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What Questions Do Atheists Struggle With?
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- Опубліковано 27 жов 2013
- What Questions Do Atheists Struggle With?
Hemant Mehta (www.friendlyath...)
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What to say as an atheist when a friend is suffering.
Them: Why is this happening to me?
Me: Hell if I know. But, I'll help you through it the best I can.
Sure beats 'I'll pray for you."
Followed by 'This will get better'. Most of us have learned this.
well, in our religious language, its called compassion.
@@rev.jon2277 I think it's called something to that effect in any language...
Rev.Jon2 Compassion is a word. You religionists Don’t own the language. Animals have been shown to be compassionate. Are they religionists?
What seems ironic to me, is that we atheists will frequently be accused of being know-it-alls, and accused of acting "so smart". "You think you're more intelligent?" is something we often get asked. But yet most atheists I know have no problem with saying: "I don't know." And then when we do, athiest as know-it-all suddenly changes to a triumphant: "Questions atheists cannot answer!!"
I think atheists are the only culture that is very comfortable saying "We know jack shit about the universe".
@@kennethkumayawe8351 it's a fact
Christian's are the one's who think they know it all
As an atheist, my life is filled with torturous questions like, "Why won't this *** jar open?" or "Who forgot to buy toilet paper?" or "Why's there no gas in the car?" It's horrible. Just horrible. Do you think those questions would go away if I became a believer?
Most likely not. Even if you tell some people that you are now a believer, there is always someone who you either didn't tell or they just weren't listening when you were telling them, and so they will probably still ask you these things. Besides, to stop believing in something because of what people say isn't really a good reason to stop believing.
haha lol XD
@@grzegorzbrzeczyszczykiewic563 Oooh! And that would give my life meaning and purpose, too! Oh, wow!
Of course it wouldn't be true, but what is non-truth to a believer but more reason to believe?
Mike ,sarcasm at it's best, well done ,l hope others get the message..Cheers Mick.
I can think of three: what's your character/avatar's name, how your character looks if it's customizable, and which starter pokemon.
+The6thMessenger those are really deep questions for an otaku.
+The6thMessenger btw, which manga is your avatar from? mine, i don't know... i just liked the drawing (maybe i'll change it for asahina or kyon).
julia skidel I think it's Giffany from Gravity Falls.
"Shit happens. Deal with it."
I'm an atheist. The only "question" I truly struggle with is the hard problem of consciousness.
***** (EDIT: This reply was a complete misunderstanding, so disregard it.)
*****...hmm, or did you mean I should read evolution to understand the hard problem of consciousness? Because I have, but I'm not convinced that it answers my question.
I've read the work done by Victor S Johnston, who deals with evolution and neuroscience. He talks about consciousness and how it is an emergent property, and explains why that is, but I'm still not satisfied.
***** Just want to point out that I'm an atheist, so there's no thought about magic involved.
I can see how all our capabilities can come about through evolution, but it doesn't answer the question of why I need to experience my life. The fact is that I don't experience verything about my life. Most of the time, I'm not aware that my hear is beating, but my brain is aware of it. Lots of things are going on, and is being responded to, but I'm completely unaware of it, on my conscious level.
I could just not be experiencing it, and my brain could still operate just fine. A computer can run extremely complicated programs, but at what point does it experience its existence?
I can't even ask the question in a satisfying way. :/ I don't know what consciousness really is, so I don't know what I'm really asking, and this is why I'ms truggling with this one question. And I'm not alone, which is why it's called "the hard problem of consciousness".
***** I'm sorry, but I don't think you've understood these things correctly. The way you describe it doesn't fit reality as I see it, and I don't think it's feasible for me to explain the difference between our viewpoints. :/
As for consciousness being an illusion, it seems contradictory to me, because then what is it that is experiencing this illusion? I don't even know if that is a useful question, but saying that consciousness is an illusion is self-contradicting, since illusions rely on a consciousness, afaik.
In any case, Victor S Johnston's way of putting it, that consciousness is an emergent property, at least comes close to answering it. But perhaps the question itself doesn't make sense.
Also, I try to stay away from philosophy. I'm not convinced this is a philosophical question. If it is, then perhaps I no longer neeed to ask it.
***** Yeah, but I've studied these things quite a lot. I'll continue, though.
You have a good day, aswell.
That one is pretty easy for me to answer, actually. It's all random - it's the way of life. There is no reason "why" and I am just fine with saying that to someone else. It's easier to believe that it's just random than to think some all-loving benevolent god is allowing it.
I........have no beer in the fridge........
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GOD DAMN IT MAN WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!
Damious100 Awkward...
i do. And you can't have any. and it's delicous Canadian beer too!
muwhahahaha
There is a bear in my bathroom taking a shit... and he needs paper.
I love how he laughs after saying shit
"...shit... hehe"
What questions do we "struggle with"?
Everything either has a pretty clear answer or it doesn't. Either way, I don't "struggle" with any questions. If I need to find an answer, I do research and if it has an answer, I figure it out. If it doesn't, I accept that it doesn't and I move on. No struggle necessary.
Idk i feel like as an atheist i struggle with those questions much less than when i was a christian. I now know exactly why i am suffering when I do suffer and why other people are suffering. I know a lot of things like modern depression comes from the fact that we evolved in a different environment than we live today. We dont live in tribes anymore we dont get enough physical exercise and we have a lot of stressors in our modern life which didnt exist. This actually gives me hope that we can fix that when we adjust our lifestyle (i started exercising much more and it helped me with my mood a lot) I also feel like i know why we get sick. Its because of bacteria viruses or because our bodies evolved not to care about certain things (we get cancer because back in the day it wasnt really the main killer we would die our of other factors way before we would get a chance to get cancer) I also take comfort in that because I know that i live in times where medicine can help me and i live 3-4 times longer than people lived in the wild before all the inventions. In fact if someone asked me why they are struggling i feel like i have much better answer than religious people can offer. When they are struggling with health i can tell them that we can find a cure for that problem in the future and its a really hopeful msg for me. And when they are struggling with depression i can tell them its not their fault its not because god hates them or that they are a bad person Its because we live in a very stressful environment and that we already are figuring out ways to deal with it (there is tons of ways that actually can help with depression or anxiety etc. We are studying the ways to deal with it right now and find out things like meditation is helpful and exercise more social contact) Also i can try to help the person going through hard time and i can talk to them about their problems in life. I feel like religion in a lot of ways makes those questions much harder to deal with. Im going through a hard time but god wants me to go through a hard time. I dont think that made it easy for me at all.
there's always a reason for everything. if you have cancer, you're either genetically predisposed to having cancer or you did something to cause it(smoking, working around heavy radiation, tanning beds, ect). if you're having a hard time with work, either someone else is causing that problem or you are. honesty is the best answer, if someone gets mad about you being honest, then they have a problem, not you.
ok so if god created all of us who created god?
When you think about it god is an Atheist himself, he doesn't believe that a higher power created him and that is the definition of an Atheist
TheShadowhawk2 That has just actually made my day mate
Bob Jones i totally agree creationists say everything needs a creator but they dont include their god in that logic
Man created gods... gods did not create man
I heard god was made in a sweatshop somewhere in China, so be careful, he could be made out of materials known in the state of California to cause cancer.
the hardest thing for me as an atheist is to find a way to cope with the idea that there is no prospect for me to see beloved people again that i lost. this are the few moments when i wish i could still believe
I like this answer. I really do struggle with the "why" question and it's precisely because the most honest answer is that there is no "reason," at least not in the sense a theist would use the word. But I'm comforted by the honesty of my answer. Thanks.
Hey Hemant, thank you for making all these great videos. You said if we have questions or comments to leave them here, so I will. I recently came out as an atheist to the people around me. I've noticed recently that some of my teachers seem not to care to listen to what I have to say. This hurts and I miss being involved in discussion like I used to. Also recently whenever I post anything on Facebook that is pro gay rights or anti-religious I get swarmed by theist FB friends and am attacked on all sides until I am forced to take the post down. I've gotten into more debates since I've come out than in my entire life prior. Any help you could offer?
Hemant, you are a true inspiration. Keep up the awesome work. I love your videos and you truly help me in life. Thanks!
For the "why" questions, i think the most acceptable answer for an atheist is based on the chaos theory.
"Why do i have a cancer ?" Well because of the aging of your cells, because of all the chemical componds we absorb, because of the stress we are going through in a daily basis, because one cell just divided wrong and that created a cancer cell which then divided to form a tumour...
There isn't one reason, there are thousands of them combined for everything that happens. Everything happens for a reason because of causality : one cause produce consequences and this consequence is also a cause for other consequences and so on ...
A beautiful example of this goes like this : each rain drop falls where it falls because of thousands of factors like where it was formed in the clouds, the winds which it encounters on the way down, etc ... So basically, nothing in the universe behave randomly ( except maybe in the quantic field ).
My answer to the question "why this is happening to me?" It's life! There are good times and bad. Good times didn't last, bad times won't last either!
"Why" is a loaded word. It carries with it presumptions of purpose and intelligent agency. I think it's important to realize that for effects that are not man-made, that the "why" is really "how". When someone asks why, why did the Earthquake have to happen. The answer is really the how--plate techtonics.
It is hard to wrap my mind around that much pain. I'm sure the thoughts of many are with you. I am the exact age of your mom when she died. I wish there was something people could do to help you through the next year or two. But all they can do is listen and show they care. The best to you.
When someone asks me why unlucky things are happening to them, my answer is simple: mathematically speaking, due to the Central Limit Theorem, it is very likely that the overall 'luck' of all the actions they will have done in their lifetime will be about 0. Therefore, if something really unlucky is happening to them right now, it is probably good reason to think something really lucky, and equally as important, will happen to you in the future. May be super-nerdy, but it works: it sounds like I know what I'm talking about and is super-reassuring.
2:09 I know a Mormon cancer survivor who, when he first got cancer, heard very often "I'm sure there's a reason God is putting you through this." In a talk that he gave (while he still had the cancer), he explained that he wholeheartedly disagreed with this, and that he was pretty sure the reason he had cancer was just that some of the cells in his body decided to rebel and give him cancer. He completely agreed with the plain science behind the cause of his cancer, even though he was Mormon (and for that matter, he was our bishop at the time, and now he is our stake president). As a Mormon I would take no offense and I wouldn't think it's terrible to say something like that, and in fact, I'd probably agree with you. I don't know about other religions though (or even other Mormons).
Mentos Cubing yes cancer happens in a biologic way. Its not because of god or satan and really they both have more important things to do than giving a random person cancer for no reason
The question I have a real hard time with is "What kind of evidence would a divine being who never existed leave that would prove their non-existence?"
In this difficult time I wish you and your friend's family well. Let empathy forge closer ties you already have with your loved ones and help you transition from this time of sadness.
Why: If you believe in god it was his plan or will. An atheist not having god to lean on has to deal with reality, study the problem and through research and questioning professionals gets the best answer possible in human understanding.,
I think that a good answer to the why dilemma, is silence. Silence is powerful, deep and can be meaningful in of itself.
It can be challenging to offer comfort to grieving friends. So many things we might want to say would be completely insensitive. I have found that just offering them your physical presence, hugs and shared tears, is enough. When the time comes that conversation involves questions about a possible afterlife, I dont hesitate to offer my opinion, I lean towards there is nothing, but ultimately cannot rule out the possibility. There is comfort in oblivion though, when understood with perspective
I completely agree with this, right now I have a friend whose wife cousin recently passed away after a surgery went wrong. No more than a week later my friend had an uncle to pass away. On facebook my friends wife is asking for prayer and there is the logical part of me that says "Why? What would prayer do?" (not directly to her, just me thinking that) but there is this other part of me that is kinda like "I wish at this moment I could believe in a god just so I could tell her I would pray for her." So yeah that's the most difficult thing, I'm honestly afraid that one of them is just going to burst out eventually and ask me why this is happening to them, but then I think they already know what my answer would be, so I really hope not.
What I would do in such a situation would be to tell them they are in my thoughts, and then offer my time if they needed to talk.
I have had my share of tough moments and I tend to ask why not? It is life. It is unpredictable. It does happen so why not me? And then the next questions tend to be along the lines of: What can it teach me? How can it help me grow? How can I use this experience, which is not typical to everybody, to enrich me and those around me. I find that Why is often asked to find blame. What for is often asked to find meaning. I prefer the latter.
You are the most open and kind atheist I've ever heard. You seem to be a very stable man who can talk with and get along with almost anyone. This video is a great representation for the atheist community to follow. You absolutely have the right attitude!
I'm struggling with only one question that-- How can I tell them that god is in their mind only as ghosts, fairy tails, superman, harry potter world etc. I know this is bitter for them but it's true.
Find out their level of belief. If they are evangelical, say nothing until you can support yourself and are ready to never need them again. If they are agnostic or deist, you don't have to wait, just break it to them easily. If they believe in miracles and crap, but don't go to church, be a little more careful and research your topic first. Hope it goes well
Just because we might not have a reason for something happening doesn't mean you can't be encouraging. Like, if someone asked me why they were diagnosed with depression, I might say something like 'No one knows the answer to that, but what I do know is that you are a strong person, and I think this will make you even stronger.'
I'm sorry for your loss. Maybe you can take some comfort in the fact that they were here, and got to experience life, with all the joy and heartache that entails. They do live on in your DNA and your memories of them. And probably would want you to remember them with love, but not grieve overly for them.
Tina, I moved from fundamentalism to atheism & it seems to me we need some "lead time" before we can process the finality of death well. It took time for my mind to adjust to this life being all there is. But after a year or 2 of learning to cherish THIS life, I no longer miss the thot of not seeing loved ones again. Total change of mind set does work (does make it easier to accept finality, does make this life MUCH more precious & better, but it does take time for the mind to make the switch.
I meet my family or friends and have a fantastic time laughing, talking, sharing gifts while showing the love we feel for each other. What else would be necessary?
can you do a video about how you feel about death and does it make you sad that once you die everything you knew disappears and all memories go away and never going to live again
+Saul Abonce
Do you remember how you felt before being born?
Being dead feels the same.
I think that having no answer is better than having the wrong answer. When someone I care about is going through a difficult situation, and the Why question comes up, I am reduced to telling the truth, which is I don't know, and try to comfort them by being there for them, having some empathy for their situation, listening to them while they try to sort it out. They don't need to hear any platitudes from me, maybe they just need someone to talk to. Not all questions require an iron-clad answer.
When you said that it's hard for you to explain to other people why bad things are happening to them, it made me wonder if that was one of the catalysts for religions themselves. Because it IS really hard to answer people's distraught questions after something horrific has happened, but you want to tell them... something. So maybe many of these stories of afterlives were started as little white lies from that discomfort of not knowing what to say in that situation. This could aid in the form of someone in mourning (paradise afterlife for somebody's deceased grandmother), justice (someone who betrayed them, from whom they will never have retribution, will be punished), and even as a means to explain why bad things happen to good people and good things happen to bad people (Karma, afterlife reward/punishment). It is that very discomfort we've always had with not knowing how to tell someone that life just isn't fair and there may be no reward afterwards, that has caused us to start to believe and accept the very opposite. But although that may comfort you, it does not help you to believe a lie. And as atheists, we might finally be able to begin tackling that issue without the pressure of making things up.
Great video. The "why" question has never bothered me much, because there is a simple causality to be seen, usually. Why did my dad die of cancer? Because he smoked like a chimney. For me, the questions that trouble are along the lines of "What happens once I die?" There, I'm concerned that I will simply fall into oblivion, and for some reason that scares me. I don't know why. It shouldn't. I was not aware of things before I was born. Heck, I don't even remember my infancy. But there you go.
Honest answers, including, "I don't know," "The world isn't a fair place," and "That's life," are often the only answers there are. There's no point making up false purpose just to comfort someone going through a tough time. Better to find a way to prop them up with hope that tomorrow will be a better day and life, with all its ups and downs, goes on.
there is a point that knowledge is so vast that single person can know everything . so it is considered that all atheists know whole science it is wrong .but believers can give an easy answer god did it . and escape out.
Yes sir, agree to that.. it's a question and answers to everyone who ask! no matter what their beliefs
Sorry for your loss ,I feel the same way.
2:36-47 The funny and ironic thing is Hemant, you just summarized the Book of Job. LOL. :)
Around the time you made this video, my dad had just had one of his lungs cut out because of a tumour that started on his thymus and grew onto his lung. He's not a smoker; it was endocrine cancer, not lung cancer. I remember being in class one day and just laying my head down on my desk, and, quietly as I could, just sobbing my freaking heat out for an hour and a half straight. I had been sitting t the front of the room, and I came up for air for a sec and my professor saw my face, and after class, he didn't make a big deal of it, but he just asked me if there was anything he could do. I told him my dad was dying of cancer 9he didn't die, by the way, so happy ending), and my professor was just very gentle and good with me after that and said that, if I needed a break, if I wanted to hand stuff in late, anything I needed, he'd be fine with it. I was already close with him at this point--he is, and I'm not even kidding, among the most empathetic, intelligent, loving people I have ever met--so after that, I kind of just went to him about my concerns. He was close enough to me to care, and care deeply, but not so close to the issue that it would make him catatonic like it was making me, and I asked him why it was happening, and he said thee WAS no answer to that question. Not emotionally satisfying, no, but when you're not wallowing in "why", you can focus your mind a little more on the "how" of how you're going to get through it. There IS no answer...so one just has to go on. Even if the answer is "It just is," it's important to focus on the people who love you, who want you to be okay. And no matter who you are, those people exist. Once I knew that my ACTUAL dad was going to pull through, I even started calling that professor "dad" in gest. I definitely don't need a substitute, but hey, having more than one of anything so meaningful is always nice.
I watch your videos all the time and they are the best. Thanks for all you do.
Most cosmologists believe that there was always energy. There was just an unstable singularity, a point of immense energy that eventually began to expand. At some point during the expansion the universe was cool enough that matter could form from the energy. It's ... a lot of stuff that can be sometimes hard to comprehend, especially with the migraine I'm suffering through right now. If you get the chance, watch "Through the Wormhole" on the science channel.
When people ask me why bad things happen I tell them "Shit happens". Which it does!
It's innappropriate to some people how much I see the determinism behind most the deaths that I have experienced in my life.
For me, the question of why this happened? and why this happened to me? Can usually be defaultly answered by determinism and just admitting that some things are outside my control.
However, being an existentialist also lays anyone's death or failings on me to an extent and I have to accept responsibility for my lack of action where ever it is obvious.
When my friends go through a rough time and ask "Why?" I tell them that I don't know but I'm here for them if they need/want my help.
Thank you, I need to make my answers and stop wallowing in depression and anger.
Honestly life's not easy. Life is like a poker game. Some days you're on a winning streak, some days no matter what you play it winds up being beaten. And it's the same with life. You'll have great days, an upswing, things are going your way, then the next day you get hit by a bus. Shit happens. And the fact that people can't handle that is kind of sad. And in continuing with this poker metaphor the way the religious deal with life's downswings is kind of the same how idiots who on a losing streak will claim the game is rigged instead of actually finding out about variance. They'd rather make excuses and pretend like they're not the ones losing it's just all rigged and it's the same for the religious with life's upswings and downswings. They don't know why they're losing the game of life so they make the assumption it's all part of god's plan. It's easier to not face reality and to make excuses instead of facing the shittier aspects of life.
So, why do we exist?
1. There can't be nothing; nothing is perfection in a weird way, but it is and perfection is not possible.
2. Mass make time slower. If there is no mass, time does not really exist, as every amount of time is over immediately. This causes the big bang to happen right the universe starts to "be".
3. There were no physical laws before the big bang. They came a very very short time afterwards, which makes a big bang possible.
My answer to a friend in need: Life is tough. Life is unfair. You either deal with it yourself, or you can lie down and do nothing. Learn from your mistakes and maybe life will get better.
"Why" is a bad question to ask objectively since its very nature is subjective and that of philosophy. A more objective question is "how," something that can be defined.
Why asks for a reason, and reason is not easily defined is another way to put this.
I agree with you 100%. Unfortunately, the dropping to the knees and crying out "Why?!" In a moment of despair has ruled the thinking human for thousands of years. "Why god have you forsaken me?" When I have lived as you commanded, prayed, praised you, and still my leg has been blown off right along side those who do not adore you or who live wrongly. This is an observation even the most devout religious people have made. When the plague hit all the people died, including the religious people.
Sometimes greatness comes at a heavy price.
the answer to the why questions = Undefined. but the case of a suffering friend, he dosent want you to answer the question lituraly, he just needs some comfort.
Keep up the videos mate they're great
I am a Christian and would like to ask a question, if it offends you I would like to appologize in advance. You said in this video you can't answer the "why" question and that made me wander do atheist in general just simply believe in chaos theory or do you believe that there is some order to what seems to be chaos? Or do you have a whole other theory for "why"?
Great video. As usual. Cheers
In those situations (with a suffering friend), I like your "there's no good reason" answer, or even better, "I don't know (but I'm here for you)."
For other big questions of a less personal nature, I think the question "How?" serves us better than "Why?" In a sense, how IS why.
I'm having a big struggle to wean myself off in belief in a deity or deities and at times I'm a strong agnostic or at times a Pantheist. So how can I who have had years of indoctrination to believe in some male deity to embrace a more atheistic view and totally move towards strong atheistic stance? I am also suffering from anxiety, which I am being helped from a medical professional with the aid of medications and counseling sessions. My anxiety constantly has been a part of my struggle from the point of view I have towards atheism. When I'm anxious, I revert back to that male deity. Two steps forward, and ten steps back. Please help. Thank you.
If you want to be an atheist, read the bible while looking for contradictions and 'wtf?' Moments that make God look evil. Also research RNA and DNA, which is the building blocks for life. And if you want to be a theist, avoid the Old Testament and go to a small church, not a mega church. Hope this helps ;)
It is a scary exercise to consider. Just how far can understanding of determining factors go before the world seems hopelessly deterministic. Will we eventually have to settle for the illusion of free will?
I have a question. I am an incoming freshman at the University of Florida. It is a 50,000 student campus and I know there will be several times where an evangelical comes up and tries to talk to me, or even possibly someone preaching hellfire to me. I'm not a pacifist when it comes to situations like that, I'm sort of militant. What's the best follow up statement/question to ask him/her?
In my opinion, there's nothing wrong to have a remote hope that an afterlife exists where your friend may find solace. As a mindful atheist, I believe we should not claim that a supernatural of some sort does not exist absolutely, but regard its possibility as statistically insignificant that religion and faith should not influence our train of thought and behavior. That said, if such hope helps bring you ease, then indulge a bit. But beware. Religion ensnares through one's vulnerabilities.
The above may sound self-important and almost like a statement straight from a scientologist, but believe me when I say that I don't take myself too seriously.
But being a person without super-natural beliefs puts you in a interesting position when divining self-worth and significance from any event.
Interesting subject..
One question for me would be - what would (could) convince me that there is something non-natural?
The more i learn the harder this question becomes.
this reminds me of when a girl came up to me and said "so and so said that atoms never touch so I can never touch anyone" I said at the time "he's right there is nothing I can say" but now I would say "electromagnetic pulse's penetrate the barrier's between all people"
One question that makes me Agnostic is how did the universe start something needed to make it a reaction but what made the reaction start and how did the thing that started said reaction come into being.
If we go with the logic everything was created nothing can have been always there we come to a stand point.
By the logic something needs to exist for x to happen
The universe is was either
Void
or something was always there.
I don't have a hard time answering any questions. 1) I either know the answer and tell them; 2) I tell them I don't know and point them in the direction they can find the answer; or 3) I research the answer and let them know my findings.
I am still trying to figure out what to say when someone dies. It's hard to console someone about that without the idea that they can see that person again or that the person is in a "better place."
Probability & chance, life style, genetics/family history, are the reason for all these things. I think many people of faith & some without faith don't understand the degree to which these things effect out daily lives, & therefore its easier to attribute events in our lives to something else, especially when those events are emotionally overwhelming, like an injured, dying, or dead loved one. Things like natural disasters can likewise seem like they are caused by some supernatural power.
Yess
They dont have to be in a special place to be remembered, you can still remember and enjoy the things you did with him, just because he is not here now does not mean he never existed.
"Why is this happening to me?"
This is in the same vein as a child asking why the sky is blue and then just repeatedly asking why until the parent gives up. The key to understanding this question is two-fold: first this is the one bezillionth time they are repeating this question and second that like a child, "there is no known answer" is unsatisfactory to them. The question is not the issue, but the underlying psychology of not being able to accept the unknown and the unknowable.
At times like these I ask myself, "Can I use this information to better the lives of others as well as myself." If I can't give a solid "yes" to this question, than it's not useful information to share with.
I remember Hitchens talking about his cancer and saying, why...why not? He stated that his family had a history of this cancer and he was a habitual smoker and drinker. I think his point was, why should he think himself any different than everyone else that gets cancer? Millions of people world wide get cancer every year, why should he be any different than them. He is not special and therefore neither are we or anyone else. I like the rationality of how he explained his feelings.
I have a question... Why or how do u celebrate Christmas?
I haven't seen the speakers name yet but he seems real.
I have been a Christian for years but never really found any peace. I saw the people around me getting it or something. I find manageable peace of mind without the hell and heaven story. Knowing that the purpose of life is to do the best i can in this short life to make the world a better place for my children to live. Not to sell a lie of Christianity or any other god. I don't believe anybody has really talked to god.
It's not just unlikely. It's inherently less probable than nature simply being eternal as long as there's no evidence for the creator, and therefore belief in the creator is irrational. That's why there's no more point in being agnostic about that than the possibility of a Matrix scenario.
Moreover, asking about a "start" of "the sum of everything that exists" is a contradiction in terms because it presupposes that the utter absence of all properties has creative potential.
i struggle with pre big bang but god is never a thought at any time because if you include a creater than you have to ask what created the creater.The begining has to be simple and evolve in complexity. there is nothing that just pops into existence fully formed
Quoting Bill Paxton in the movie Twister: "things go wrong, you can't explain it, you can't predict it. "
I was going to end with natural disasters can likewise seem like the are caused by a supernatural power. When people commit acts of violence, especially things like mass murder, harming children, etc, it can seem like some evil force is behind their actions, if you don't understand human psychology, sociology, biology,to some degree, as they have shown us why many people do such things. As we do more research we will learn more about why people do such things & hopefully how to prevent them.
Exactly but when we think about it what is this god when they say god they may be talking about the energy that built the universe.
But i have a few ideas on how the universe was created
1. We created ourselves yes its farfetched but you know
2. Creation by the destruction of an alternate universe
I'd like to know what you mean by; "I don't think we're ready of that."?
But anyhow, just based on from what I remember it was thought that the universe was expanding, and in the late 1920's Edwin Hubble found proof of that expansion. Therefore the universe had to have a been altogether at one point, and the big bang is simply the name given to that.
But anyhow, I'd recommend watching videos about the big bang from Michio Kaku and or Lawrence Krauss to get better information. Have good one! :)
True
i always just say shit happens
I think the hardest thing for to answer is the move the goal post question. It just seems like I can never reach the end.
Answering why someone else is struggling is also another question you could answer. Granted it won't be an easy answer, and you'll end up asking more questions to find out.
Or, better yet, just suggest to that someone to talk to a therapist :)
I'm struggling with others' expectation that Non-Believers should have an answer to any "why" question to begin with. Why do we have to have an answer at all? It doesn't mean that I don't sympathize with someone's pain, but that I should have an alternate answer to their "why" dilemma is just silly to me. I don't pretend to know things nor do I feel compelled to sugar coat the fact that I don't always know. I won't make shit up to make someone feel better either. That is what religion is for.
I lost both my parents this summer , I've had the I will pray for you. I just sometimes wish I wasn't atheist sometimes and still believed in the fairy tale so I had it in my head I would see them again... But in reality they are just dead never to be heard from again... No words of comfort from my mom , no dad to help me when I need it ... Just over and done with forever.
There's an easy answer: "Because life sucks."
Which one of them? There are so many things that are credited to have created the universe.
This is my favorite answer to questions such as "Why did this have to happen to me?"
Response: "That's a good question."
Many pre-Christian cultures in Europe celebrated a mid-winter festival. The Norse celebrated Yule. The Romans celebrated Saturnalia. The Roman Mithras cult celebrated Natalis Invicti on December 25th. Christians simply "Christianized" the day, the way they did the Celtic pagan holiday Samhain (Halloween), and pre-Christian Anglo-Saxons celebrated their fertility goddess, Eostre, in April. From which we get the name, Easter. So the real question is why do Christians celebrate Christmas?
as to "why" though stuff happens to me: bc of ppl who have influence/power over me and/or bc I did sth. stupid and/or it was plain "bad luck" (shit happens)/coincidence/unavoidable.
easy.
I think when someone asks me, atheist to atheist, why the bad things happen, I mostly tell them that I don't know, but that there's a very strong support group of people for them. That's about all you can do.
like normal really love our family and exchange good will and gifts only real difference is going to church and the nativity scene
I have a question. Why or how so u celebrate Christmas?