Question for Atheists?

Question

I'm fairly new to Yahoo Answers, therefore new to this "Ask a question, receive a debate" thing, so please take it easy on me. But I do have a question for people who do not believe in God. Not because I'm trying to prove something but because I simply don't know what you do believe regarding to how this whole thing began.
My thing is this.Say the "science" professors are correct. Say this all began by a particle of gas, an atom, a molecule, whatever. How did that come into existence? Did nothing collide with nothing to form something? To me, the only explanation to the origin of a finite being is an infinite being. Who made the molecule, atom?
What do Atheists believe? Do they believe in any form of higher being at all? Do they believe that when you die, you cease to exist altogether,for the rest of eternity?
Thanks ahead to the ones that answer sincerely.

I put the word science in quotation marks because I don't take what they say for granted. Some of the "science" that was taught fifty years ago have since been disproven, and I question everything I am told. As to my intentions, it is curiosity, nothing else. I had a real problem with this question when I was younger, and I was simply curious as to what other people think. Don't get me wrong, I've already come to my own personal conclusions, and my intention was not to share what my conclusions are. Just wondering what other people thought , that's all

Thank you Salient2. That really helped me better understand, and your sincerity is appreciated. And to Larissa, I did ask that of Christians, and to be honest most of the answers that I received were not sufficient. That's why I had to come up with answers on my own for my personal peace of mind.

To wrathpuppet, by saying "We don't know" should not be an opportunity for others to say "I told you so", or any other lame comebacks. You displayed honesty with your answer, and your honesty displayed humility, and by displaying humility you exemplify wisdom.
To all who answered my question: I look at some of the other "questions" asked by both sides of the table in other topics and I can understand why both parties are so apprehensive to questions such as mine. All sides ask questions because they have some great comeback waiting to belittle the other party. But some of the answers get pretty offensive. I would never make light of something that you believe to be the truth, and I would hope that others would reciprocate the same respect. Unfortunately, this doesn't happen, and everyone loses out on getting some good questions answered. Thanks to all again, you took it easier on me than I expected.

Answer 1

Bing Bang ... stuff blows up, flys away for a while, then gravity pulls it all back together into a huge balck hole, which leds to another big bang.

Death is death. You pass out and do not wake up.

The purpose of life is to enjoy it, and to make sure your children do it as well.

Answer 2

This one is actually quite easy, if you are willing to accept the answer.

We don't know.

It's as simple as that. Sadly, the faithful often see our admission that we do not have all the answers as a failure on our parts. The truth is that we never claimed to have all the answers. All we have said is that just because something is unknown does not mean that it is unknowable. A hundred and fifty years ago the causes of infection were not known. It took the invention of the microscope to prove why many new mothers died shortly after giving birth.

Right now we lack the technology and knowledge base to fully understand and comprehend the origin of the universe. The only thing I can say with certainty is that religion is too divided, with too little consensus to have a handle on the truth. Not every creation myth can be right. And now, knowing what we do know about the universe and the age of the Earth I think that we can dismiss all creation stories as merely metaphor and allegory.

So, we don't know. I hope you'll take this as a humble admission and not leap at us as some others are wont to do. Often times this statement is received with cries of "Aha! So you don't have all the answers." The fact is that atheists and science never claimed to. Having all the answers has always been the claim of the faithful, not of us.

Answer 3

The main point is, that religions were invented by the humen about 5000-8000 years ago, and it is a fact.

Fact also is, that the solar system`s every step is proven by science.

The minor fact, that scientist can`t explain where the first bacteria came into universe, does not leave any room for god theories, because they were invented for the different reasons: to collect food supplies from farmers by church taxes and threatened them by killing if not given to church.

When a human being dies, -Life-it is over. If the body is burried without burning, then the bacteria`s of the corps continue living, but it is only a bacteria. Not a soul or anything.

There is no higher beings, there is no gods, there is no ghosts.
It is all a full fairytale, and intelligent and realistic people can not be fooled by that kind of things.

Religions are these days commonly used as a shield for real intentions.

Answer 4

I'm not exactly an atheist, more an agnostic with Deist tendencies, but that's probably close enough. One opinion I've formed from observing these debates is that religious people have less tolerance for uncertainty and ambiguity than non-theists. You ask "where did the first atom come from?" Science says, "we don't know, but we're working on it", and I think that's cool, let me know what you find out. Religion says "simple, God did it" and believers are relieved at not having that uncertainty hanging over them.

When people talk to me about religion, I see it as arising out of their need for answers. To me, that kind of thinking closes the mind to the true wonders of existence. It led people to reject heliocentrism in the 17th century, and it leads them to reject modern cosmology today.

To me, an infinite or circular sequence of natural causality is at least as reasonable as the existence of an eternal and all powerful being who not only created it, but expects us believe in a collection of middle-eastern stories dating back to the bronze age.

As for what happens after death, I'm sure no one on this side knows. I'd like to think that consciousness is eternal, but even if it is, I suspect it goes on in a very different form from what we are now experiencing. On the other hand, there was a time in the past when this consciousness was not aware, it's not too hard to think there will come a like time in the future. Here again, religion offers certainty: you'll be reunited with your ancestors, you meet Jesus, you get 72 virgins; don't worry your little head, just follow these rules and put money in the plate.

The existence of so many competing religions suggests that they're all made of the same cloth. If you've found one that works for you, that's your path. That's okay , but it's not mine.

Answer 5

When you ask "Who made the molecule, atom" you are begging the question. The 'who' assumes it must have been created by someone. This is exactly what we do NOT believe.

Yes, atheists reject the idea that there's some higher being (otherwise, they'd be theists, not atheists). When you die, you are bye-bye. That is, you, as a person; of course your body remains.

There's a movement among atheists to call themselves 'brights'. You could google these terms, also skeptics, and probably find some sites. If you are respectful, and don't try to convert (believe me, we've heard it all before) they would probably answer more of your questions, or at least turn you on to good reading material. There are countless books by former believers on why they no longer believe.

Answer 6

The reason that people believe in a god is because they do not want to believe that when they die, they go nowhere. People want to think that they have a purpose or meaning in life and that death will not stop that for them. I am an athiest, and I believe in the logical apsect of everything. When a body dies, it decomposes and that's the end of that. Unfortunately, humans have strong emotions of love, fear, hate, etc. It is hard for most people to face the true side of the story.

As for the "beginning of time" deal, nobody living on this earth was there to see how the earth was "created" or the universe for that matter. A lot of people choose the easy way out and believe that a "higher being" must have done it. In my opinion, those people are just not interested in the logical/scientific side of it.

Answer 7

I don't know how life began. I am open to the idea that a higher source "created" whatever it was that began life, but I don't see that source as being a god.

What makes me an atheist is that I don't believe in a personal god. I don't think it is possible or reasonable to think that a higher being, if there is one, would be interested in the tiresome workings of human lives. It is very self centered to think that "god" would care at all about you, me, or anyone else.

I have no problem with the belief that there may be a higher source of power, but I don't think we could ever understand it, and I think religion is a sad excuse for understanding.

I do believe that death is the end of all things, and that life has no defined reason. I don't believe in sin or creationism, and I think that Christianity holds no truth. If you look at any religion from a completely secular standpoint, as I do, they cease to make any sense. I my explanation has helped you, please email me with any questions.

Answer 8

How difficult is it for you to ask yourself the same question? When you say it is so hard to believe an Atom collided with nothing to create the very first creation, do you not rationalize...'Well, how was 'God' created? How did 'He' begin?' For me, it is so much difficult to believe in 'God' always 'existing' than to believe in the Big Bang theory.
As difficult and depressing it is to believe, our life and existence ceases when we die and rot in the ground. I know it is difficult to accept the end, but that is it. There is no magical city paved in gold high in the clouds. It's hard to fathom the end, but we all die just like everything else.

Answer 9

Well, see the same question occurs to me about God...how did he come into existence? You say the explanation is an "infinite" being, but if that is acceptable, why is an infinite atom not acceptable to you? Why couldn't there just be an infinite "substance" called energy....maybe God is energy....

By the way, I'm not an atheist...I'm one of those wayaward souls unsure what to believe.

Answer 10

I understand you're new, honey, but you didn't notice the 14,000 similar questions that popped up when you were typing this?

I'm agnostic, and I trust science. The whole biblical god makes zero sense to me. I like that science leaves room for further discovery, new information. Religion doesn't do that. It may not have all of the answers, but at least science LOOKS.