Atheists & Quantum Physics:: Do you have any rebuttal to this...?

Question

Recently, Quantum physics has replaced Newtonian physics as the means with which to explain the universe. Quantum physics helps explain those extraordinary circumstances that the old system couldn't

Likewise, in my opinion, atheism has its limits. Logically atheism is a rational and reasonable philosophy. If all people were atheists there would be some benefits in day to day life. (i.e. Conflicts triggered by religion would cease to exist. People would pay more attention to making this a better world for themselves and others since this is all there is - or so it seems)

However atheism doesn't have all the answers. When confronted with things he can't explain an atheist does what the fundamentalists do when confronted with bible errancy - he claims these things don't exist

Atheists view this universe through physical eyes only. To them, there is no non-physical or spiritual component in a human being. All phenomena in this universe must have a logical & physical explanation

That premise itself bespeaks a closed mind; for some things in this universe do not follow "logical patterns" - look at quantum physics!

How can observing an experiment affect the outcome?

Atheists will almost never consider even the possibility that the paranormal could exist. It is a "given" that there is allways a logical explanation. They have convinced themselves that God does not exist so therefore the paranormal doesn't either. This doesn't follow.

Even if it would be possible to argue conclusively that God does not exist - that would be a separate matter from disproving the paranormal. Just as proving that the Bible is flawed does not prove that there is no God only that the Bible is suspect.

Atheism is perhaps a logical response to the available evidence in general but not in absolute terms. In some ways Atheism is like a person passing by an empty store at 1:00 am and concluding there is no one there and there never was.

If they had passed by at 8:00 pm ealier the previous evening the store might have been full of people. The momentary appearance of the store at 1:00 am is misleading.

Likewise the atheist looks arround at the world and says " I see evil things happening in this world - no god would permit this if he existed, I see life evolving independantly - it needs no god to create it, I see the competing, conflicting religions of man - each claiming to be the true religion - Conclusion: - there is no God!!"

Now, of course, like the old Newtonian physics, Atheism has its place!

It is a practical way to live your life - live as though there were no God, as though this is the only chance you get to live.

It is not a completely plausible philosophy. A more complete approach might be it looks like there is a God but I don't know if he will choose to intervene on my behalf so I had better do my best to make this a good life for myself and others. In day to day life it is obvious that God does not intervene in human affairs but there may be extraordinary circumstances when he does.

Let us not close our eyes to those things we have difficulty understanding but that may well exist..

Answer 1

existence is illogical. its a transcendental mystery.i really think alot(some) of atheists are agnostics who really can't stand the business of religion. quantum physics might be the religion of the future since it embraces the mystery.

Answer 2

"Even if it would be possible to argue conclusively that God does not exist - that would be a separate matter from disproving the paranormal. Just as proving that the Bible is flawed does not prove that there is no God only that the Bible is suspect."

I agree, but then if you can explain all the things that are paranormal, they are no longer paranormal, they just are. As for the bible, it's been suspect for a long time, these are not new arguments, it was not taken so literally in the beginning, but more as a set of stories used as guidelines to illustrate theology to the masses. And no we cannot 100% disprove God, but you also cannot 100% prove him. It's idle speculation either way.

"Atheism is perhaps a logical response to the available evidence in general but not in absolute terms. In some ways Atheism is like a person passing by an empty store at 1:00 am and concluding there is no one there and there never was.
If they had passed by at 8:00 pm ealier the previous evening the store might have been full of people. The momentary appearance of the store at 1:00 am is misleading."

This is flawed logic. You're saying that God is out to lunch now, so we cannot see him. Any person would see a store closed at 1 am and think the store is merely closed unless it's blocked up with paper over the windows. Through analysis of variables you could see the store is still active. The same goes for God, even if he was out to lunch, there should be a sign that says "out to lunch, be back in 5 mins" It's a jump to conclusions to say that God has left, and left no hint of where he's gone or that he's been here. Anything interacting with our physical plane, especially a God creature, would leave a mark.

'Likewise the atheist looks arround at the world and says " I see evil things happening in this world - no god would permit this if he existed, I see life evolving independantly - it needs no god to create it, I see the competing, conflicting religions of man - each claiming to be the true religion - Conclusion: - there is no God!!"'

Atheism isn't an antithesis to theism, you're implying it is. Most do not base it on the interactions of religions, but rather on lack of proof, of any God's existence. Oh and the bible has outs for different religions, different gods, different motivations of people etc. If one was an atheist on this alone he could just have scripture quoted to him as to why God is as he is.

"Now, of course, like the old Newtonian physics, Atheism has its place!"

Atheism was in place well before physics, the 2 aren't related.

"It is a practical way to live your life - live as though there were no God, as though this is the only chance you get to live."

This does not make our interactions with the world any less valid. We are not lesser people, we are no less moral. We can still drastically change the world and those that come after us. Our memories can still live on, like Newton.

"It is not a completely plausible philosophy. A more complete approach might be it looks like there is a God but I don't know if he will choose to intervene on my behalf so I had better do my best to make this a good life for myself and others. In day to day life it is obvious that God does not intervene in human affairs but there may be extraordinary circumstances when he does."

This would be theism, the opposite of atheism. This would be more like a skeptical Christian, not an atheist.

"Let us not close our eyes to those things we have difficulty understanding but that may well exist.."

I have a hard time understanding physics, but I still know that matter exists, and that certain principles govern it, and that it's interactions can be predictable given certain factors, and I know this because of experiments that're done to prove it. God on the other hand, again not the easiest to understand, but the evidence just isn't there, so I will not bother to try too hard.

Next time you try so hard, have a more plausible argument. Atheism has nothing to do with physics. Atheism is a lack of belief in higher powers, physics is the interaction of matter in our universe. One is a study, the other a belief.

Answer 3

"However atheism doesn't have all the answers. When confronted with things he can't explain an atheist does what the fundamentalists do when confronted with bible errancy - he claims these things don't exist"

False. I would say, "good point". I wouldn't claim they are false, nor would I necessarily agree with them. I would merely concede that they have a point and leave it at that.

"Atheists view this universe through physical eyes only. To them, there is no non-physical or spiritual component in a human being. All phenomena in this universe must have a logical & physical explanation"

Also false.

I am a very spiritual person. The only thing I disbelieve in is a god. And nothing has to have a logical explanation for me to be content. I can be happy without knowing all the answers. I believe in souls, love, karma, maybe even past lives. I believe that nature itself is magical, even though I don't think there is a god to contribute to that.

The beauty of the world is that there are millions upon millions of different people in the world, all who think differently and react differently than another. A personality is like a fingerprint--never completely matching another's. You can look at two fingers and think they match, but if you look more closely, the pattern is always different.

So perhaps you should quit clumping people together, and think about this: just like every Christian, Muslim, or Hindu, atheists are all different.

Answer 4

So the person who wrote this is saying that there definitely IS a god. May not be the christian god, nor any god that we know of, just one IS definitely out there. So the all powerful creator being is so great and powerful that even those blind with faith in god admit readily that they don't KNOW for any fact who, or what, he/she/it is. The only fact they count on is that there IS a god, because there has to be. This is putting the cart (belief) before the horse (proof). The atheist wants the horse first. Imagine how this world would be if that blind faith was common in other aspects of our lives... one might be persuaded to believe that if he reads the newspaper he will be made to go blind by the age of 26. Anyway, there isn't much to rebut here. Basically it boils down to proof before belief. The analogy of the man passing the empty store is ludicrous because that man would probably know that stores at that time would naturally be empty and that it would probably be full of people the next day... why? because he's seen that same pattern many times. Unlike the god scene. No one has ever seen the same god, ergo, no pattern.

Understand why you can pass off the crazy babblings of a schizophrenic and you'll then understand why we pass off the ludicrous claims made by the religious.

Answer 5

> Likewise, in my opinion, atheism has its limits.

You are a master of the obvious.

> However atheism doesn't have all the answers.

So what? Atheists, unlike religious people, do not claim to have all the answers. Also, atheists are able to continue the search. Religious people's ability to search is limited to changing from one religion to another.

> When confronted with things he can't explain an atheist does what the fundamentalists do when confronted with bible errancy - he claims these things don't exist

It is obvious that you have no understanding of atheism. Have you convinced yourself that you are somehow an expert? If so, you should give yourself an "F", and start over. This statements is a ridiculous generalization.

Answer 6

"Atheism doesn't have all the answers" - neither does religion... or science - they all have their limitations. Science doesn't answer the philosophical "why?" of things, it answers the "how" of things.

As to the science behind quantum physics, if Newton had access to particle accelerators he might have come to more advanced conclusions. Newtonian physics is perfectly valid within the confines of its limitations. Science is limited by the accuracy of the available measurements, and as technology improves the measurements and experiments can become more advanced.

Science isn't religion and religion isn't science - comparing the two is like comparing apples to pineapples - NOT the same thing. Science requires facts, religion requires belief - a huge difference, as beliefs are not necessarily facts, which is why most people no longer believe that the Earth is flat.

You need to learn to self edit - your post is way to long.

Answer 7

"Atheists view this universe through physical eyes only. To them, there is no non-physical or spiritual component in a human being. All phenomena in this universe must have a logical & physical explanation."

Not true. True of some, not of others, not of me.

I admit I didn't read your entire post, because I quickly summed it up by wondering - what's your point?

Are you advocating agnosticism? Keeping an open mind? Or converting to christianity? The former two I'm fine with, the latter is impossible.

Or are you simply arguing about science, in which case I'll shut up?

Answer 8

The god religious people defined as all powerful, all benevolent, and omnipresent does not exist. Beings that are different than human and possess power that human don't have are very possible to exist.

Quantum physics may not be explainable but it is not illogical. Physicists deduce the existence of quantum particles with logic and are finding the evidences that they are true.

Answer 9

OK. (long winded bastard). I never said there was no paranormal. I agree there are things we can't explain. Science is just as flawed as religion by the fact that if you can not touch it a feel it, well then it doesn't exist. I just don't think any religion here on earth is the answer to the God question.

Answer 10

Atheism has never strove to answer questions, you idiot, it ain't a philosophy it is just a lack of belief. Quit trying to make it out too be something it isn't.

No an atheist when confronted with things he can't explain says it doesn't exist. When we say things don't exist that is because there is no evidence to show it does. That is called being logical, you should try it sometime.

Answer 11

I think you're making a lot of sweeping generalisations about Atheists.

I think you'll find (as I have on this board) that no two Atheists have exactly the same beliefs - just as you'd find with two Christians for example.

For example, I am an Atheist and consider myself an extremely spiritual person.

I know nothing about Quantum physics, btw!