The Atheism Thread - Part 5

[Thundercrack85]

The most anti-thestic game I ever played was probably Grandia II.

If you're an atheist, and you like old school RPGs, it's definitely worth checking out.

 

[Sloth7d]

I actually did play Grandia II as a child but I can barely remember it. That game had a plot about some evil god's body parts being possessed by several antagonist in the game, right? I think I remember your rival having the god's horn or something.

 

[zeroapoc]

One more atheist right here!

 

[Hawkingbird]

I'm kind of an atheist, but I accept that to completely deny the possibility of a creator is just plain ignorant.

 

[Thundercrack85]

Well, as plain ignorant as it is to rule out anything else based on zero evidence.

But I have come to terms with the fact that humans may be genetically predisposed towards being religious.

Even the most educated human is susceptible to religion. It's just our nature.

 

[Lighthouse]

Well, as plain ignorant as it is to rule out anything else based on zero evidence.

But I have come to terms with the fact that humans may be genetically predisposition towards religion.

Even the most educated human is susceptible to religion. It's just our nature.

I think it's our nature to need to find an answer to the unknown. When the asnwer is out of our reach, we'll create our own.

 

[Thundercrack85]

I think it's our nature to need to find an answer to the unknown. When the asnwer is out of our reach, we'll create our own.

Definitely. Though, I think it's only logical. Before Darwin (and really, a bunch of other scientists in multiple fields), you couldn't be an atheist. At least not a happy one.

We have only recently begun to understand our true nature, and place in the universe. Most of the species is still in deep denial, which is understandable.

500 years ago, we learned we weren't the center of the universe. 200 years ago, we learned the world wasn't created for us. And now it is becoming (slowly) apparent that we may not be the only intelligent life in the universe. It's going to take time for those revelations to sink in. If they ever do.

 

[zeroapoc]

I'm kind of an atheist, but I accept that to completely deny the possibility of a creator is just plain ignorant.

I don't think a belief that there isn't a creator makes someone ignorant.

 

[zeroapoc]

Well, as plain ignorant as it is to rule out anything else based on zero evidence.

But I have come to terms with the fact that humans may be genetically predisposed towards being religious.

Even the most educated human is susceptible to religion. It's just our nature.

Most likely the concept of an afterlife and religion emerged around the time we became intelligent enough to be aware of our own future deaths.

 

[Hawkingbird]

Definitely. Though, I think it's only logical. Before Darwin (and really, a bunch of other scientists in multiple fields), you couldn't be an atheist. At least not a happy one.

We have only recently begun to understand our true nature, and place in the universe. Most of the species is still in deep denial, which is understandable.

500 years ago, we learned we weren't the center of the universe. 200 years ago, we learned the world wasn't created for us. And now it is becoming (slowly) apparent that we may not be the only intelligent life in the universe. It's going to take time for those revelations to sink in. If they ever do.

We won't. And if you think like that you can't believe in Science.

 

[Thundercrack85]

The other apes might be able to shed some light on that.

I wouldn't be surprised if chimpanzees for example have some vague concept of an afterlife. They certainly mourn their dead.

 

[Thundercrack85]

We won't. And if you think like that you can't believe in Science.

Well, I think it goes without saying that many people don't and or can't believe in science.

 

[Spider-Aziz]

I have a few questions:

1. Explosions kill and destroy, but the Big Bang created planets and stars. How can that happen?

2. Assuming it can arrange particles differently: Water falls, tectonics, different layers of the planet, the ways things are combined to make formulas, mountains and hills, flat grounds, oceans, rivers, rivers pouring in seas and their water don't mix or trade salt, and so on. What made these if there is no intelligent design? Or as we say, A God?

3. Explosions form heat, what made various temperatures from a massive explosion? Why is the arctic super freezing and stars extra hot?

4. How come DNA, the base of life is formed?

5. Evolution is acceptable, and apes turned humans? What made those apes exist? If they evolved from micro organisms, what originated them? If they are formed from something else, like Earth's clay, how come humans -evolved from apes as evolution states- can not be formed from the same thing?

What in these omits the need to believe in a God? And what made intelligent societies like ancient Romans, Old days Egyptians, Aztic and Maya, believe in a higher being or more? If science should deny that, they had enough reason to think purely of nature instead of God(s)

 

[moviedoors]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_of_the_gaps

 

[E-Man]

I have a few questions:

1. Explosions kill and destroy, but the Big Bang created planets and stars. How can that happen?

2. Assuming it can arrange particles differently: Water falls, tectonics, different layers of the planet, the ways things are combined to make formulas, mountains and hills, flat grounds, oceans, rivers, rivers pouring in seas and their water don't mix or trade salt, and so on. What made these if there is no intelligent design? Or as we say, A God?

3. Explosions form heat, what made various temperatures from a massive explosion? Why is the arctic super freezing and stars extra hot?

4. How come DNA, the base of life is formed?

5. Evolution is acceptable, and apes turned humans? What made those apes exist? If they evolved from micro organisms, what originated them? If they are formed from something else, like Earth's clay, how come humans -evolved from apes as evolution states- can not be formed from the same thing?

What in these omits the need to believe in a God? And what made intelligent societies like ancient Romans, Old days Egyptians, Aztic and Maya, believe in a higher being or more? If science should deny that, they had enough reason to think purely of nature instead of God(s)

Evolution and the Big Bang are theories that are used to push toward better answers when more knowledge is present as opposed to invoking intelligent design. Plus humans didn't evolve from apes but creatures like apes, and that's why we have apes in addition to humans at the same time.

As for other societies believing in intelligent design, that's not a sign that the universe was created by intelligent design but rather the limited conclusion of humanity to put a face to answer questions that they don't have present knowledge on. Before we knew what the sun was people though it was a god walking in the sky, but as time went on we figured that it's something else. That's why the Big Bang and Evolution is important because it keeps us pressing forward for answers with credible evidence besides sitting back and saying that god did it. It's why I consider religion just a poor form of science because it stops and gives an answer without verifying anything.

 

[Dr.]

I have a few questions:

1. Explosions kill and destroy, but the Big Bang created planets and stars. How can that happen?

Comparisons and metaphors can greatly assist in understanding. So describing the Big Bang as an explosion (the mother of all explosions) is useful - and accurate to a point. But by definition, metaphors aren’t exact or perfect. A conventional explosion is the expansion of matter and force over a very short time and into a pre-existing space. The Big Bang, however, created everything - matter, force(s), time and space. And it’s here that the simplistic comparisons to an “explosion” break down. The BB is its own, utterly unique and mysterious event.

But once you have matter and energy and the rules that govern their interactions (physics), much is comprehensible. E.g., localized pockets of (relatively) higher gravity will produce galactic clusters, individual galaxies, stars and planets (etc.).

 

[zeroapoc]

I have a few questions:

1. Explosions kill and destroy, but the Big Bang created planets and stars. How can that happen?

The Big Bang wasn't an explosion. Not in that sense anyway.

 

[NickNitro]

The Big Bang wasn't an explosion. Not in that sense anyway.

Do tell

 

[zeroapoc]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inflation_(cosmology)

 

[NickNitro]

yeah I'm not gonna read all of that....how about you talk about it instead of posting links.

As for the initial question by the OP I'll "leave it". I am a learned man, but I enjoy having faith in something. It gives me a higher sense of purpose, sense of meaning to my life that I live. Whether it gets me through the day emotionally, or what have you, having a spiritual release can be nice from time to time.

Asking for forgiveness is one way. It may in the end not matter when we die, but I feel its a more emotional and psychological state you put yourself in. You may not think anyone's listening when you're confessing your sins, but to acknowledge what you've done is wrong, to say it out loud or in your head, and to be sorry for it, and to strive to be better I feel is makes you a better human being.

Moral and immoral values bestowed upon us in society and religion alike run parallel with each other. As I grow older I see that. So having no faith, or all the faith in the world, we as moral human beings understand the laws of nature and our duty to one another living on this planet. To live harmoniously, love one another, and to treat each other with care and compassion.

As I grow older I tend to question my faith. I don't agree 100% with Christianities beliefs as I am also a Liberal. I try and stay on a righteous path nonetheless, making good decisions that not only help me, but my community as well.

 

[Spider-Aziz]

All these answers are decent attempts, but they are underwhelming, and leave more for question

What if this is the fact?

But I have come to terms with the fact that humans may be genetically predisposed towards being religious.

Can't we all come to a middle ground and say this completes that?
Something gotta reason the other

 

[Lighthouse]

All these answers are decent attempts, but they are underwhelming, and leave more for question

What if this is the fact?
Can't we all come to a middle ground and say this completes that?
Something gotta reason the other

 

[Thundercrack85]

What exactly is it you are trying to say?

 

[Spider-Aziz]

Sigh, it's not a question mark statement
Finding the science is discovering the wonders of the world
Let's say we discover the beauty of creation (this word comes out spontaneously), find the miracles, why would that drive one away from believing in a God instead of thinking: "Something like this is well devised, there must be a hand that worked on it being here"

 

[zeroapoc]

yeah I'm not gonna read all of that....how about you talk about it instead of posting links.

The link explains it. But since you can't be bothered to read it I'll sum it up as the expansion of space itself isn't the same as an explosion.