Papersock
Lucid Dreamer
I found this page of Christian Answers.Net that says If you are an atheist, a materialist, a pantheist, or a naturalist, try to answer the following 11 questions. So I decided to give it a go. Anyone else can give your own answers, if you want.
1. "If all of life is meaningless, and ultimately absurd , why bother to march straight forward, why stand in the queue as though life as a whole makes sense?" Francis Schaeffer, The God Who Is There
What else am I going to do? I am alive so I might as well go with it and try to find some things to enjoy, and create goals to give me something to strive for while Im still alive.
2. If everyone completely passes out of existence when they die, what ultimate meaning has life? Even if a man's life is important because of his influence on others or by his effect on the course of history, of what ultimate significance is that if there is no immortality and all other lives, events, and even history itself is ultimately meaningless?
Thats more than one question. First, life has no ultimate meaning beyond simply existing. Each individual can create her own purpose in life. Second, why does it have to be more important than that? It is significant because a persons life has importance while the person is alive because thats the only life that person will have. A mans life is important not just because it is the only life he gets, but also because it effects other peoples single chance at life.
3. Suppose the universe had never existed. Apart form God, what ultimate difference would that make?
None, except that nothing would have existed.
4. In a universe without God or immortality, how is mankind ultimately different from a swarm of mosquitoes or a barnyard of pigs?
By the time the whole world is dead and gone, mankind is not different. Everything will be gone. But mankind is different while we are still alive. Humans are able to create a deeper meaning to life for themselves.
5. What viable basis exists for justice or law if man is nothing but a sophisticated, programmed machine?
We all have to live together on the same planet and we all want to live full and rich lives.
6. Why does research, discovery, diplomacy, art, music, sacrifice, compassion, feelings of love, or affectionate and caring relationships mean anything if it all ultimately comes to naught anyway?
Because it makes life that much better and worth living before it ends.
7.Without absolute morals, what ultimate difference is there between Saddam Hussein and Billy Graham?
Like my answer to question number 2, peoples behavior effects other people while they are living the only life they get. Nobody wants to suffer or be killed. It doesnt matter if everything will be gone I a thousand years, were alive now and anything that benefits peoples lives is good while it lasts.
8. If there is no immortality, why shouldn't all things be permitted?(Dostoyevsky)
Same thing. Why do you need immortality in order to be a good person?
9. If morality is only a relative social construct, on what basis could or should anyone ever move to interfere with cultures that practice apartheid, female circumcision, cannibalism, or ethnic cleansing?
Again, pretty much the same reason. We know that other people have the same feelings and desires as us. Being creatures capable of empathy, we desire other to live without suffering.
10. If there is no God, on what basis is there any meaning or hope for fairness, comfort, or better times?
Ive kind of answered this question several times already. We all hope that people will learn from their mistakes so future generations can live together with minimum suffering. Because thats what we, as living beings want.
11. Without a personal Creator-God, how are you anything other than the coincidental, purposeless miscarriage of nature, spinning round and round on a lonely planet in the blackness of space for just a little while before you and all memory of your futile, pointless, meaningless life finally blinks out forever in the endless darkness?
You and I, and everyone are no more special or important than anyone or anything else. Theres no need for a huge ego.
1. "If all of life is meaningless, and ultimately absurd , why bother to march straight forward, why stand in the queue as though life as a whole makes sense?" Francis Schaeffer, The God Who Is There
What else am I going to do? I am alive so I might as well go with it and try to find some things to enjoy, and create goals to give me something to strive for while Im still alive.
2. If everyone completely passes out of existence when they die, what ultimate meaning has life? Even if a man's life is important because of his influence on others or by his effect on the course of history, of what ultimate significance is that if there is no immortality and all other lives, events, and even history itself is ultimately meaningless?
Thats more than one question. First, life has no ultimate meaning beyond simply existing. Each individual can create her own purpose in life. Second, why does it have to be more important than that? It is significant because a persons life has importance while the person is alive because thats the only life that person will have. A mans life is important not just because it is the only life he gets, but also because it effects other peoples single chance at life.
3. Suppose the universe had never existed. Apart form God, what ultimate difference would that make?
None, except that nothing would have existed.
4. In a universe without God or immortality, how is mankind ultimately different from a swarm of mosquitoes or a barnyard of pigs?
By the time the whole world is dead and gone, mankind is not different. Everything will be gone. But mankind is different while we are still alive. Humans are able to create a deeper meaning to life for themselves.
5. What viable basis exists for justice or law if man is nothing but a sophisticated, programmed machine?
We all have to live together on the same planet and we all want to live full and rich lives.
6. Why does research, discovery, diplomacy, art, music, sacrifice, compassion, feelings of love, or affectionate and caring relationships mean anything if it all ultimately comes to naught anyway?
Because it makes life that much better and worth living before it ends.
7.Without absolute morals, what ultimate difference is there between Saddam Hussein and Billy Graham?
Like my answer to question number 2, peoples behavior effects other people while they are living the only life they get. Nobody wants to suffer or be killed. It doesnt matter if everything will be gone I a thousand years, were alive now and anything that benefits peoples lives is good while it lasts.
8. If there is no immortality, why shouldn't all things be permitted?(Dostoyevsky)
Same thing. Why do you need immortality in order to be a good person?
9. If morality is only a relative social construct, on what basis could or should anyone ever move to interfere with cultures that practice apartheid, female circumcision, cannibalism, or ethnic cleansing?
Again, pretty much the same reason. We know that other people have the same feelings and desires as us. Being creatures capable of empathy, we desire other to live without suffering.
10. If there is no God, on what basis is there any meaning or hope for fairness, comfort, or better times?
Ive kind of answered this question several times already. We all hope that people will learn from their mistakes so future generations can live together with minimum suffering. Because thats what we, as living beings want.
11. Without a personal Creator-God, how are you anything other than the coincidental, purposeless miscarriage of nature, spinning round and round on a lonely planet in the blackness of space for just a little while before you and all memory of your futile, pointless, meaningless life finally blinks out forever in the endless darkness?
You and I, and everyone are no more special or important than anyone or anything else. Theres no need for a huge ego.