Originally posted by lukster
To believe in something that is not and perhaps cannot be proven is by definition faith. We're not talking about the easter bunny here. We have very real evidence that the Universe exists. If we can't at least agree on that point then this conversation is pointless.
There are those who believe that it was created by God, those who accept not knowing how it came to be, and those who believe that it was not created by God. Why is it so hard to see that only the middle position requires no faith?
Because it's all about baseline core beliefs. You assert that to not believe in God just has to be a "leap of faith".
In all three viewpoints, we have faith that there is a universe. Notice that that faith is not religious based for we are not dealing with the existence of a God.
There are those who believe it was created by God (leap of faith). They hold this idea as the absolute truth and reject it as a random event.
There are those in the middle that have absolutely no real idea of how it came about. They haven't bought into the scientific explainations as it is not complete and not 100% absolute (No leap of faith). They may also believe that God may in fact have created the universe (leap of faith), but are unsure. They cannot prove either side.
There is the third group that because they didn't make the leap of faith in the existence of God/divine intervention, that there has to be an answer not involving God. In this case random energy/matter, antienergy-antimatter, etc. Does that third group have 100% certainty the exact beginnings of the universe? No, however because of the lack of faith in God's existence, they rule out divine intervention.
*****
atheism (ā`thē-ĭz'əm), denial of the existence of God or gods and of any supernatural existence, to be distinguished from agnosticism agnosticism (ăgnŏs`tĭsĭzəm), form of skepticism that holds that the existence of God cannot be logically proved or disproved. Among prominent agnostics have been Auguste Comte, Herbert Spencer, and T.
..... Click the link for more information. , which holds that the existence cannot be proved. The term atheism has been used as an accusation against all who attack established orthodoxy, as in the trial of Socrates. There were few avowed atheists from classical times until the 19th cent., when popular belief in a conflict between religion and science brought forth preachers of the gospel of atheism, such as Robert G. Ingersoll. There are today many individuals and groups professing atheism. The 20th cent. has seen many individuals and groups professing atheism, including Bertrand Russell Russell, Bertrand Arthur William Russell, 3d Earl, 1872–1970, British philosopher, mathematician, and social reformer, b. Trelleck, Wales.
Life
The Early Years
Russell had a distinguished background: His grandfather Lord John Russell introduced the Reform Bill of 1832 and was twice prime minister; his parents were both prominent freethinkers; and his informal godfather was John Stuart Mill .
..... Click the link for more information. and Madalyn Murry O'Hair.
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia® Copyright © 2005, Columbia University Press. Licensed from Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
http://www.cc.columbia.edu/cu/cup/
