Atheism - It does have an answer (punishment, Earth, mystic)

[Bright-ness' Shadow]

From an article in the Guardian

But all of these arguments fall on the central one: if there is a God with whom we can communicate, who (sometimes) hears our prayers, why does He not hear our suffering? Or why does He hear our suffering and do nothing about it? Theology has no answer, and never has had. But it would be a mistake, I think, to assume that atheism has one either. A few weeks ago Richard Dawkins chided a correspondent to this paper who claimed that science could no more explain why the tsunami happened than theology could. Nonsense, said Professor Dawkins, science exactly explains the movement of tectonic plates, and could indeed have warned the poor victims of impending disaster.

Surely Professor Dawkins was here confusing scientific explanation with metaphysical interrogation. Science - atheistical science, if you will - can tell us how the world works, but cannot answer the eternal metaphysical wail: why do we suffer so? Little Abraham asks his sister, Tess, in Hardy's novel, if we live on a splendid planet or a blighted one. "A blighted one," she replies. In this empty space, between theological obscurity and atheistical confidence, it is tempting to imagine that there is a place for literature, and particularly for tragedy. Literature can no more "explain" suffering than can science or religion, but it can describe it better than either. If great suffering forces theology into embarrassed silence and atheism into cocksure noise, it prompts literature to measured lament, which is all we have right now.

Certainly, Atheism has an answer - Nature, the natural order of our existence, has power and force. Preditors kill and eat prey. The weather is understood even when it excedes nominal bounds. The forces of the sea and flood are known. Fire consumes in the wild as well as the hearth.

Do we build "earthquake proof" homes to thwart God's capriciousness or punishment? Do we search for a cure for aids to negate, as Falwell says, the sins of homosexuality? No. We take the knowledge science gives us and apply it.

There is no need for a metaphysical answer to our natural suffering since the answers lie in the physical. Good and evil - hate and love - are innante and culturally enhanced. Each one of us has capacity for both ends of those spectrums and others. Likewise, there is no need to ascribe human capability to a mystic supernatural force. The answers, if not known, lie before us should we take the time and resources to discover them.

[Majikthise]

Beautifully done pah! Nice!

[Bright-ness' Shadow]

Originally Posted by Majikthise

Beautifully done pah! Nice!

Oh, I'm really embarrassed. I don't think I wrote that (I'm just not that good!) and I've neglected to include the source. Now I can't find it.

[Majikthise]

It's the thought that counts.

[Bright-ness' Shadow]

Originally Posted by Majikthise

It's the thought that counts.

Oh boy, that bit about Falwell is mine. I must have been on a roll if I impress myself. Maybe these few responses can be overlooked in favor of the message that is in the OP.

[Fatmop]

Those who search for 'answers' to suffering are those who believe there are answers in the first place. Enough said.

[Scott1]

** MOD POST **
Just a reminder, this is the Same Faith Debate Forum.... and this thread is reserved for Atheists ONLY. If you are not an atheist, DON'T post here.

[Tawn]

Originally Posted by pah

Do we build "earthquake proof" homes to thwart God's capriciousness or punishment? Do we search for a cure for aids to negate, as Falwell says, the sins of homosexuality? No. We take the knowledge science gives us and apply it.

I think these are incredible statements.
If we are supposed to suffer as God intends then surely we should just accept our lot and not strive to remove these things.. (talking specifically about 'natural/god-made' events.. not human caused misery)

[Original Freak]

I've always wondered about churches that have insurance 'against acts of god'. If god smots your church, shouldn't you think your in the wrong sect?

[Jaiket]

Originally Posted by Original Freak

I've always wondered about churches that have insurance 'against acts of god'. If god smots your church, shouldn't you think your in the wrong sect?

Maybe it's this god getting playful?

Originally Posted by Tawn

If we are supposed to suffer as God intends then surely we should just accept our lot and not strive to remove these things...

One man's god is another woman's fantasy (I don't know how I managed to make that sound dirty ). Atheism isn't necessary to conclude that god didn't send AIDS, yo