1) (I assume you are not talking about the circumstances of my particular conception and birth.) Humans are a latter end of a long sequence of biological adaptations to an ever-changing environment. For all our intelligence, we still haven't successfully defined "life". Is it movement? reproduction? metabolism? There are exceptions to all of these. Is a virus a life form or a chemical reaction? Without a comprehensive definition, we can't specify a specific point of development when "life" began. Amino acids, the building blocks of organic life, have been detected in outer space. (Why would "God" put them THERE?) With enough time to bring about the proximity of elements with the right chemical valences, self-replicable chains of molecules developed, first RNA, which can build reverse copies, then DNA, which eventually "learned" to copy itself. It was not a conscious process, but neither is our own replication (aside from the decision to mate). Evolution states that any quality that tends to enhance continued existence will tend to survive, even at a pre-life level. So once the tricks of cellular life, DNA, mitochondria, mitosis, meiosis, cell differentiation and symbiosis developed, the pattern for further development was locked in, subject only to the whims of climate. The most recent developments: memory, self-awareness and abstract thought, have enabled humans to adapt their environment to themselves, further improving the chances of species survival.
2) There is no intrinsic "purpose" to life, any more than there is a "purpose" to the rings of Saturn or to the shape of a snowflake. Things just are. Purposes are created by application of intelligence, creativity and effort. A typical purpose is the enhancement of life experience and the overcoming of the limitations of one's environment, or simply the survival of humanity. (One of my purposes is to make the world a "better" place than I found it.)
3) When i die, I am going to decompose, making room for another generation to have its chance to live. This may seem like futility, yet we all do activities that continually undo themselves: make beds, cook dinner, play games. Life is enjoyable and fulfilling, even without "immortality".
4) The "perfect" design/order of the universe is largely a matter of selective observation. Plenty of things go wrong, we just don't pay much attention. A true defect doesn't function properly, and becomes either dangerous, obstructive or burdensome to other processes. So it is either accomodated or disposed of. Wild animals die in your neighborhood every day. Why do you see so few of them? Because they are a hazard and nature has developed ways to sequester them from the general view while they decompose. Is this "design" before or after the fact? Humans are intelligent, so people with severe disabilities are either enabled with technology or other human assistance, or they are shut away in homes and institutions, but the effect is the same. We keep people out of each others' way, not cruelly but practically. Even when things seem to work well, it's more likely that people are imposing a perception of patterns and categorical order that only superficially resembles reality. In other words, we want it all to make sense, so it does (because random chaos is scary).
In other words, the world takes care of itself simply by virtue of the fact that things that don't work well get discarded and things that do work well stay around.
2007-05-30 11:06:23
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answer #1
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answered by skepsis 7
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"Rude people will be reported. Please try to maintain an intelligent atmosphere."
No disrespect intended, but you've just shut the door on the majority of your answerers. What does "rude" mean to YOU? To many that we routinely answer, "rude" means having absolutely any viewpoint that doesn't agree with your own. In question number 4, you have this wording: "design of creations." This reveals your faith, not ours. So if you fall under what we're accoustomed to on this forum... we're bound to skip to the next question rather than get involved.
Please also consider that your second statement is a bit on the condescending side. I ask that you not suggest that Atheists have to "try" to maintain an intellegent atmosphere.
You can report this post if you want to, but I feel I've shown no disrespect to you thus far, and will continue that attitude for the rest of my answer. I doubt a team of moderators would disagree.
I believe that my creation was only by way of the combination of both of my parents' DNA. Since not every fertilized egg makes it into a full-blown pregnancy, and even under correct conditions each sexual encounter only carries a 25% chance of conception, I'd be forced to say that my creation was by chance.
Life's purpose... I'd have to say that the only purpose I've observed to life is to avoid death. When you consider most of our adaptations, this is the overall goal: A fish's gills prevent drowning, while a whale is capible of holding its breath for tremendous periods of time--achieving the same thing, in essence, as the fish's gills. I also have observed that there is a goal in reproduction so that the gene pool continues and species survive. So while every individual animal (including us) someday dies, life as a whole is about survival.
On death, I cease to exist. There was a time in the past when I did not exist... and there will once again be a time when I do not exist.
I do not believe that there IS a perfect order to the universe and in the design of living creatures. This is why it is under constant change. Animals ill-equiped to survive, die off (extinction). The many earthquakes and volcanic activity we see here on earth show that our planet, itself, is not done changing. In fact, when looking at our earth, you'll see that an environment unsuitable for one creature to survive in is inhabited by another. "Perfect," then, appears as a subjective term.
Little is known about the universe beyond our atmosphere--and it's that admission that enables knowledge to grow. Claiming to have that knowledge merely slams the door on possibilities.
I hope this answer has been helpful, and what you wished for when you asked your question.
2007-05-30 10:28:25
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answer #2
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answered by writersblock73 6
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1) Evolution. 2) The same purpose of every living thing, Survival of the species. 3) In a box in the ground. 4) I don't know about the universe. The "perfect" design of creation is attributed by evolution. The world changes constantly therefore life changes constantly. It's survival of the fittest. Either you change with the world to survive, or you don't and perish. Although I still don't know if I would call it perfect. That's just the way life is. Sorry!
2007-06-05 23:48:54
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answer #3
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answered by shpadoinkall 2
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1. I really don't know the origins of life and the universe, but I'm pretty comfortable with not knowing.
2. That's something I work on every day. In general, I hope to make the world a better place, especially for the people I love.
3. Nowhere. I think I'll only get one shot at life, which is why it's important to make the most of it.
4. I don't see perfect order. The world I see has both order and chaos.
2007-05-30 09:51:39
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answer #4
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answered by Let Me Think 6
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1. The universe is quite volatile but on Earth, chemicals had stability. Molecules grew more complex and then produced self-replicating molecules. Eventually those molecules had to "compete" for energy so molecules that survived and replicated were more fit and evolution takes off from there.
2. In the great scheme of things: none.
3. Decompose.
4. Natural selection and creation isn't perfect or else they'd never go extinct. Opinions are not facts.
2007-05-30 09:57:06
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answer #5
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answered by Anonymous
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Fair enough. Hi, I'm a pagan Taoist atheist.
1) Recombination of DNA and the consequences thereof produced the body... which my energy then inhabited.
2) Adventure! Experience! Practical application of esoteric understandings! To get through the day!
3) Haven't decided yet. Eventually to remerge with the Tao energy of course, but who knows... we'll see what I feel like.
4) It all falls in line with the natural harmony of the Tao. All things have life and energy to them, and there are subtle laws and ways for things to fit together that produce what we see. Another way to think about it is that in a universe that is truly infinite, it is actually inevitable that things at one point would turn out just this way.
2007-05-30 09:59:33
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answer #6
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answered by KC 7
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1) How do you believe you came to being?
Well I'll spare you the biology lesson, but I believe humanity evolved.
2) What is your life's purpose?
I personally think life is whatever you make it, I would love for my purpose to educate the world on the current state of this planet through photojournlism, but that's less of a purpose and more of a goal.
3) Where are you going when you die?
I kind of hope there's an afterlife because I hate to think that I only get 70 or so years out of billions, but it's not looking good for an afterlife right now.
4) How do you account for the perfect order in the universe/perfect design of creations?
Perfect? Stars burn out, I have one pipe for air and food and am constantly choking, I had to get my wisdom teeth removed bfore I ever used them. Perfect? No. Impressive?yes.
2007-05-30 09:53:08
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answer #7
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answered by Anonymous
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Hi, I'm a Christian - so little point answering the Q. Just commenting on the answers so far! (love all the answers for Q.1!! Hilarious, even if most of the answers don't go further back than conception to life's origins).
Let Me T… - good answer.
WritersB... - great thoughtful criticisms of the Q! I totally agree with those criticisms. I hope you don't get thumbs-downs, or reported. Also, you gave a great answer to the Q. Except that it sounds like you have a dull life if your sole purpose is just to avoid death.
Scepsis - great answer! I like your purpose in life.
2007-05-30 21:15:19
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answer #8
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answered by Anonymous
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1. The combination of random facts and chance that led to my birth.
2. Don't know. Maybe enrich the lives of people with whom I have relationships.
3. No where. Just rot. Without consciousness, so who cares?
4. I have always thought that there could be millions upon millions of universes where life did not form, or where life was not sustained. Obviously, I can only have a consciousness of my universe, it may be or may not be perfect, but it may be the one that made it. That isn't proof of a higher power.
2007-05-30 09:59:37
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answer #9
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answered by John C 2
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Not an atheist, not a christian
1. I evolved from more primitive forms of life.
2. To live, nothing else
3. Doesn't matter, will take that a day at a time like I do this life
4. The universe is far from perfect. There is no perfect order nor perfect design. All organisms have design flaws, vestigial features, incomplete evolutions, and wasted energy.
2007-05-30 09:51:59
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answer #10
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answered by Momofthreeboys 7
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