a satisfactory answer. The question it inevitably leads to is 'why did God create us?'. I struggle to understand why theists think that god provides purpose.
Besides, theism doesn't provide a satisfactory answer. The question it inevitably leads to is 'why did God create us?'. I struggle to understand why theists think that god provides purpose.
Oh sure! I don't think Barnes, or myself, we're arguing that it therefore follows the position is false!
More so, it was to highlight why I think the majority of atheist, at least should, argue the universe is a brute fact. I take it that most atheists are materialists.
Its from there that my original argument followed.
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Original post by mariachi
I have
when I answered "who knows" ? it means that we can very well accept that the Universe (as we know it) started with the Big bang, but that we don't have any idea about what was before that, or even if it makes any sense to speak of a "before" the Universe (in my personal opinion, it doesn't)
In other words : we are inside a space/time bubble, and we have absolutely no idea of what is outside, or if an outside even exists
best
when I answered "who knows" ? it means that we can very well accept that the Universe (as we know it) started with the Big bang, but that we don't have any idea about what was before that, or even if it makes any sense to speak of a "before" the Universe (in my personal opinion, it doesn't)
In other words : we are inside a space/time bubble, and we have absolutely no idea of what is outside, or if an outside even exists
best
OK, but when I argue that you haven't addressed the question, I mean in the sense that you haven't given reasons to think that it is likely or probably that we should consider the universe eternal.
For example, you side with the idea that time began with the beginning of the universe (that there was a first moment of time). If it follows from Big Bang cosmology that time began - and to ask 'What was before' nonsensical - then how can it be even coherent to say something existed before? If it is, indeed, Incoherent I'd be interested to hear reasons how it's still plausible to have an eternal universe (of course universe here being all of physical reality, so including anything before the Big Bang, if there was something).
If this is right, it seems to follow that it is more plausible and more likely that the universe did have a beginning if time began with the Big Bang.
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I would say that I kind of want to believe in god but find it hard. The idea that he/it just exists out of thin air is kind of madness also basing your life on something just because it is in a book I kind of find to be madness.
Original post by Supermonkey92
For example, you side with the idea that time began with the beginning of the universe (that there was a first moment of time). If it follows from Big Bang cosmology that time began - and to ask 'What was before' nonsensical - then how can it be even coherent to say something existed before? If it is, indeed, Incoherent I'd be interested to hear reasons how it's still plausible to have an eternal universe (of course universe here being all of physical reality, so including anything before the Big Bang, if there was something).
If this is right, it seems to follow that it is more plausible and more likely that the universe did have a beginning if time began with the Big Bang.
Posted from TSR Mobile
If this is right, it seems to follow that it is more plausible and more likely that the universe did have a beginning if time began with the Big Bang.
Posted from TSR Mobile
Unfortunately, I think that this is all we can say - as to the rest (other proto-Universes, other proto-times, other before/after, other spaces etc etc) it makes good material for dreaming when looking at the sky on a starry night
best
(edited 8 years ago)
Original post by Paranoid_Glitch
I think atheists are often ignorant.
Shooting yourself in the head is the only cure for what you have.
Original post by mariachi
I said that the Universe (as we know it), might very well have started with the Big bang. And that we have no idea of what was there before, or if it even makes sense to speak of a "before"
Unfortunately, I think that this is all we can say - as to the rest (other Universes, other times, other before/after, other spaces etc etc) it makes good material for reflection when looking at the sky on a starry night
best
Unfortunately, I think that this is all we can say - as to the rest (other Universes, other times, other before/after, other spaces etc etc) it makes good material for reflection when looking at the sky on a starry night
best
It's just past midnight on a Sunday - I'm completely sympathetic to not jumping into a conversation on the origin of the universe!
But my initial point was always: is there any reason to think that it's likely the universe is eternal? I think we both agree you haven't given that?
Which isn't a knock. Its a complex question, with more work needed.
But I just wanted to make the point that when you said something along the lines of 'well if God can be uncaused and beginning less, why can't the universe? ' it was in the sense that it's possible for the universe to be eternal.
But being possible is just to say we can't rule it out with certainty, without evidence or reason to support its truth.
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Original post by Supermonkey92
it's possible for the universe to be eternal.
But being possible is just to say we can't rule it out with certainty, without evidence or reason to support its truth.
But being possible is just to say we can't rule it out with certainty, without evidence or reason to support its truth.
we are using a language, concepts, a logic which are deeply steeped in the knowledge and experience of this Universe. We talk of befores and afters, causes, created,uncreated etc But what is beyond our Universe, is completely inaccessible to us (at least, until further proof) and using our language and our logic to describe it is absurd.
So, yes, in a way, outside of our Universe (as far as we know), anything is possible. Another, "eternal" "Universe" (only as figures of speech of course), another space, another time
Or perhaps, there is an uncreated giant Turtle there who created us, or a bearded old man who crucified his son for us, or a vengeful, jealous divinity who communicates via perfect revelations which get regularly corrupted etc etc
the probability for this to happen is, in my estimation, next to zero, but not actually zero
no one has any shred of evidence about this
best
(edited 8 years ago)
Original post by mariachi
in a completely different "Universe", "before" the Big Bang, what does even "eternal" mean ?
we are using a language, concepts, a logic which are deeply steeped in the knowledge and experience of this Universe. We talk of befores and afters, causes, created,uncreated etc But what is beyond our Universe, is completely inaccessible to us (at least, until further proof) and using our language and our logic to describe it is absurd.
So, yes, in a way, outside of our Universe (as far as we know), anything is possible. Another, "eternal" "Universe" (only as figures of speech of course), another space, another time
Or perhaps, there is an uncreated giant Turtle there who created us, or a bearded old man who crucified his son for us, or a vengeful, jealous divinity who communicates via perfect revelations which get regularly corrupted etc etc
the probability for this to happen is, in my estimation, next to zero, but not actually zero
no one has any shred of evidence about this
best
we are using a language, concepts, a logic which are deeply steeped in the knowledge and experience of this Universe. We talk of befores and afters, causes, created,uncreated etc But what is beyond our Universe, is completely inaccessible to us (at least, until further proof) and using our language and our logic to describe it is absurd.
So, yes, in a way, outside of our Universe (as far as we know), anything is possible. Another, "eternal" "Universe" (only as figures of speech of course), another space, another time
Or perhaps, there is an uncreated giant Turtle there who created us, or a bearded old man who crucified his son for us, or a vengeful, jealous divinity who communicates via perfect revelations which get regularly corrupted etc etc
the probability for this to happen is, in my estimation, next to zero, but not actually zero
no one has any shred of evidence about this
best
Surely you see you aren't actually addressing my question though, right? There isn't a reason to think it plausible or likely that the universe is eternal. Just stating that it's possible.
"In a completely different "Universe", "before" the Big Bang, what does even "eternal" mean ?"
I did mention before that when I say 'universe' I mean all physical reality. So if the Big Bang is ultimately just one physical state that has changed from a previous physical state, the entire physical system is the universe. It seems fairly straight forward, perhaps the term universe has many connotations, with suffering cosmological theories and multiverse etc.
So, have there always been a physical system that has existed, or has the physical system had a beginning?
"what is beyond our Universe, is completely inaccessible to us (at least, until further proof)"
That seems to be a contradiction. Either it is completely inaccessible or it isn't. Unless you want to argue the law of contradiction?
"using . . . . our logic to describe it is absurd."
Not so fast. Would that include the basic laws of logic? Like the aforementioned law of contradiction? That's a cornerstone of science's assumptions isn't it? Well, if you want to question the validity of that with this question. I think you've got your answer. It is inaccessible.
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Original post by Supermonkey92
I did mention before that when I say 'universe' I mean all physical reality. So if the Big Bang is ultimately just one physical state that has changed from a previous physical state, the entire physical system is the universe. It seems fairly straight forward, perhaps the term universe has many connotations, with suffering cosmological theories and multiverse etc.
So, have there always been a physical system that has existed, or has the physical system had a beginning?
So, have there always been a physical system that has existed, or has the physical system had a beginning?
once again : the Universe (as we know it) exists. Did it begin ? was it preceded by something else ? what exactly ? does this "something" also qualify as a "Universe" ? is it even possible to talk of "preceding", if time, as we know it, didn't exist ?
unfortunately, we are stuck with these questions
good (starry) night
Original post by Alexion
I guess we 'believe in' what has evidence to support it.
There is absolutely zero valid evidence suggesting there is a god. However, scientific theory points us toward evolution, the big bang, plausible ideas about what came before the big bang...
There is absolutely zero valid evidence suggesting there is a god. However, scientific theory points us toward evolution, the big bang, plausible ideas about what came before the big bang...
*crying with laughter* listen honey to this very day science has not proven how the big bang started in terms of how the centre of explosion happened, how is it possible to make a hypothesis about after events when those very scientists (which you atheists lean on for prove about the universe) haven't even figured out how the core of everything happened to prove after events right
(edited 8 years ago)
Original post by malaikaxx
*crying with laughter* listen honey to this very day science has not proven how the big bang started in terms of how the centre of explosion happened, how is it possible to make a hypothesis about after events when those very scientists (which you atheists lean on for prove about the universe) haven't even figured out how the core of everything happened
Your poor understanding of cosmology is painfully obvious.
Original post by Hydeman
Your poor understanding of cosmology is painfully obvious.
my physics teacher told us that scientists to this date haven't figured out 100% how this centre of explosion really happened as in what triggered the reaction and how this dot managed to explode in such a large scale to make what we call today the universe
Original post by Hydeman
Your poor understanding of cosmology is painfully obvious.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdpknMMyxyE PROVE THAT GOD EXISTS
Original post by Tahira__
What would you believe is the purpose of life?
The two are different questions and I don't understand why one is so frequently asked after the other is answered.
Tldr:
Life doesn't need to have meaning. Life can have meaning without God. God can exist without life having meaning.
Original post by malaikaxx
my physics teacher told us that scientists to this date haven't figured out 100% how this centre of explosion really happened as in what triggered the reaction and how this dot managed to explode in such a large scale to make what we call today the universe
And what level of study are you at? Presenting what your teacher told you as if it's actually evidence for anything speaks volumes about your suitability to discuss science, as do the terms ('this dot') you're using to make your case.
Also, we haven't figured out anything with 100 percent certainty.
These apologetics might work wonders at your local madrassa, but even you should be able to work out that this website mainly attracts slightly more educated types.(edited 8 years ago)
Original post by malaikaxx
my physics teacher told us that scientists to this date haven't figured out 100% how this centre of explosion really happened as in what triggered the reaction and how this dot managed to explode in such a large scale to make what we call today the universe
Too much common sense is usually the main reason I have found.
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