How would an Atheist answer these four questions?

Question

1. Where do you think everything came from?
2. What is the point in living?
3. How do you decide how to live?
4. What hope can you find?

Thanks for your answers.

Answer 1

1. Where do you think everything came from?
-- I believe everything is the result of mathematics where Mathematics consists of necessary logical truths. I believe That reality is just what math looks like from the inside. We don't see it as it is for two reasons we see it from inside, and we see so little of it.

2. What is the point in living?
-- Whatever point you make it to be. Its up to you.

3. How do you decide how to live?
- I use reason. Christians should try it some time. We have evolved empathy towards our fellow human beings. Reason just shows us how to apply it.

4. What hope can you find?
- I find hope everyday. Its not hard at all.

Answer 2

1. Where do you think everything came from?
I believe that time may be circular instead of linear, if that is true then there would be no beginning or end. So everything would have already been here but in a different form.
2. What is the point in living?
I think that it is up to everyone to determine the point of living, but it should generally be to improve the condition of society.
3. How do you decide how to live?
I look at people in various cultures in history, people in cultures that were successful I imitate.
4. What hope can you find?
One thing that I hope for is that at some point in man will live peacefully together. This hope is enough to keep me going.

Answer 3

I'm an atheist and I would respond like so:
1- I am not sure because there are many conflicting theories, but I think that if we keep researching one day we will be able to know our origins and the origins of the universe (probably the most interesting theory that I have heard was the Big-Bang Theory).
2- Why must there be a point?
3- I decide how to live based on the common sense that our species has acquired trough times and that has been passed trough the generations. It is for me also logical that we should live life in a orderly manner and respect other peoples freedom because if we don't, we will not only be troubled by the moral standards that we draw upon ourselves and also hurt our own species, our friends and family and ultimately everyone in the world in the process. We must stick together because we want to, not because a god threatens to punish us if we don't.
4- I have hope in human kindness. I have hope in love. I have a hope in generosity and in having fun while you're being generous. I hope to be happy without hurting anyone in the process.I hope that people who knew me remember me as a good person that was fun being with when I'm dead. I hope to make the most of my short life. I probably even hope too much.

You're welcome. And thanks for asking.

Answer 4

1) I don't think everything came from a single source. I don't accept the big bang theory and I don't believe in any creator such as God. I believe that the universe is infinate and had no beginning.

2) There is no point in living except that which we give our own lives. In other words, each of us finds our own reason for living.

3) Essentially, and I know how this sounds, I live my life the way I want making the decisions that seem best to me at the time. In other words, I live for the benefit of myself. Does this make me selfish? Yes. Does this mean I never help others? Of course not. I like helping others by giving to charity, providing advice and so on. Helping others benefits me by helping to create a more pleasant world for me to live in. I believe many people live this way, but don't put such a selfish spin on it.

4) Hope for what? The future of mankind? Life after death? I find hope for such grand concepts to be irrelevant. Mankind is doomed, of this I have no doubt. The human race is constantly growing not just in its numbers, but also in its consumption of natural resources as well as its technological development. The earth, however, is not growing. There is only so much room on this planet. Some day, perhaps this day has already passed, we will reach a milestone or trigger an event which will inevitably lead to the extinction of the human race. As for life after death, I don't care. Since I don't belive in any kind of "system" to the universe I don't belive that anything I do in this life will have any impact on what happens when I die. So why bother worrying about what will happen since it makes no difference?

I guess I rambled on a bit, but I hope you find my answers interesting.

Answer 5

1. I don't think it came from anywhere, just as theists believe in eternity, they should also believe in infinity. Infinity works both ways. It has no end, and no beginning. The universe has always been here.

2. To keep from dying as long as possible. It's an instinct that even the lowest forms of life have.

3. You live in the best way you know how, to be as comfortable and safe as possible. Our big brains allow us to imagine higher things, such as philosophies and possibly a 'better' way to live than most other living creatures. And perhaps we can achieve that. I don't know.

4. Not sure what kind of hope you are asking about? I don't hope to live forever, if that's what you mean. I find contentment. I'm comfortable with the thought of my own mortality. I will live my life the best way that I know how, and attempt to maintain balance and wisdom throughout. When i die, I imagine I'll do so with the same attitude I have when I go to sleep... "Boy, I'm tired... this is going to be so peaceful..."

Answer 6

1. The Big Bang I guess... have to trust scientists there, way too much physics for me. And from there is was evolution.
2. a) Biologically speaking: Survival of the species (like any other living thing on this earth)
b) Personally speaking: My Life. That's the point of living (-:
3. I have to assume that you mean where I get my "rules" from, since there are no commandments for me .. right?
Well, I guess part of it was my upbringing, values my parents taught me and the rest is just from going through the world with open eyes and deciding what is good and what's not. No need for outside rules .. got my own (-:
4. Hope for what? In a bad situation? Since I can't pray and have a heavenly father with a plan?
I have enough trust in me, myself and I, my abilities, my strength, my fantasy and my love for life, that it is enough to always give me hope that things will be okay .. and if that fails, I have my friends and family.

Answer 7

1. i dont know where everything came from and i am okay not knowing.
2. cant speak for everyone, but i live to love and have fun. i try to make this world a better place for people to come. i live to learn and enjoy what is here, to spend time with my family and friends and to make new friends and meet new people.
3. i just live. i learn from the past, dream of the future and live for the present.
4. i can find hope everywhere.

Answer 8

My answers are as follows:
1) Neither deists or atheists can answer this. Because if you say God started it all, Then I could say: Who or what created god? first cause can't be answered.
2) You can MAKE meaning to your life, but there's no end point to go to.
3) Plato said, the key to the good life are the following: Doing unto others (the golden rule); All things in moderation; Accepting no truth unless proven.
4) As an atheist, there's no "hope' for a life after death. But I'm not sure I understand the question.

Answer 9

1. Nature, but why does it matter?
2. To LIVE it.
3. I do what makes me feel good in my heart and soul and as long as it's not illegal there's nothing wrong with that.
4. It comes from within, something you feel. Knowing that everthing changes constantly I always hope for the best possible outcome.

OH, you were looking for Atheist answers......Sorry, I'm Pagan but to some Christians it's pretty much the same thing anyway.

Answer 10

1. From various elements, changing under extreme temperature, vaccuum, quantities and time.

2. The point in living is to enjoy life and be happy.

3. You decide how to live based on how you would feel if others did those same things to you.

4. I hope I can find happiness and enjoyment in life.