Atheists, theists, what's up with the universe?

Question

I keep reading these questions, where I as an atheist, are basically being forced to explain the existence of the entire universe. If I can't do that, I should believe in a god. Because well, if there is something I don't know, it's obvious that a god did it.

My problem is, I don't even know how yoghurt is made. Nor do I care. But, I'm pretty sure God didn't make it.

I'm also sure that nobody on this planet knows, without a doubt, how the universe came to existence. There are two answers to that question:
-God did it
-I don't know.
Both answers basically mean the same, except that the last answer leaves room to search for real answers.

My question is: Does your not knowing how the universe came to existence have anything to do with your belief/disbelief in any gods?

Answer 1

Well, I was with you till this sentence: "Both answers basically mean the same, except that the last answer leaves room to search for real answers."

That presupposes that "God did it" is not a real answer.

I know that I can't prove God did it anymore than anyone else can prove that God didn't do it. If people want to research other answers, that's fine with me. If they want to tell me what they've discovered - cool.

What I dislike rather intently is being told I'm an idiot because I see God as a real answer.

I realize you are not calling me, personally, an idiot. And I appreciate that.

But some have at the very least implied it. I think one of the reasons we have so many American kids who are discouraged from studying science is that they feel forced to choose between their conscience and science. That's really not a fair choice. Especially for kids. I would love for teachers to say, "this is what we know, but we can't tell you the origin of the universe." My biology book for university equates belief in God with belief in mythological gods. I find that both insulting and unnecessary.

Real tolerance is multidimensional.

Answer 2

I would like to put a new twist on Melissa's answer of "if God were small enough to be understood, He would not be big enough to be worshiped." If God was big enough to be worshiped, Melissa, he would not be small enough to expect it.

And now, for the universe... people fear what they do not know. This is why they make fun of the mentally retarded, the deaf, the blind, the weak, the elderly, the gay community and others who generally don't think and act exactly like them. They make fun because they lack empathy. Without empathy everything becomes centered around the self. If something is unknown then it must be created that way. Humans use only 7% of their brains on average. When they apply this creationist theory to that which they nothing about they try to "make up" for the other 93% that's never used. It doesn't work.

I am an agnostic-atheist. I don't believe in gods. I do have a number of spiritual beliefs. I admit that a number of them stem from fear and I wouldn't be so presumptuous as to tell everyone I'm right about something I don't know. I can tell you honestly that not knowing how the universe has come into existence has made me hunger for scientific advancement and knowledge, NOT conjecture. To assume there is a God because I don't understand something is pretty ridiculous. It is also a way most narcissistic criminals explain away their crimes. When something doesn't work for you or isn't pleasurable to your senses, kill it.

Crazy, huh?

Answer 3

I use to think that the only reason people believed in a religion was because they needed an answer to the unknown. Now I realize that whether you are an atheist or a theist you cannot know that answer to every question. I have also come to realize that true religion is not about explaining the mysteries of the universe, but rather its about discovering ones purpose in this universe. However, as one studies the complexities of our universe it seems to be evident that there must be some higher power in control.

Answer 4

Nope, my lack of belief in god/s and my utter ignorance about the beginnings of the universe are unrelated.

I get the "you're an atheist, explain the intricacies of quantum physics and biology to me" thing ALL the time. Sorry, kiddies, I'm a writer. I know about poetry and art, but not a whole heck of a lot about science (what I learned in college is enough). I don't understand why I'm expected to have all the answers to things. I have no idea, to be honest, about the Big Bang or abiogenesis, other than what I learned in school or is discussed in the couple of science magazines I subscribe to.
"I don't know, but other people are working on it" is a good enough answer to me for a lot of things, including: any medical testing I may have to go through, whatever happens to be wrong with my car, new fuel technology, how sugar substitutes are made, and the origins of time and the universe.

The thing that gets me really annoyed is that a lot of the time, the people who tell me that "God did it" is a better answer than "no clue" haven't read their Bible all the way through. Or they don't know that YHWH is the name of the Abrahamic deity. Or they couldn't explain anything about Luther's 99 Theses. Or they don't know what Calvinism is. (Yes, I know that it's not all Christians. I'm generalizing based off of my own experience. No flaming please, I've had a bad week.)

Answer 5

I'm Pantheist. I believe that the universe originated when a singularity suddenly expanded millions of lightyears in a few seconds and matter and antimatter formed. The matter and antimatter then annihilated each other but matter survived because it lasts half a second longer than antimatter. Then, the universe expanded and the matter condensed into the galaxies we have today. For those of you without physics degrees, I believe in the Big Bang.

Answer 6

Well I may not know how the universe came into existence, but I have some damn good theories. ;-)

I keep trying to explain to the fundies that no one knows what caused the big bang for sure and no one knows exactly how life first arose on Earth, but we have working theories that are based on evidence. The point is to continue to discover the the how's and why's of the universe, to seek knowledge, that's what science is about. They try to take that as a sign of their victory, I laugh at them. Their best explanation boils down to "goddidit".

Most of them don't even have a fourth grader's comprehension of basic physics. It's sad trying to talk with them sometimes.

Answer 7

I believe God who created/creating the Universe not because I don't know "how" He did it, but because there must be something/somebody who did it. Nothing in the Universe is possible doing it. The reason is nothing exists before its creation. So it is not in line with your "yoghurt" example.
That is the LAW applicable to everything/anything in the Universe, "nothing creates its self".
Then somebody may comes the next question, "so who has created God?" My answer, nothing has created God since God is not created. The rule or the Law applicabel to everything in the universe should not apply to God since He is by no means a part or belong to of the Universe he created/is creating.
How about it?

Answer 8

Great post. I don't know how the universe came into existence, but I'm pretty sure God didn't create it. Is it something that I lose sleep over? Not really.

Answer 9

Well, I don't agree with most of what you said up there, but I'll stick to answering your question:

No... I don't need to know how the universe came into existence and it certainly doesn't affect my faith. And I know I'm going to get trampled by a herd of atheists for saying this, but I'll say it anyways....if God were small enough to be understood, He would not be big enough to be worshiped.

Answer 10

I think this goes to my theory (tm) that Christians and Atheists don't speak the same language. They think that one must have "absolute truth" or have all the answers. To them, their god has all the answers, and if something appears to not have an answer, well it must be a "mystery - too large for their mind." They can't imagine that we don't have a similar "I've got all the answers" mindset.

In addition, I think they see us as "smartypants." They think we pride ourselves on our intelligence. If we say "I don't know" then they have an "ah-ha! Gotcha" reaction.

No, I'm fine not knowing. It's much more fun to have a mystery! And when we think of all the things that used to be mysteries to us, but are now understandable - it's very humbling.

If I had to know everything? Well, as they say, "I'm geschroeft"

BTW - I'm going to have to curb the urge to insert the word "geschroeft" into every answer from now on :)