Stuart's Thoughts 4/21/2018

On Being An Atheist

A reent OLLI course entitled "So Many Thing We Don't Know" explored the physics of the very small and the very large.  While many of the classic concepts of both areas were reviewed, the main theme of the course focused on the notion that we truly have no answers to the biggest questions being asked by mankind.  In the case of the very small, we soon get totally lost upon entering the mysterious realm of quantum mechanics.  In fact, no-one understands why the presence of an observer can modify the outcome of a relatively simple exercise such as that described in the "double slit experiment.  Physics can account for and explain nearly all events taking place in the observable universe.  However, the bulk of all matter and energy in the universe exists in the realms of "dark matter" and "dark energy".  Humanity's greatest minds have virtually no understanding of where all this "stuff" is, where it came from or its role in the grand scheme of nature.  Likewise, we have no knowledge of how the unimaginably enormous amount of everything in the universe arose in the "big bang" from a dimensionless point we refer to as a singularity.

In spite of this apparent ignorance, many people, including as many as 95% of all physicists reject the concept of a supreme being, i.e. God, and claim to be atheists.  Is it because they believe that they are so much more intelligent than the masses and that with time science will yield answers to those really big questions or is it simply an example of arrogance?
I don't know weather claiming to be an atheist means that one totally rejects the existence of God or simply that they don't subscribe to any of the world's religions.  However, if they are truly wise they would consider that 80-90% of the world's population believes in a supreme creator or a "God".  In answering the question - Do you believe in God?, they should opt to rephrase the question to ask - Do you believe in the concept of "God".  My answer to such a question and I would think their's also would be yes.

My reasoning for this is that, as I have previously detailed, I believe that there are two realms of reality, material reality, i.e., all that we can observe or otherwise identify with our senses, and subjective reality, i.e., all that we, as an individual, believe or experience emotionally.  Love, compassion, respect and a sense that there must be a greater intelligence than humanity behind the creation of the universe including all aspects of the material reality.

These ideas can lead to endless discussions that can often take many forks in the road but for me, I am very comfortable in rejecting the label of atheist and accepting the "concept of God" as being a valid component of one's subjective reality.