Worldview discussion

[anonymous person]

I am looking for some people who are not Christians to have a discussion with to better understand their worldview. The discussion will focus on answers to at least four topics which worldviews deal with: origin, meaning, morality, and destiny. The discussion can be done here in this thread, in a private message, in person (If you live near Charlotte, NC), on Facebook, or through email. It can be made public or kept private. If you are or anyone you know is interested, please let me know. Thanks!

 

[awitch]

Sounds like fun.
In-thread is fine with me, or private message me if you prefer.

 

[“Paisios”]

I am looking for some people who are not Christians to have a discussion with to better understand their worldview. The discussion will focus on answers to at least four topics which worldviews deal with: origin, meaning, morality, and destiny. The discussion can be done here in this thread, in a private message, in person (If you live near Charlotte, NC), on Facebook, or through email. It can be made public or kept private. If you are or anyone you know is interested, please let me know. Thanks!

Sounds like fun.
In-thread is fine with me, or private message me if you prefer.

If you all are willing, it would interest some others (i.e. me) to listen in on the discussion. I promise to stay in the corner and be quiet as a mouse, not saying a word, if you are willing to share..

 

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[awitch]

If you all are willing, it would interest some others (i.e. me) to listen in on the discussion. I promise to stay in the corner and be quiet as a mouse, not saying a word, if you are willing to share..

It's fine with me, even if you jumped in.
My only concern is that someone unfamiliar with the forum will stumble on the thread and I end up getting flagged for violating the rules about promotion.

 

[“Paisios”]

It's fine with me, even if you jumped in.
My only concern is that someone unfamiliar with the forum will stumble on the thread and I end up getting flagged for violating the rules about promotion.

That sounds like a valid concern. Is there a way to place a warning/notice/disclaimer within the site rules that would help prevent such flagging?

(And I will not jump in. I am quite an interested observer, but in my ignorance, would likely not add much to the discussion, but could stand to learn a lot from such a conversation. Best I be silent and let wiser minds prevail.)

 

[awitch]

That sounds like a valid concern. Is there a way to place a warning/notice/disclaimer within the site rules that would help prevent such flagging?

I would have sworn there was a disclaimer in the Statement of Purpose about being exposed to non-Christian beliefs, but I don't see it now, though I guess it should be obvious. I used to use a disclaimer as my signature, but I can just include one when it comes time to answer something specific.

I didn't start the thread and I'd only be answering questions so technically it shouldn't violate the rules.

 

[dlamberth]

I'd be willing. It sounds interesting.

 

[Aryeh Jay]

Sure, why not.

 

[holo]

I'm in. My worldview is very much a work in progress.

 

[ananda]

I am looking for some people who are not Christians to have a discussion with to better understand their worldview. The discussion will focus on answers to at least four topics which worldviews deal with: origin, meaning, morality, and destiny. The discussion can be done here in this thread, in a private message, in person (If you live near Charlotte, NC), on Facebook, or through email. It can be made public or kept private. If you are or anyone you know is interested, please let me know. Thanks!

Go for it.

 

[Jane_the_Bane]

I'm game.

 

[anonymous person]

Sounds like fun.
In-thread is fine with me, or private message me if you prefer.

Thank you for expressing interest in this discussion! What I would like to better understand about your worldview is how you deal with the question of origins. I have found that learning about this aspect puts me in a better position to understand the other aspects that follow. So tell me, what do you think is the explanation for the existence of the universe?

 

[anonymous person]

I'd be willing. It sounds interesting.

Thanks dlamberth! I look forward to learning more about your worldview and the similarities that yours has with mine. I like to ask about one's views when it comes to origins first, as it serves as a sort of foundation for the other answers. So tell me, what do you think is the explanation for the existence of the universe?

 

[anonymous person]

Sure, why not.

Excellent Aryeh Jay! Thanks for your interest in this discussion. I do hope it will be encouraging. When talking with people about their worldview, I like to ask them about what they think is the explanation for the existence of the universe. I find that the answer to this question in some measure, will determine the questions that follow. So, tell me, what do you think is the explanation for the existence of the universe?

 

[anonymous person]

I'm in. My worldview is very much a work in progress.

I think if we are all honest, we could agree with you. I know I don't have all the answers to my questions and hopefully, learning more about what others think can in some way help me. So tell me, if you have a view on this, what is the explanation for the existence of the universe?

 

[anonymous person]

Go for it.

Good morning ananda! I hope you're doing well. I thank you for your interest in this thread. I see you are a Buddhist. I know that different Buddhists have different beliefs and in order not to be presumptuous, I will ask you what your specific view is on the explanation of the existence of the universe. Has the universe always existed or not? What do you think is its explanation for existing?

 

[anonymous person]

I'm game.

Hey Jane_the_Bane! Glad to have you here. I am fascinated in the various views that people hold when it comes to the explanation of the existence of the universe. What do you think is its explanation for existing?

 

[awitch]

Thank you for expressing interest in this discussion! What I would like to better understand about your worldview is how you deal with the question of origins. I have found that learning about this aspect puts me in a better position to understand the other aspects that follow. So tell me, what do you think is the explanation for the existence of the universe?

I tend to follow the scientific theory known as The Big Bang. The universe started out very small, very dense, and super hot and then it started expanding. As it expanded and cooled down, we get the four fundamental forces and particles. Particles condensed, atoms are formed, gravity creates stars, stars explode forming heavier elements etc.

The usual follow up questions are "Where did the initial starting point come from? and "Why did it expand?". I would answer that we don't know. I'm sure a lot of people immediately think "god did it", but it's lazy to rely on the God of the Gaps. Humans historically point to god to explain unknown phenomena and then walk it back later when science eventually figures it out.

Today's technology doesn't have the capacity to answer those questions and we may never know for sure, but that doesn't trouble me.

 

[anonymous person]

I tend to follow the scientific theory known as The Big Bang. The universe started out very small, very dense, and super hot and then it started expanding. As it expanded and cooled down, we get the four fundamental forces and particles. Particles condensed, atoms are formed, gravity creates stars, stars explode forming heavier elements etc.

The usual follow up questions are "Where did the initial starting point come from? and "Why did it expand?". I would answer that we don't know. I'm sure a lot of people immediately think "god did it", but it's lazy to rely on the God of the Gaps. Humans historically point to god to explain unknown phenomena and then walk it back later when science eventually figures it out.

Today's technology doesn't have the capacity to answer those questions and we may never know for sure, but that doesn't trouble me.

I too think that the Standard Model from which the Big Bang theory derives, is the best scientific explanation for all of the observable data we have. I also think it serves as one of two independent lines of evidence supporting two philosophical arguments for the beginning of the universe. The other scientific line of evidence would be an appeal to the 2nd law of thermodynamics. So it seems to me that we have quite a bit in common already. We both think that there is good evidence, enough at least to make it more probable than not, that the universe had some sort of a beginning, even though we cannot prove that it did with certainty.

You're also right in pointing out that such observations immediately raise the question of what explains this expansion of space-time in the first place.

I have one more question on origins for you if you don't mind answering. What do you think is the explanation for the existence of human beings?