Why is there such a universal religious sense within humanity?
I don't have a "religious sense", so I doubt that
that is universal.
We do have a need to feel passionately about values important to our existence, and when such values are considered to be placed in something divine, it may be experienced as worship.
In my case, I would be willing to call myself a "hero-worshipper", because people who courageously and wisely pursue good values are important to me for inspiration in my own life. I'm using the word "worship" somewhat loosely, since I don't regard heroic individuals as anything greater than human.
Isn’t it a bit extreme to assert "God does not exist"?
It's no more extreme than asserting that God does exist, considering the poor state of the evidence in favor.
Personally, I don't make this assertion except for god-concepts that I judge to be contradictory or incoherent. In all other cases, both known and unknown, I simply say that I don't hold any belief in such gods. My atheism refers to a lack of belief rather than a claim that gods don't exist.
What about the evidence of design in all of creation?
There is none. At least, none that strikes me as persuasive.
It is obvious that anything that is designed has to have an intelligent creator.
Yes, it is obvious because this is true by definition.
However, human beings are
not designed. Hence, no intelligent creator.
For example, a computer never came about by mere accident, but had to have been thought out and planned by an intelligent designer.
Computers don't have DNA or reproduce. If they did, it would be a vastly different situation. Computers could have evolved from something much simpler. Complexity can emerge from simplicity through natural processes.
How do you explain the changed lives of millions of people throughout history who testify to a life changing experience with Jesus Christ?
How do you explain all the changed lives due to Buddhism, Hinduism, "The Secret", etc?
Personally, I don't doubt that people's lives are changed by stories and ideas. My life has changed for the better due to my philosophical path.
If you are asking why Christians might experience a rapid change in their personalities, I suspect it has something to do with a quirk in human psychology, although I can't guess what.
How do we account for the historical Person of Jesus Christ?
I lean a bit towards Jesus-mythicism. I don't have to account for Jesus.
But even if I were to grant the existence of an historical Jesus, there are many people who make a big impact on history. Consider other religions, philosophies, and even stories by the Greek poet Homer.
Where does all of the incredibly complex information come from that is stored within DNA? Information doesn’t just appear by itself.
The information is the result of natural selection over vast lengths of time within an environment.
Where does all the matter in the universe come from?
Where does God come from?
The universe began with the big bang.
According to the Big Bang theory. There are other theories.
All the matter in existence, which had been compacted in a tiny ball, explosively flew apart.
No, it wasn't an explosion. It was an inflation of spacetime.
No one knows what caused it,
Perhaps it was kids playing with matches?
What makes you think that no one knows what caused it? I think you should actually read the science.
Have you ever felt a spiritual connection with anything that made you doubt your atheistic outlook?
No, if anything it is the opposite.
My felt spiritual connection is to a potential future self. It's not easy to explain, but when I experience self-actualization, I feel a connection to my personal potentials, as if the way to personal growth is open and I'm almost being pulled along.
Have you been atheist your entire life?
No. I was a believing Catholic as a child. Or at least a half-believing one.
What would it take to instill theism into your being?
A mental breakdown, most likely.
eudaimonia,
Mark
