Ask an Atheist Project: Rick

And here we have the latest entry into the illustrious Ask an Atheist Project, an ongoing project of mine which is kept going by the contributions of fellow atheists who submit their responses to a series of questions. This latest entry is by a friend of mine who goes by the moniker "Rick" here in the crazy online world of the internet. (HERE is a link to Rick`s Gamepad on Gametrailers, where you can find his blogs.

So, here is his submission. Read, enjoy, laugh, cry, recoil in horror, whatever and then feel free to comment, and let him know what you think, where you agree/disagree, etc. And thanks very much to Rick  for taking the time to do this. Btw, if anyone reading this wants to see the other entries, and/or enter their own submission, please click the link above. Thanks. (For now, though, you can have a link to my (magx01's) entry (hey, I started the damn thing!)

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

A) An atheist is someone who lacks belief in any kind of deity. Nothing more, nothing less.
B) The only thing atheists share is the lack of belief in any kind of deity. Other than that they can believe whatever they want.
C) Atheists do not believe in Satan. Therefore they cannot worship him.
D) God is an unfalsifiable hypothesis. You cannot disprove his existance.

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

Yes. Will there always be things science can't explain? I don't know. I think we won't be around long enough to explain everything anyway. Given enough time though, I'm sure science can explain pretty much everything.

How can I trust science? Science is self correcting. Science also relies on evidence. If there isn't enough evidence to back something up, it's not a scientific theory.

3) What evidence would convince you that god exists?

I'm not sure, but it would have to be something that could not be explained by something as simple as hallucinations or something of the sort. Not only that, multiple people will have had to have experienced it.

4) Why is there something rather than nothing?

Well if there was nothing we wouldn't be here. You could even argue that nothing is something. However, who can say for sure we aren't living in someone's head, or in some sort of computer simulation? Perhaps we're already dead and this is the afterlife. Fun stuff to think about ;)

5) Where do atheists think the universe came from?

Most atheists believe in the big bang theory. http://en.wikipedia.org/w...eory) 

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

 I wouldn't say a thing and walk over to the nearest psychiatric hospital and get myself a room. Seriously though, I'd want answers. Why doesn't he just get rid of all bad things, why didn't he prove his existance earlier, etc.

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

Not everyone believes in god. Atheists simply see no good reason to believe in god.

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

Humans. I find it seriously troubling that people think we can't invent our own morals. 

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

What's the point of eating if there's no dessert?

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

Because that's not how evolution works. We did not evolve from modern monkeys. We share a common ancestry with apes. In that respect, modern apes and modern humans are cousins, not ancestors and descendants.

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

No. I would not want to live forever. Imagine being sick of living and having no way out. The only kind of 'afterlife' I'd possibly want would be reincarnation.

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

I think this is an important subject to which people need to be exposed.

13) Pascal's Wager basically states that 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. Essentially, why don't you just believe, what do you have to lose?

Because using religion as a kind of insurance isn't a good reason to believe, and I doubt that will get you into heaven. In my opinion, god is unjust. I don't want to worship an unjust god. The following quote describes what I believe perfectly.

"Live a good life. If there are gods and they are just, then they will not care how devout you have been, but will welcome you based on the virtues you have lived by. If there are gods, but unjust, then you should not want to worship them. If there are no gods, then you will be gone, but will have lived a noble life that will live on in the memories of your loved ones."
— Marcus Aurelius 

14. *Custom Question of the Participant's Choosing*

magx01's note: Participant failed to create and then answer a 14th question.