Ask an Atheist Project: RelaxGodFolk

In this blog, you, the reader, get the chance the read several varying atheistic takes on common questions asked of us godless heathens by god fearing folk. We are going to all be answering the same 13 questions, and then we are each supposed to choose a random 14th question to respond to. In addition to this, you are also going to be able to read the take of a (reasonable, intelligent, atheist friendly) Islamic theist (Vestsao) answering from the perspective of an atheist. Sort of a "walk a mile in his shoes" sort of thing.

1) What is an atheist?/What do atheists believe? Don't atheists worship Satan?/Can you prove that god does not exist?

An atheist is a person who has not accepted a God claim; just as an a”Stamp Collector” is a person who does not collect stamps. Atheism has no dogma and no requirements for belief. Having said that there are certain beliefs that are common among atheists such as skepticism and an emphasis on critical thinking.

Atheists do not believe in Satan and thus do not worship him. Perhaps the biggest misconception about atheism is that is implies that individuals are anti theistic, angry, or hate religion. Atheism does not imply any of that. Having said that there are atheists that range from very anti theistic to those who are completely accepting and supportive of others religious beliefs.

I can’t prove God exists any more than one can prove Santa does not exist. Nor do I have any interest or obligation to do so. I hold that it is the responsibility of the person making the positive claim to provide evidence for that claim. In this case that is the theist.

2) Aren't there some things that science can't explain? Also, how can you trust science since it's always changing?

Yes, there are many great mysteries in the universe and there always will be. One of man’s biggest strengths and flaws is our desire to be able to explain things and understand or world.

It’s a strength when it motivates to utilize critical thinking and the scientific method to build on the ever expanding human knowledge base. Our thirst for understanding is the fuel that drives human ingenuity. Science is like a great skyscraper that is ever growing on the foundation and floors laid by those before us. While the top levels are constantly changing and improving the middle floors change much less often and the building foundation is almost never shaken. The ever growing and evolving nature of science is its greatest strength and it is why, to this day, science is the single greatest method for discerning fact from fiction ever discovered.

Man’s desire for understanding is a flaw when it motivates us to profess understanding of a topic before we have gathered sufficient evidence to justify our claims. It is certainly necessary for us to do this to some degree to survive. That is, we can’t know everything about everything prior to making decisions. But it is a great flaw when certainty is professed for important ideas that affect human lives without sufficient supporting evidence. Even worse is when those making the claims have not desire or outright discourage any further research or questioning of the claims. This is why many atheists claim religion has retarded human knowledge and to some extent, I agree.

So when a well known creationist flies to a debate in a plane, gets a cab, stays in a hotel, stands is a large auditorium, and speaks into a microphone about how science cannot be trusted, I contend that the only appropriate response is laughter.

3) What evidence would convince you that god exists?

My de-conversion was a slow process with a reoccurring theme that I asked myself questions about religion and found the secular answers to be the most probable ones. If at those points more evidence was available for the validity of religion the outcome of my journey may have been quite different.

As for evidence today that may change my mind, that’s a tough one. I will say my lack of understanding of something in no way suggests the existence of a God. That is, the evidence would need to directly suggest the necessitation of a supreme being and not just be something that is unexplained. I spent many years searching for such evidence with an open mind and heart but I came to the conclusion that evidence just is not there, which was very difficult to accept at first.

4) Why is there something rather than nothing?

This goes back to man’s desire to explain everything. Our existence does not require a reason as a prerequisite. Furthermore there is no evidence that suggests that that which exists must have been created. Something exists because something exits, that’s it.

5) Where do atheists think the universe came from?

There are a plethora of possible explanations for the start of our universe in its current form. Some are much more plausible than others. The bottom line is no one really knows and man may never know. And other than sheer curiosity, I don’t care.

6) If you met god, what would you say to him?

“SIKE!!!”

7) Everyone believes in god, why don't atheists believe too?

A larger percentage of the population do not believe in God or do not follow any particular religion than many theists think. Doubt and questioning are clear enemies of many religions. Most do not publicize the amount of non believers and when forced to address it seek to minimize it as much as possible. Reliable pools suggest the amount of Americans who are non denominational to atheist is in the 20s! That was surprising to me!

Many atheists are scared to voice their doubts as there are potentially severe consequences with their family, friends, community, and job. I think it’s very important to encourage non believers to be as open about their beliefs as theists are about theirs.

8) Where do morals come from, if not from god?

Countless statistical studies that compare religiosity to crime rates and various standards of living overwhelmingly disprove the idea that religious people are more moral and in many cases the opposite is suggested. People get their morals from a variety of sources that can be boiled down to instincts and environment. Instincts play a much lesser role than environment which can be further broken down into education, social pressures, life experiences, etc.

Why do our instincts and socially accepted moral standards exist at all? They have to for us to survive. We are a social species that relies to some degree on group cooperation and not fucking with each other too badly.

9) What's the point of living if you don't believe in god?

“the dead know only one thing… it is better to be alive” – Full Metal Jacket

Life does not necessitate a point. But I’m sure as hell going to make the most of my time here for myself and those I love!

10) If we came from monkeys, why are there still monkeys alive today?

We did not come from modern day monkeys. We share a common ancestor with other modern day apes and monkeys. At some point groups were separated perhaps by geography and the traits most beneficial to survival in each area were slightly different. Over many many many years we evolved in different ways. Eventually we evolved to a degree that we could no longer cross breed and new species were formed.

11) Don't you atheists wish there was a heaven?

That’s a tough one that would really depend on the definition of heaven. Most I’ve heard are quite abstract and meaningless. But the more important answer to the question is; it doesn’t matter what I wish to be true. The benefits or popularity of a belief say nothing to its truth value.

12) Why blog, debate on forums, make videos, etc?

I get a number of benefits from online interactions including community, interesting discussion, promoting a positive world view, providing constructive input on important issues society is facing, letting others with doubt know they are not alone, and it can be fun and rewarding. But to answer it another way, I feel obligated to; obligated because I know that there are harmful forces and ideas in this world that will not cease unless we find the courage to stand against them.

13) Pascal's Wager (even though the existence of God cannot be determined through reason, a person should wager as though God exists, because living life accordingly has everything to gain, and nothing to lose, whereas living as an atheist can possibly cost you everything but you gain nothing). Basicallty, why don't you just believe, what do you have to lose? Nothing, but you might have lots to gain!!

This is a very common thought among theists even if they have never heard the term. Basically the fear of eternal damnation (and to a lesser degree the benefits of heaven) motivate people to believe “just in case”. I’ll spare you the standard refutations which you can find at IronChariots.org and instead provide my personal answer. For me it ultimately became a matter intellectual integrity. I felt a need to be honest with myself regardless of how scary my honest answers were. As I better recognized this for the blatant scare tactic it is and became much more confident with my new more real, more true, world view, these fears eventually vanished altogether.

My life has been a search for the truth, and I am unafraid of where that search may lead me.

Peace,

RelaxGodfolk

RGF's SuperFantastico YT Channel SextraOrdinaire!