Faith Infiltration: Creation Museum Pt.10
Here's another poster at the Creation Museum:
The text reads: Do different starting points matter in our personal lives? Why am I here? Am I alone? Why do I suffer? Is there any hope? Why do I have to die?
I have an answer for all of these, based on my starting point. Here is my starting point: things that exist have an effect on the universe. We can test that effect. We test that effect by observing it, experimenting, experimenting again, and make conclusions which are always open for revision. As a starting point, it affirms that these tools can lead us to provisional conclusions.
The starting point of "The Bible" means that one has preconceived conclusions in mind: you work to make the evidence fit those conclusions. From the perspective of a skeptic who concludes based on what is examined, this is akin to jamming a square peg in a round hole.
Why am I here?
The universe does not have a reason for "why" people are here. You just are. But that does not mean you're not here for a reason. You can give yourself a reason. Everyone has a story worth telling. So you tell me: why are you here?
Am I alone?
No. Sometimes, it might feel like you are alone, even when you are surrounded by other people. You are not alone even when you feel as though everyone has abandoned you. You are not alone even when you feel that you are the only person in the world who feels the way you do, or has experienced what you have experienced. Everyone at times feels alone, or abandoned, or shut out, or shut in. Even if you feel as though all of humanity has abandoned you, you're still not really alone – the countless bacteria helping keep you alive may not care about you, but they sure are with you. It is possible for you to be completely abandoned by everyone you love? Yes. It is. It's a risk we take by deciding to remain alive that is worth taking.
Why do I suffer?
Everything suffers. Anything capable of suffering suffers. At times, suffering will make you a strong and better person. At times, suffering will break you down, or possibly even kill you. There is no overarching "reason" or "purpose" for this. It's just there. It just is. Can you find meaning in your suffering? Yes.
Is there any hope?
Hope for what? Why do we have to invent The Ultimate in order to have hope?
Why do I have to die?
Because living things die. People don't want to die, but pretending there is a "reason" (like sin, or the will of god, etc) or that you can escape death isn't really an answer, any more than "they go back into the leprechaun's magic bag" is a satisfactory answer for why rainbows are so temporary.
It must be nice to feel like you have all of the answers to these questions. People often say that religion offers answers, but I would rather be truthful and say, "It's complicated" rather than, "I know". I would also rather have no answers then have an answer that comforts me, but is incorrect.
There's also something else: it's obvious that "different starting points" matter in our personal lives. Christians will obviously argue (and I would disagree) that with the starting point of the Bible, you can have a better personal life. Even if that were true, that says nothing about the truthfulness of the starting points.
The text reads: Do different starting points matter in our personal lives? Why am I here? Am I alone? Why do I suffer? Is there any hope? Why do I have to die?
I have an answer for all of these, based on my starting point. Here is my starting point: things that exist have an effect on the universe. We can test that effect. We test that effect by observing it, experimenting, experimenting again, and make conclusions which are always open for revision. As a starting point, it affirms that these tools can lead us to provisional conclusions.
The starting point of "The Bible" means that one has preconceived conclusions in mind: you work to make the evidence fit those conclusions. From the perspective of a skeptic who concludes based on what is examined, this is akin to jamming a square peg in a round hole.
Why am I here?
The universe does not have a reason for "why" people are here. You just are. But that does not mean you're not here for a reason. You can give yourself a reason. Everyone has a story worth telling. So you tell me: why are you here?
Am I alone?
No. Sometimes, it might feel like you are alone, even when you are surrounded by other people. You are not alone even when you feel as though everyone has abandoned you. You are not alone even when you feel that you are the only person in the world who feels the way you do, or has experienced what you have experienced. Everyone at times feels alone, or abandoned, or shut out, or shut in. Even if you feel as though all of humanity has abandoned you, you're still not really alone – the countless bacteria helping keep you alive may not care about you, but they sure are with you. It is possible for you to be completely abandoned by everyone you love? Yes. It is. It's a risk we take by deciding to remain alive that is worth taking.
Why do I suffer?
Everything suffers. Anything capable of suffering suffers. At times, suffering will make you a strong and better person. At times, suffering will break you down, or possibly even kill you. There is no overarching "reason" or "purpose" for this. It's just there. It just is. Can you find meaning in your suffering? Yes.
Is there any hope?
Hope for what? Why do we have to invent The Ultimate in order to have hope?
Why do I have to die?
Because living things die. People don't want to die, but pretending there is a "reason" (like sin, or the will of god, etc) or that you can escape death isn't really an answer, any more than "they go back into the leprechaun's magic bag" is a satisfactory answer for why rainbows are so temporary.
It must be nice to feel like you have all of the answers to these questions. People often say that religion offers answers, but I would rather be truthful and say, "It's complicated" rather than, "I know". I would also rather have no answers then have an answer that comforts me, but is incorrect.
There's also something else: it's obvious that "different starting points" matter in our personal lives. Christians will obviously argue (and I would disagree) that with the starting point of the Bible, you can have a better personal life. Even if that were true, that says nothing about the truthfulness of the starting points.
Labels: atheism, faith infiltration
posted by Ziztur
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8:00 AM
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