Stiletto One

I don't remember what it was called, but didn't someone once bring up (book that I read some time ago) that the whole question is moot, because despite the great odds against sentient life arising on this particular planet, we are here because if it hadn't occured, then we wouldn't BE here to question it?

If something crazy (like our being in a solar system with nine planets) doesn't happen, then it's impossible for us to think of it, much less question whether or not something was behind it.

Existence is, and that's good enough for me.

Zentraedi

Why do we strive not to die?

Starspun

Kill yourself and we will all get a better understanding.

crocodile deathroll

The dymanics of fierce competition between species should play a major part one would think

Kharakov

Because life is all we know. People avoid the unknown- look at all the prejudice and hatred caused by fear of the unknown. For all we know, death could kick ass (not that I want to try it now), but until someone comes back from the dead and says how kick ass it is, nobody is gonna try it.

Zentraedi

I know that there is no hard evidence to why the first entity that reproduced, reproduced. Can any very smart and imaginative individuals here speculate?

Zentraedi

You first.

Zentraedi

That would be rather sad if the only reason why we strive to live is because we are afraid of death.

Zentraedi

I think your answer is for the question how could we be in existence without god?(as if we are special and came from a creator) rather then why we exist.

[ November 18, 2002: Message edited by: Zentraedi ]</p>

crocodile deathroll

Here is a good no holds barred commentary on the evangelical Christian D James Kennedy's book <a href="http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/alex_matulich/why_i_believe/3_god.html" target="_blank"> Why I Believe </a>. I franky think the book is just a whole of dribble. I personally attribute our existence to the Weak Anthropic Principle. It comes in a stronger version as well but few scientists really take that seriously. So I put my existence not down to a miracle but my necessary place in the universe as an observer.