RJS

"Atheism in itself does not try to [explain the existence of the world]"

thanks - I think that is what I was looking for.

But, do some atheist have an explanation, or is it generally just placed in the "unexplainable" category? This is an honest question that just came to mind with your prior response.

Mageth

But, do some atheist have an explanation, or is it generally just placed in the "unexplainable" category?

I'd place "how" explanations of the universe's existence in the science category myself. We may not ever be able to fully explain "how." The fun is in the trying.

I leave "why" for the philosophers. And there may be no "why."

Javaman

While I have a genuine interest in both Theoretical Physics and Cosmology, I am severly undereducated in both fields of research. My formal schooling was in Geology and my current work is in military intelligence. The former of these two gives me reason to deny the feasability of any Judeo/Christian belief system. An honest answer to your honest question (only from my personal standpoint) is that I find the origins of the universe unexplainable inasmuch as there is no conclusive proof that I can verify. I'll stick to my (and, I think, other's) stance of, "I see no god(s)."

Sorry to repeat among threads.

Satan Oscillate My Metallic Sonatas

Bill,
Quite frankly Bill I would much rather have a meaningful explanation of the origin of the physical universe, the laws of science, the laws of logic and absolute moral standards than an arbitrary explanation that doesn't explain any of these.

Thoughts and comments welcomed,


SOMMS

Autonemesis

The Big Bang theories, inflation, cosmic strings, et. al. seem to me to be anything BUT writing off the universe as "unexplainable." "Unexplained", perhaps, but not "unexplainable." Science has successfully explained so much more about the workings of the cosmos than has religion, it doesn't seem unreasonable to guess (hope?) that it will eventually uncover explanations for whatever we can think to ask questions about.

Javaman

Kind Bud,

Your post reminded me of how True Christian (TM) friends of mine view science and scientists in general. They've expressed their viewpoint (and I've read the same throughout the internet) that scientists have as their goal the eradication of religion. These same folks have no problem applying the results of science in their daily lives beit internal combustion or the calculator. I've tried to explain that science is an extremely broad and nebulous term but, at its heart, is devoted to finding the how/why of our surroundings regardless of cause.

If the ultimate cause turns out to be some deity, ah well. But to suspend the pursuit of knowledge pre-emptively with a hearty "Goddidit" would be laughable.

Goliath

RJS,

From the URL that you gave in your OP:

Incorrect. Weak atheists, such as myself, merely do not believe that any gods exist. Therefore any made in your URL fails.

Sincerely,

Goliath

Undercurrent

And like the man at the murder scene who rhymes off to the cops, "It wasn't me, you can't prove it was me, you're all trying to frame me," before anyone has even said anything to him, it's extremely telling.

A great many religions have explanations of the world that science finds out are just plain wrong. The religions see this and make a preemptive strike against the credibility of science.

m.

Undercurrent

It's amazing how solipsistic theists get when making these arguments. It goes straight from, "Jesus Christ is everywhere and is beating down your door if only you'd let him into your heart," to "God might be hiding in some far away corner of the universe you don't have access to so you can't prove that he doesn't exist."

No atheist I know, even the most "dogmatic", claims to have the kind of perfect knowledge of the universe that the URL claims. We just merely place the hypothesis that gods exist in the same category as Scott Adams' hypothesis that the dinosaurs didn't really go extinct, they're just hiding behind furniture: Sure it's possible that it's true, but a sensible, thinking person would find it to be false.

m.

Jobar

RJS, this is the 'Existence of God(s)' forum, not the '(Mis)Defining Atheism' forum. Oh, the precise definition of atheism is a perennial topic around here, but this ain't the place. Off to MRD.