Alex Rosenberg is the R. Taylor Cole Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Duke University. He states the following in his book The Atheist’s Guide to Reality: Enjoying Life Without Illusions (New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2011), 1-3:
"Everyone seems to know what life’s persistent questions are. . . .
This book aims to provide the correct answers to most of the persistent questions. . . .
Here is a list of some of the questions and their short answers (expanded in Rosenberg's book)...
Is there a God? ...... No
What is the nature of reality? ...... What physics says it is.
What is the purpose of the universe? ...... There is none.
What is the meaning of life? ...... Ditto.
Why am I here? ...... Just dumb luck.
Does prayer work? ...... Of course not.
Is there a soul? Is it immortal? ...... Are you kidding?
Is there free will? ...... Not a chance.
What happens when we die? ...... Everything pretty much goes on as before, except us.
What is the difference between right and wrong, good and bad? ...... There is no moral difference between them.
Why should I be moral? ...... Because it makes you feel better than being immoral.
Is abortion, euthanasia, suicide, paying taxes, foreign aid, or anything else you don’t like forbidden, permissible, or sometimes obligatory? ...... Anything goes.
What is love, and how can I find it? Love is the solution to a strategic interaction problem. ...... Don’t look for it; it will find you when you need it.
Does history have any meaning or purpose? ...... It’s full of sound and fury, but signifies nothing.
Does the human past have any lessons for our future? ...... Fewer and fewer, if it ever had any to begin with.
That's it in a nutshell. Here's the one thing that I find most 'amusing' about such people: While the above is their stated position, they live their life quite often CONTRADICTING what they (say they) believe. As just one example among many, such people complain and yell the loudest when they feel that they've been "wronged". But wait, don't they believe that there is no moral difference between right and wrong, good and bad? Don't they teach their children to do the "right" thing? And while we're at it, what standard do they use to tell right from wrong, good from bad? Their own standard? Who do they think they're kidding?
In short, they are contradictions and hypocrisy on the hoof (but try telling them that). Hehe
Jorge
"Everyone seems to know what life’s persistent questions are. . . .
This book aims to provide the correct answers to most of the persistent questions. . . .
Here is a list of some of the questions and their short answers (expanded in Rosenberg's book)...
Is there a God? ...... No
What is the nature of reality? ...... What physics says it is.
What is the purpose of the universe? ...... There is none.
What is the meaning of life? ...... Ditto.
Why am I here? ...... Just dumb luck.
Does prayer work? ...... Of course not.
Is there a soul? Is it immortal? ...... Are you kidding?
Is there free will? ...... Not a chance.
What happens when we die? ...... Everything pretty much goes on as before, except us.
What is the difference between right and wrong, good and bad? ...... There is no moral difference between them.
Why should I be moral? ...... Because it makes you feel better than being immoral.
Is abortion, euthanasia, suicide, paying taxes, foreign aid, or anything else you don’t like forbidden, permissible, or sometimes obligatory? ...... Anything goes.
What is love, and how can I find it? Love is the solution to a strategic interaction problem. ...... Don’t look for it; it will find you when you need it.
Does history have any meaning or purpose? ...... It’s full of sound and fury, but signifies nothing.
Does the human past have any lessons for our future? ...... Fewer and fewer, if it ever had any to begin with.
That's it in a nutshell. Here's the one thing that I find most 'amusing' about such people: While the above is their stated position, they live their life quite often CONTRADICTING what they (say they) believe. As just one example among many, such people complain and yell the loudest when they feel that they've been "wronged". But wait, don't they believe that there is no moral difference between right and wrong, good and bad? Don't they teach their children to do the "right" thing? And while we're at it, what standard do they use to tell right from wrong, good from bad? Their own standard? Who do they think they're kidding?
In short, they are contradictions and hypocrisy on the hoof (but try telling them that). Hehe
Jorge
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