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Is agnosticism actually atheism without the attitude?


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You do know it is just a theory and in time may be proved wrong, and it isn’t the only theory of the universe.
You're right, it's not the only theory, but it is the most widely accepted theory, which if proved wrong, will be replaced by another widely accepted theory, which might be proved wrong once again and replaced by yet another widely accepted theory. It's all best guess really innit.
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:thumbsup:

 

We are here because of the laws of physics.

 

So how did these Laws get put there?

 

Do you believe it was 'chance'/physical necessity? (btw none of these would stand up under scrutiny).

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryedo40 View Post

I don't really agree with the term 'created'. It implies there is a creator with intent. I see the universe as having no intention or purpose behind it. So, IMO, it hasn't been created.

 

That is fine if that is your belief- but to conclude that still requires a giant leap of faith doesn't it? When you consider the argument from the theist - the fine tuning- it is based on what is observed/studied.

 

Lets just look at some of the parameters of the Universe and then you can ponder yourself if the universe still has NO PURPOSE or INTENTION behind it- like all these just happened to be!

 

1. strong nuclear force constant

if larger: no hydrogen would form; atomic nuclei for most life-essential elements would be unstable; thus, no life chemistry

if smaller: no elements heavier than hydrogen would form: again, no life chemistry

2. weak nuclear force constant

if larger: too much hydrogen would convert to helium in big bang; hence, stars would convert too much matter into heavy elements making life chemistry impossible

if smaller: too little helium would be produced from big bang; hence, stars would convert too little matter into heavy elements making life chemistry impossible

3. gravitational force constant

if larger: stars would be too hot and would burn too rapidly and too unevenly for life chemistry

if smaller: stars would be too cool to ignite nuclear fusion; thus, many of the elements needed for life chemistry would never form

4. electromagnetic force constant

if greater: chemical bonding would be disrupted; elements more massive than boron would be unstable to fission

if lesser: chemical bonding would be insufficient for life chemistry

5. ratio of electromagnetic force constant to gravitational force constant

if larger: all stars would be at least 40% more massive than the sun; hence, stellar burning would be too brief and too uneven for life support

if smaller: all stars would be at least 20% less massive than the sun, thus incapable of producing heavy elements

6. ratio of electron to proton mass

if larger: chemical bonding would be insufficient for life chemistry

if smaller: same as above

7. ratio of number of protons to number of electrons

if larger: electromagnetism would dominate gravity, preventing galaxy, star, and planet formation

if smaller: same as above

8. expansion rate of the universe

if larger: no galaxies would form

if smaller: universe would collapse, even before stars formed

9. entropy level of the universe

if larger: stars would not form within proto-galaxies

if smaller: no proto-galaxies would form

10. mass density of the universe

if larger: overabundance of deuterium from big bang would cause stars to burn rapidly, too rapidly for life to form

if smaller: insufficient helium from big bang would result in a shortage of heavy elements

11. velocity of light

if faster: stars would be too luminous for life support if slower: stars would be insufficiently luminous for life support

12. age of the universe

if older: no solar-type stars in a stable burning phase would exist in the right (for life) part of the galaxy

if younger: solar-type stars in a stable burning phase would not yet have formed

13. initial uniformity of radiation

if more uniform: stars, star clusters, and galaxies would not have formed

if less uniform: universe by now would be mostly black holes and empty space

14. average distance between galaxies

if larger: star formation late enough in the history of the universe would be hampered by lack of material

if smaller: gravitational tug-of-wars would destabilize the sun's orbit

15. density of galaxy cluster

if denser: galaxy collisions and mergers would disrupt the sun's orbit

if less dense: star formation late enough in the history of the universe would be hampered by lack of material

16. average distance between stars

if larger: heavy element density would be too sparse for rocky planets to form

if smaller: planetary orbits would be too unstable for life

17. fine structure constant (describing the fine-structure splitting of spectral lines) if larger: all stars would be at least 30% less massive than the sun

if larger than 0.06: matter would be unstable in large magnetic fields

if smaller: all stars would be at least 80% more massive than the sun

18. decay rate of protons

if greater: life would be exterminated by the release of radiation

if smaller: universe would contain insufficient matter for life

19. 12C to 16O nuclear energy level ratio

if larger: universe would contain insufficient oxygen for life

if smaller: universe would contain insufficient carbon for life

20. ground state energy level for 4He

if larger: universe would contain insufficient carbon and oxygen for life

if smaller: same as above

21. decay rate of 8Be

if slower: heavy element fusion would generate catastrophic explosions in all the stars

if faster: no element heavier than beryllium would form; thus, no life chemistry

22. ratio of neutron mass to proton mass

if higher: neutron decay would yield too few neutrons for the formation of many life-essential elements

if lower: neutron decay would produce so many neutrons as to collapse all stars into neutron stars or black holes

23. initial excess of nucleons over anti-nucleons

if greater: radiation would prohibit planet formation

if lesser: matter would be insufficient for galaxy or star formation

24. polarity of the water molecule

if greater: heat of fusion and vaporization would be too high for life

if smaller: heat of fusion and vaporization would be too low for life; liquid water would not work as a solvent for life chemistry; ice would not float, and a runaway freeze-up would result

25. supernovae eruptions

if too close, too frequent, or too late: radiation would exterminate life on the planet

if too distant, too infrequent, or too soon: heavy elements would be too sparse for rocky planets to form

26. white dwarf binaries

if too few: insufficient fluorine would exist for life chemistry

if too many: planetary orbits would be too unstable for life

if formed too soon: insufficient fluorine production

if formed too late: fluorine would arrive too late for life chemistry

27. ratio of exotic matter mass to ordinary matter mass

if larger: universe would collapse before solar-type stars could form

if smaller: no galaxies would form

28. number of effective dimensions in the early universe

if larger: quantum mechanics, gravity, and relativity could not coexist; thus, life would be impossible

if smaller: same result

29. number of effective dimensions in the present universe

if smaller: electron, planet, and star orbits would become unstable

if larger: same result

30. mass of the neutrino

if smaller: galaxy clusters, galaxies, and stars would not form

if larger: galaxy clusters and galaxies would be too dense

31. big bang ripples

if smaller: galaxies would not form; universe would expand too rapidly

if larger: galaxies/galaxy clusters would be too dense for life; black holes would dominate; universe would collapse before life-site could form

32. size of the relativistic dilation factor

if smaller: certain life-essential chemical reactions will not function properly

if larger: same result

33. uncertainty magnitude in the Heisenberg uncertainty principle

if smaller: oxygen transport to body cells would be too small and certain life-essential elements would be unstable

if larger: oxygen transport to body cells would be too great and certain life-essential elements would be unstable

34. cosmological constant

if larger: universe would expand too quickly to form solar-type stars

 

See, the theist has a foundation to base his/her belief from what we know- it is an argument for the case of a Supernatural being- something outside of our world- call it what you want...but to suggest that these laws and fine tuning just 'happened' does not help the position of the atheist- and to just say 'it just is' is frankly a cop out.

 

Good night.

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Yes I did.

 

There's that many posts to respond to I'm falling behind a bit.

 

In post #422 I say that you've not replied to a question in an earlier post, which you hadn't.

 

Later, in post #443 you then post a reply, which I then responded to in #449.

 

Now, in post #490 you re-quote my question, and re-quote your reply and announce "yes I did".

 

:huh:

 

I think perhaps you should take janie48's advice.

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You're right, it's not the only theory, but it is the most widely accepted theory, which if proved wrong, will be replaced by another widely accepted theory, which might be proved wrong once again and replaced by yet another widely accepted theory. It's all best guess really innit.

 

The only one that isn't a theory is that the universe exists and matter can't be created or destroyed but can change form, so until proven otherwise it’s always existed.

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I see Mr Cut'n Paste has returned.

 

It's much more polite, and within SF rules, to provide links to your beloved Islamic Apologist Sites rather than cut'n paste it all here.

 

Like this:

 

http://www.bookofsigns.org/2011/10/fine-tuned-universe/

 

Easy.

 

See, the theist has a foundation to base his/her belief from what we know- it is an argument for the case of a Supernatural being- something outside of our world- call it what you want...but to suggest that these laws and fine tuning just 'happened' does not help the position of the atheist- and to just say 'it just is' is frankly a cop out.

 

Because "magic man did it" is no cop-out at all.

 

:hihi:

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That is fine if that is your belief- but to conclude that still requires a giant leap of faith doesn't it?
Believing that the universe could have always existed does not require any faith at all.

 

Something must have either come into being from nothing, or always existed, this must be true.

 

The only thing that we know exists is the universe and everything in it. So the simplest and most reasonable position is that the universe has either always existed or came into being from nothing.

 

There is no reason to suggest anything else exists at all, that is where the leap of faith comes in, when you add god to the picture.

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