I want to ask a serious question (as I sit here in the pub typing on my n900), what and, more importantly, why do you believe in whatever it may be that you believe in? Personally I'm an atheist. I'm fairly certain I've made that clear before but I reiterate again for clarity. I've just had a fairly long discussion about the nature of belief, religion and what it means to be human.
I take my position as the rational conclusion of a skeptical analysis of all that I behold around me. We live in a beautiful world, surrounded by wonder and intrigue. I see fascination and splendor in all that surrounds me. From the morning dew to the particle collision analysis that goes on at the LhC. I see a world of amazing things that make every waking moment a wonder to live through. But I don't see god.
This seems to be what separates me from the more 'spiritual' people I know. They see a world of wonder and say "How could this just happen by accident?" whereas I see the same world and think "This is such an amazing thing, isn't it wonderful that our science has given us the tools to understand it?". Now in all fairness those two views aren't mutually exclusive, however I also feel that the God hypothesis isn't a solid rational explanation for the universe. I am of the opinion that religion is a product of a bygone age where mankind needed explanations for a world he did not have adequate methods to explain. Now, however, we have a great breadth of knowledge and methods to test and advance it with. We have radiometric dating methods to show us the age of rocks and other materials, we have carbon dating for biological materials, we have recreated aspects of the big bang in laboratory conditions and shown how our universe originated, we have the knowledge and theses of men like Stephen Hawking that explain this. So what now do we need Gods for?
It has been said that science gives us the how of things but religion gives us the why. I question whether or not we need a why. Does life have to have meaning beyond "here we are, let's make the most of it"? Is it really necessary for life to have some kind of divinely ordained meaning? I think not.
Meaning implies purpose but in this case it's a purpose laid down, apparently, by a being we cannot see, touch, hear or communicate with in any measurable way. What is that but an extension of our imaginations?
To me the God hypothesis is a convenient metaphor for everything we don't yet understand, but I feel that given time, we will. Our ability to understand the universe grows with every passing day, our capacity for achievement beyond ourselves as we were never ceases to improve. We are constantly evolving, if not physically then mentally. Science is constantly improving our lives and, given the onset of global climate change (regardless of its cause) will ultimately be our salvation. I worry about the political climate in places like the US where prominant politicians can get by saying that we don't need to look after this world because 'the rapture' is coming. I find this mentality frightening, surely even hardline christians can accept that given that we are meant to be the stewards of 'his' creation we should look after it? Surely?
Ah well, I want to live in the best way that I can, but I have no comfort crutch. When I die there is nothing for me, no heaven, no hell, no reincarnation, nothing. Death terrifies me more than anything else, as such I believe in making the most of my life. I guess atheism is life affirming then. What about you?
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