Bono once asked Mikhail Gorbachev if he believed in God.
Gorbachev replied that he didn't, but added that he did believe in the "Universe".
That doesn't make sense to me (although it might to you).
I'm not saying Gorbachev's view is wrong. I've just always thought that, if you're an atheist, you don't believe in some "Greater Power"; whether it is God, the Universe or some other label.
Am I wrong, or is Gorbachev's view actually consistent?
2007-03-12 03:34:47 · 12 answers · asked by robbob 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It was something that Bono mentioned in an interview with Andrew Denton on ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) TV.
2007-03-12 03:43:07 · update #1
Ok, Ok acid zebra!
Here's a link to the transcript:
(scroll about 1/3 page down.)
http://www.abc.net.au/tv/enoughrope/transcripts/s1591037.htm
Now if you don't believe Bono, take that up with him!
2007-03-13 14:52:59 · update #2
I understand exactly what Gorbechev was talking about.
A god implies an intelligent, all powerful being capable of granting people he likes special things.
Gorbechev meant that he does not believe in a god, he believes in the universe itself. That the universe exists but without "intelligence" behind it.
He also meant that the universe, and its laws, are greater than any human beings and we cannot change those laws no matter how we would like to try.
Namely he was a spiritual Atheist.
I think that Christians have a hard time understanding thats possible. You can be a spiritual Atheist. Believing that the universe itself is greater than human beings are. The universe has its own laws, but that does not make it god driven.
2007-03-12 03:57:58 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Universe exists. It can be observed and studied. I don't have to believe in it or take anything on faith there. Gorbachev was probably saying that he was a deist, which allows for the existence of a higher power, but not necessarily God. Some people worship the universe, but as an atheist, I just don't worship.
2007-03-12 03:39:00 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Gorb's consistent. Most people, including athiests, do not believe in a specific diety or sentient being pulling the strings, writing the rules, deserving of worship and adoration, etc.
Some athiests don't even believe that there is a "Universe"--we're just here under our own individual power and our own individual will and our own individual control and responsibility.
Others believe that there is an "energy" that has some level of power, change, control in our lives and we are able, to some extent, able to appeal to the laws and power of nature, of karma, of some organizing principle or energy that is a presence in our lives.
2007-03-12 03:43:32 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pure speculation on my part, but I wonder if that was Gorbachev's way of saying he didn't trust religion or science entirely.
Belief in "the Universe" has nothing to do with spiritualism. That being said, its pretty hard not to believe in it as a concept whether one is Atheist, Christian or Islamic. We know there is something outside of this atmosphere that we are slowly killing off.
2007-03-12 03:42:30 · answer #4 · answered by Gwydyon 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think Dawkins addressed this in the book "The God Delusion" when he talked of both Hawkings and Einstein referring to "God." When you look at the beliefs of these men, not just grabbing some quotes out of context, you can see that they believe/believed in a life-force. A universal power - not a diety or "personality" like a god, but the energy-force in the universe. They use the word "god" to describe that.
If you look into what Hawkings and Einstein were talking about - that does seem to be how they see "god." Perhaps Gorby puts it that way.
2007-03-12 03:43:10 · answer #5 · answered by Laptop Jesus 2.0 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am an atheist and I cannot make sense of "believing" in a "universe" either. But of course there could be more to it if Gorbachev had been allowed to elaborate on it.
Anyway, as an atheist I don't believe in anything supernatural and I think most atheists don't.
2007-03-12 03:41:19 · answer #6 · answered by NaturalBornKieler 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i am an atheist, as i do not believe in a personified god/diety, but i do believe in a the divinity of All. so his view could very well be atheist. although some atheists do not beleive in greater power at all. there are differences among every group.
2007-03-12 03:39:53 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe that the universe exists, since I am in it.
I do not believe it is a higher power, but I have to admit that there are some parts of it that are more powerful than I am.
2007-03-12 03:40:11 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's pretty difficult *not* to believe in the universe, isn't it? Cogito Ergo Sum and all that.
2007-03-12 03:41:01 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
umm that doesnt make sense to this athiest. we do not believe in things that cannot be proven.... Gorbachev was just a moron with permanant bird poo on his head.
2007-03-12 03:38:55 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋