The big question: Where do we come from, what caused the whole Universe to exist?
Correct answer: nobody knows for sure.
Atheists say: I don't know, I'm waiting for more evidence on how it happened.
Theists say: I don't know, so God/Allah/another god must have done it, but I don't know how.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that basicly the same point of view?
2007-03-15 14:28:01 · 13 answers · asked by ? 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I don't think ANYBODY is going to like this answer, but what the heck--it's mine, isn't it?
Your premise sounds very logical. However, I don't give a diddly **** about answering the BIG question. I don't care how it happened, I'm not looking for answers. Here I am! I live to thrive. Oh gosh, there's a quote somewhere--"What matters it what went before, now...." Shoot. Probably in a file someplace. Now I remember! It's Shakespeare. "What matters it what went before or after. Now with myself I will begin & end." So, as an Atheist, I'm really not waiting for evidence. I'm fascinated with things like the string theory, & black holes, & whatever, but I never hope/wish/want/expect them to explain. Different strokes for different folks!
2007-03-15 16:58:04 · answer #1 · answered by Valac Gypsy 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Christians say God did it. They may not know how he did it, but they know that he did. How doesn't matter to them. The answers to where we came from and what caused the whole universe to exist are answered. We came from God, and God made the universe.
Actually as to how, the Christians would read the Bible and conclude that it was God's word ... he spoke the universe into existence. Christians have no doubts as to this, while atheists search for an answer.
The positions are really quite different.
2007-03-15 21:36:22 · answer #2 · answered by Deirdre H 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes and no. Out of the all knowledge available and unavailable, known and unknown, seen and unseen...etc... I understand that my knowledge is very limited. There are so many things that I do not have exhaustive understanding, and yet I accept it. We cannot be 100% sure about a lot of things, yet we accept some them. Why not God?
When I rely on God understanding I give God the control of my life. When I believe that the Bible is true, I trust the the Genesis record is my God's eyewitness record of what happened in the beginning. But like you said we do not know how. : )
2007-03-15 23:14:21 · answer #3 · answered by SeeTheLight 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Any argument which tries to inject design or intention or complexity as the starting point, rather than as a product of the universe, falls over (by asserting that something can't exist and then invoking that very thing to cause it to exist). All these kind of arguments are self-refuting or end in infinite regression.
So, I think the only plausibly valid way to terminate an argument about origins is in a completely random completely uncaused origin, because all other options fail.
2007-03-15 21:34:54 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
That's true, no one knows for sure, and explanations vary, but I don't really think it's the same 'point of view'. To those that are faithful and understand their chosen religion it's not that big of a mystery. But for others, the belief that god did it is obviously not enough. That's why those people have been waiting, and will continue to wait for proof that might never come.
2007-03-15 22:17:19 · answer #5 · answered by a.s. 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well....sort of.
However, when reduced to such simplistic terms, the same is true for ANYTHING. For instance, a mechanic and a child has "basically the same point of view" about how a car works (the gas makes the wheels move), but I'd rather have a mechanic working on my car than a child.
Not the best analogy, but I thought I'd put it out there.
The nice thing about atheists is that they're generally fairly laid back and they don't threaten people with hell. I like that. :)
2007-03-15 21:33:28 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Well, puny and insignificant as I am, I do claim to know how and why and when my God created everything. I don't choose that because I "don't know". I don't claim omniscience, but neither am I merely choosing a comfort religion.
You apparently are choosing to ignore the vast differences between various theists' beliefs, too. Take, for example, the difference WITHIN the Protestant Christian church:
When I moved in with my boyfriend, I had friends who shunned me and told me I was going to hell, and described hell to me. I also had friends who were happy for me, and said God would work for good through this, and told me I was a wonderful Christian girl.
If there can be that much difference within one church, how much difference would be logical between religions?
2007-03-15 21:39:13 · answer #7 · answered by skunkytruck 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Correct. Nobody knows the absolute truth. We are all just left with beliefs.
2007-03-15 21:34:25 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, I suppose - where it really matters is the whole "ethics" question, though, isn't it? Beginning of the universe has little practical application in any event...
2007-03-15 21:33:02 · answer #9 · answered by Mich 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
That's what I've been saying, man! Who REALLY knows?
2007-03-15 21:34:20 · answer #10 · answered by ? 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋