Life, the Universe and facing our own insignificant amazingness...
I just wrote this because it’s one of the subjects that always astounds me, and it’s one of the things that ultimately turned me into an atheist. Religion is so quick to try to explain everything so simplistically, and I’m sure that’s a huge comfort to people because it makes them feel like they have an understanding of reality, but it cuts them off at the knees. So many people defend religion through the assumed miracle of humanity and how special and important we must all be, but in the scope of things we’re not only insignificant, but potentially just a product of chance.
For me it dismisses religion as the final answer for existential questions of purpose and I think it makes our significance in our role on our planet more important and personal.
Submitted by allosaurusmeat
The fact that we’re alive against the backdrop of an incredibly vast universe makes me cherish humanity all the more—if we truly understood how amazing it is that we’re alive at all we wouldn’t be wasting time worrying about who is believing in God and who isn’t, or who’s sleeping with who, or whatever.
We’re alive despite the randomness, despite the vastness of space and we are worried about the most stupid of things 90% of the time.
Every single one of use is wasting our time in the universe. :\
I am more of an agnostic which, I think, means I do not follow any organized religion. Unlike several somebodies close to me, I do believe in God and am amazed at all that he has created. However, I can't accept the Bible as the word of God. Far too many hands of men have been allowed to rewrite the Bible that it can't possibly be His word. The messages in the New Testament are impressive but I believe the messages in the old testament were written to keep the people of the time in line. I guess that means that I am definitely not a fundamentalist. God's glory is all around us but I believe that He leaves it up to us to make the best of our lives. Maybe this is a bit simplistic but it ties together how I was raised and how I am now.
I have no problem with folks believing what they want regarding what can't be explained--however, when there are explanations that can be understood through science, I feel strongly that it's bad to just believe what you want. But even then, it's your life. It stops being your life, however, when decisions you make have an effect on the lives of others. So, if you happen to be that one Congresman (can't remember his name) who has admitted on camera that he believes God gave the Earth to us to do with as we please, I think that's whole-heartedly wrong and dangerous.
Honestly, I think it's safer to assume there isn't a supreme being since He doesn't seem to be involving Himself in too many of our daily lives and even if He is, He's not being much help. As a result, I'd much rather put responsibility for the bad stuff in the world on ourselves or on our corporate and/or government leaders (or all of the above). Seems to make more sense to blame humanity for its ills rather than pray to God who only seems to reply to our prayers through riddles and puzzles if He replies at all.
Just my ¥2.