28 replies to this topic

[Kurari]

I'm probably committing a major taboo here in the atheist community, but I feel the need to say it: I don't care where the universe came from.

I don't understand physics. I think it's boring as hell. I'm happy of course there have been and still are lots of other people in this world who do love it and understand it, and they are doing great work studying it...Stephen Hawking, Albert Einstein, Neil Degrasse Tyson, Issac Newton, and so on. I admire these people for being able to grasp something I can barely fathom and for questioning. Those are values that I hold in high standard.

But damned if I can stay awake when I'm hearing about it.

Inevitably, it seems like the first question that comes up whenever a Christian finds out I'm an atheist is, "Well where do you think the world came from? Hunh?"

Frankly, I don't give a shit. I don't know where the world or the universe came from and I am not really interested in knowing how it did. I don't care if it was a big bang or made in 7 days by a deity or it's floating on the back of a giant turtle. Knowledge of cosmogenesis is NOT an component to how I live my life. I can see why it would be to a Christian or another religious sort, but for an atheist, it's just another topic that people are studying. It doesn't mean I have to just in order to live a good life.

So, there, I said it. I'm taking an intellectual dump and admitting I'm not interested in learning a particular subject.

Hope you all have a great day!

[mcdaddy]

Your atheist card should be revoked immediately!!!

[Kaiser01]

I could never do the math part, its the theoretical concepts that i love about physics. I cant be happy living without understanding as much of the universe as possible.

[freeasabird]

I couldn't agree with you more. One does not have to have advanced degrees in biology, chemistry, physics, and astronomy to reject religion. Sure it helps, but not necessary at all. Nor do you need a degree in theology to reject it. The bible crumbles under its own weight.

[TrailBlazer]

Intellectual diversity; one of the beauties of human development. And as long as we're admitting to intellectual downfalls: I don't care for mathematics, politics, or fictional literature.

To each his own.

[Rank Stranger]

Don't worry- physics cares about you.

I care quite a bit about physics, math, and things like that. But when it comes to astrophysics, The Big Bang, questions about first cause, etc.- I don't really care either. I guess I care enough to watch it on the science channel or something, but that's about it. IMO, the calculations are so abstract, the time in question is so remote, and the scale involved so unimaginable, that anything they come up with will be an educated guess at best.

I think it's a fun excercise (for somebody) to try and figure out how the universe came about. And it's a pursuit that generates lots of useful questions for proving and/or refining bigass (and useful) theories like relativity and quantum mechanics (I don't claim to fully or even mostly understand either of those). And IMO it's a HELL of a lot better approach than the religious crowd takes if you're really looking for the truth of the matter. But I don't 'believe' their conclusions about the Big Bang or the like in any concrete sense.

I just think of it as the best theory going. Even fundamental theory like Newtonian physics has been replaced/superceded in time. The same could very well happen with relativity and the like some day- though probably not in my lifetime.

[Vigile]

Physics makes my brain bleed but I still find it almost infinitely fascinating. I wish it came easier to me. As it stands, I'm forced to settle for watching documentaries about Einstein as opposed to reading books about quantum mechanics.

Even Hawking's dumbed down book hurt my head and I had to re-read and re-read paragraph after paragraph in order to get where he was going with it.

[pratt]

ok,,, i care about physics, only if DIRECTLY affects the well being of fellow being in real terms or REAL near future (not 100 years from now or so)

i would be concern about ultra violet rays causing cancer or solar flare affecting flights or tsunamis,,,,,,

i would not be concern at all at the birth of a new universe (besides looking at the pictures), or if the milky way will end 2 billion years from now,,,,,,

[Legion]

I'm probably committing a major taboo here in the atheist community, but I feel the need to say it: I don't care where the universe came from.

Neither do I.

And I believe we will one day look back on contemporary cosmology and chuckle.

[Inqui]

I'm similar to OP. I do enjoy a bit of physics, but it's very easy for me to be overdosed in the stuff. Like, VERY easy.

If we do one day find out how everything came into existence, I'd love to find out but only in a way that can be described in a sentence or two.

With electricity, for example, I'm happy with "energy runs from here to here along wires" as an explanation. Not that I don't find it interesting, but anything more than that and I'll get more increasingly to switch off (pun not intended, I just realised that).

Come to think of it, I'm like that with most sciences. I really like knowing stuff, as long as it's kept simple.

[JoeCoastie]

[MrsRoper]

I love your OP. I bought "A Brief History of Time" back in 1995 and still haven't cracked the binding. I think I finally donated it to my local library. My friend said he made an easier to read book called, "A Briefer History of TIme," I may check that out.

I put a bunch of science docs in my Netflix que because I feel woefully under educated in that area. But every time I watch one I FALL ASLEEP! LOL It's a great insomnia tool. I actually regret not taking Physics in HS because I did that typical American girl thing where once I got to HS I didn't apply myself in science and math. And frankly, sometimes I regret not working a little harder and just sticking with what came easy to me. I think it's good to be well-rounded. Actually hoping to learn some stuff while my kids go through school. I am hoping they'll do better than their father and I, but we are both creative liberal arts people, so I'm not sure.

On another note, Stephen Hawking is a STUD: http://www.dailymail...s-sex-club.html

[Adam5]

easier to read book called, "A Briefer History of TIme," I may check that out.

Yes, that is a much better read. Couldnt read the first one.

[MrsRoper]

easier to read book called, "A Briefer History of TIme," I may check that out.

Yes, that is a much better read. Couldnt read the first one.

I need one of my nerd friend's to tutor me. I was like, teach me physics and I'll teach you the bible!! LOL Not a fair trade off.

[florduh]

[Rank Stranger]

I'm probably committing a major taboo here in the atheist community, but I feel the need to say it: I don't care where the universe came from.

Neither do I.

And I believe we will one day look back on contemporary cosmology and chuckle.

I agree with your statement. Though I suspect I would disagree with your reasoning behind the statement.

[ConureDelSol]

In my case, I'm always watching documentaries and television episodes detailing how the universe works and explaining theoretical concepts in everyday language. My mom can't stand it because she's like some of you in that she falls asleep watching them. Now do I want to actually get into the nitty gritty mathematical part of physics (or Gawd-forbid...QUANTUM physics?!)? Absolutely not. I cannot even begin to fathom how Stephen Hawking could actually provide a mathematical equation that somehow proves that some information disappears when sucked into a black hole.

On the other hand, I'm a huge sci-fi nut (I have the Enterprise-A tattooed on my arm, along with the seal of the Federation of Planets) and I love hearing about the concept of black holes really being a way to bring material into other universes, wormholes, the life cycles of stars, the possibility of life elsewhere in the universe...and I also have a weird obsession with learning about how the earth might die and the collision of the Milky Way and the Andromeda galaxies.

Now if some fundy asks me, "Well where did the universe come from, huh?" I would simply reply, "I don't know, but I don't pretend to know like you do."

[Legion]

I'm probably committing a major taboo here in the atheist community, but I feel the need to say it: I don't care where the universe came from.

Neither do I.

And I believe we will one day look back on contemporary cosmology and chuckle.

I agree with your statement. Though I suspect I would disagree with your reasoning behind the statement.

Hmm... that's interesting. What do you believe my reasoning is?

[Zaphod]

Kurari, I'm majoring in physics and even I understand the part about not caring about the details of how it all began. Well, I really do want to know everything about it, but I'm learning that there are very specific reasons to think there is a limit to how far into the past we can peer, meaning we'll probably never know. Disappointing, but I'm OK with a simple "I don't know," instead of "I don't know, therefore God."

As long people know enough about science and critical thinking to be able to recognize bullshit when it's presented to them, I can live with that.