Question primarily for Atheists. How does materialism fit into your beliefs?

Question

Does your philosophy stipulate that the universe is nothing more than a collection of matter and energy, and that everything is explained as just chemical processes including life and human consciousness, or does it encompass more than that? I'm not trying to debate anything. I'm just curious as to what you believe about the nature of the universe.

Theists are also welcome to chime in, but please stick to answering the question at hand only. Thanks in advance.

Materialism is defined by the parameters stated in the description. It should not be confused with the philosophy of the acquisition of goods. Sorry for the confusion.

Answer 1

My philosophy is that there exists a finite quantity of energy in an infinite region. All that we know and interact with originated from a singularity-like concentration of that E_universe, through innumerable processes of matter creation and photon interaction. Chemistry (and thus biology) is what made us, but physics is what made chemistry. There is no omnipresent puppetmaster, that is somehow /above/ the universe, that is responsible for what exists. Our existence is the net result of a nearly infinite number of random events. Of course we are lucky, for lack of a better word, for this outcome, since any one of the events in the last 13.7 billion years that have cumulatively built our present could have been different and thus we may have not existed.

Raised as a Christian, it was not until my adult consciousness had developed (some time around 15) that I concluded that God probably did not exist. Only recently have I reasoned this to ~ 95% certainty. What kind of scientist would I be if I completely disregarded the idea that God exists? There is hardly enough proof either way to say with complete certainty, but enough evidence that I can conclude what I have, logically. I was helped to this conclusion by an essay written by Physicist Steven Weinberg (http://www.physlink.com/Education/essay_weinberg.cfm).

I understand that this is not supposed to incite debate, but while I'm up on my soapbox, I want to also acknowledge that while I don't believe in God, I also do not support religion. I do not believe that the majority religions actually impart morality on their followers or that religion yields a net good for society (in the US and elsewhere). And it disappoints me that so much of our society is governed by, or at least strongly under the influence of, religion. To quote Professor Weinberg, "with or without religion, good people can behave well and bad people can do evil; but for good people to do evil—that takes religion."

I don't pretend to know the truth about why everything is the way it is, but I have performed a considerable amount of independent research to form my belief structure. I strongly believe in the power that science holds to answer many of the questions about our existence an the place we reside. However, I do not think that science (and definitely not religion) will ever be able to answer that ultimate "why," if that question does in fact have an answer.

Answer 2

Probably less than people who claim to be God-fearing and are leering at their neighbors daughter or their friends' wives, or stealing and lying and causing harm to others...

The truth is that I don't care much for so-called material things. I can use new footwear but... I don't really care if they look a bit ratty, as long as they're comfortable.

Get a new camera? What for? My old film cameras and lenses are doing everything I need and I get far better image detail quality than if I went with the new flimsy, overpriced fad, digital technology.

I haven't bought a shirt in over 7 years! Oh, yes, I did buy a couple of pants last year. I need a new jacket but... what the heck, the old one still keeps me warm... well, maybe I'll get one since this one is really falling apart. Get a car...? Nah... public transportation gets me everywhere I need to go (besides, the cost of gas, insurance, registration, tires, oil, inspection, upkeep... nahhhh...).

The universe...? What makes you think that athiests go around thinking about such issues? You think we worry about how and when the earth or the universe came into being...? Hey, we have other things to worry about... bills, children, the neighborhood, crime, the war, terrorism... We just don't believe in supernatural matters, that's all. Hey, just as you don't believe in Peter Pan... you know? In fact, if not for differences of religions or RELIGIONS, period, there wouldn't be this so-called terrorist threat right now all over the world.

Whether I believe or not... will that help me feel safer getting on a plane or a crowded subway train? Will it pay my rent?

Answer 3

ok, I dont really understand your question too well. The explanation has nothing to do with materialism. To answer your question as best as I can,

Yes, I believe life, the universe and everything, is just chemical and biological processes and there is no superior power at work.

Materialism, I thought to mean obsessed with material goods (ie. the material girl). I am not at all.

Answer 4

i assume component of that relies upon on what's interior the unidentified flying merchandise. :P I watched the 'First guy on the Moon' documentary and Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrich stated seeing unidentified flying merchandise's whilst in area. I somewhat have seen many money owed in documentaries from pilots and armed forces workers and this leads me to have faith they're seeing some thing originating from technologies not created with the aid of people. It would not conflict with my Christianity by using fact i'm gentle with the certainty that i don't know each and every thing approximately God's creation regardless of if it does pastime me. i'm inquisitive approximately what could be accessible.

Answer 5

i am atheist..totally and 100%...i believe in what i see..science is more factual than anything else....science can be proven ..a god cannot be proven a total misconception on trying to explain the un explainable question ..WHERE DID WE COME FROM...i am more into logic than fiction....i see the unverse ....i see the matter that has us as we are.....the bible to me explains nothing...no one person in this world as of this date can prove...i say PROVE...there is a heaven or hell...with out proof it does not exsist...because some one wrote a book saying there is comes down to the fact u believe everything u read....i can't touch the universe but i can see it...notice the pre history of the bible explains nothing on origins on humanity...i hate to speak to christians because of their firm belief in something hoped for and not seen...christians do not have an open mind close to all logical facts open in a debate or generalizing form ...is a sort of brain washing effect ..all ur misible life u have been drilled in a one way sort of exsistance as i have been since childhood..and as u were also...the question comes into being of asking is there nothing more...we are stuck in a one way exsistance and being kept in the dark about the bigger picture in life ...if we were made in the image of a god...then the god we are made from is not perfect...ppl speak about wars, world hunger..pestilence ...diseases..earthquakes....there god does all of this and says servent of god ....is not servent a slave....pray for him to heal u ....if he was a god u should not have to pray for healness u would never have had it....if u were made in his image ...is fine for others to believe in what they belive in ....but in turn is it not the same as i want to believe in ...no one knows all truths but somewhere in the end if there is an end one person already knows the truth and the truth is not in a god ..a higher power maybe ...god is just a label ..no man knows will never know...but what is research if it is not science

Answer 6

I think Atheism Failed.

Chaos in the countries formed by Disintegration of former Soviet Union should be enough proof of it.

Atheism could not even create a stable society.

Answer 7

Yes, I am an atheist that also is a materialist. I suppose I would have to get past my being a materialist (become a immaterialist) before I could ever move away from my atheist stance.

Answer 8

I believe only energy exists manifested in its different forms, naturally with no supernatural power at play.

Answer 9

I do not think about it. I am here and I did not ask to be. I do not really care. I just go about my business.

Answer 10

I'm a Theist and I believe we can not obtain it all.