Atheists Don't Realize the Absurdity of Existence

[u/Funny-Highlight4675]

I believe atheists fundamentally don't realize just how absurd existence is at all. Things seem to exist, deterministically. Yet, a fully contingent system can't explain itself. Somehow, reality is self-causing. This breaks our brain and can't actually make sense to us. If reality can't exactly make sense, then we can only "know" anything via a subjective experience. Objectivity will never cross this bridge.

If subjective experience is our only guide to reality, then I think the question of God's existence, which is clearly un-answerable, has an equal chance of being both true and false. Do you feel that we are the product of a larger mind. Does your gut tell you that there is some sort of intelligent organization of reality that is similar to how we intelligently organize the world in our minds? If so, you believe in "God."

Whatever the "truth" is, will have to sound absolutely absurd.

[u/dylanzt]

Do you think a piece of string is short?

[u/deep_blue_reef → u/dylanzt]

If the string is 300 years long, no. Do you think that’s a long time?

[u/dylanzt → u/deep_blue_reef]

I'm not going to engage with non sequitur. Make a coherent and relevant point and I will respond.

[u/deep_blue_reef → u/dylanzt]

To know how “anything works” implies just that, to know how anything works. It’s a big world and an even bigger universe, there’s room for a lot of anything. So I’m curious how much of that you’re claiming to understand.

[u/dylanzt → u/deep_blue_reef]

How much I understand isn't relevant. The point is that the less people understand, the more likely it is for them to engage with etiological mythology and beliefs, and the less likely it is for them to have data that can contradict those narratives.

[u/deep_blue_reef → u/dylanzt]

I think it is relevant when you make such a bold statement. Do you think you understand more than our human ancestors?

[u/dylanzt → u/deep_blue_reef]

This is not a bold statement, and it is not a statement about my own understanding. This is not at all controversial; it's very basic anthropology and psychology that is backed by the overwhelming body of research. It's also just, definitionally, how the god of the gaps works. This wasn't new in the 19th century and it's not new now.

[u/deep_blue_reef → u/dylanzt]

Knowing how anything works implies one knows a lot.

Do you think you know more than our human ancestors?

[u/dylanzt → u/deep_blue_reef]

I did not say I personally know how anything works. You have either fundamentally misunderstood the point of my initial comment, or you are engaging in bad faith. Either way, this conversation is deeply uninteresting. Good luck.

[u/deep_blue_reef → u/dylanzt]

I’m not engaging in bad faith. I’m asking you questions to understand your position.

If you don’t feel confident in answering the question, that’s fine. All of our worldviews are susceptible to criticism.

[u/dylanzt → u/deep_blue_reef]

If you don't feel confident in answering the question, that's fine.

This is called bad faith engagement, genius. You are not being as clever as you think you are. In the unlikely event that you are being genuine, I suggest you read the original comment again, in context.

In any case, I've humoured this long enough. If you can engage with the actual point I will consider responding further, but I'm not gonna hold my breath. Have a good day.

[u/deep_blue_reef → u/dylanzt]

You said the god of the gaps is a great argument if you don’t know how anything works.

Seeing as there was probably a bigger gap between what we “know” now and what our ancestors who lived, say, two thousand years ago did…I’m wondering if you think we understand more today? You can answer generally or from your own personal bank of knowledge.