1. If you don't accept the supernatural, you obviously think life is depressing, meaningless and cold

Comment #205988 by always_out on July 8, 2008 at 2:23 am

I'm a biological agent! Does any biological agent need "belief in a god" to go about the daily busy of living? Nearly all biological agents seek to content the natural drives.

Creativity/imagination, although not particular to humans, seems to be expressed most fully in the human animal. Creativity's utility is survival and/or quality of life, but it also has high aesthetic value in and of itself when one has nothing else to do.

Why is any belief in a god or the supernatural required for that? I can certainly imagine other things. And enjoy them!

2. What is the role of free will to an atheist?

Comment #114399 by always_out on January 22, 2008 at 6:42 am

I'm not exactly sure what is meant by the 'role' of free will, I don't think that it has a role except maybe in an evolutionary sense. Free will, or free choice, certainly plays a role in selection. But I think that free will would run counter to any notion of having a creed. Hence, to atheism, if considered as creed, free will would play no role.

I would say that I find free will essential to 'my' atheism, as to each of us individually, because it gives us the opportunity to ask questions and be critical thinkers. And when we see hubris put forth for any reason, free will gives us the opportunity to disagree and confront it.