I have run into a lot of atheist that seem to be under the impression that humans can understand everything. That humans can and will understand the entire universe one day and how everything in it works through science.
do atheist believe in something more powerful or intelligent?
for example: a dog, cat, fish, horse, or squirrel will never understand math, civil rights movements throughout history, business, computer engineering, psychology, mechanics etc.
Do atheists believe in anything that is beyond human comprehension? (such as those things I listed are beyond a dog or cat’s comprehension)
Posted: November 3rd 2009
logicel
I regard humans having the ability to deepen their understanding of nature. I do accept the limits in human abilities. In fact, I rejoice in that fact! Our hard won understanding is so satisfying because it is not easy.
When I need a break from trying hard to understand life, I go blank. I lie down in a comfortable place and watch my belly go up and down via breathing. I let go of my attempts to fathom the unfathomable. It is very relaxing. No god need to apply in order to come to grips that one is mortal and does not and will not understand everything.
I certainly hope your god takes a break now and then and mediates on that it does not know everything either. It is such a burden being a know-it-all! Maybe that is why it is so cranky and is into smiting?
Posted: November 4th 2009
Eric_PK
Science has been an incredibly successful way of generating useful knowledge and I see nothing in the physical universe that is by definition beyond exploration and understanding. There may be many things that are beyond practical exploration – some physics exploration may require energies that are not attainable by human technology and there may be things that we’re not smart enough to understand.
And, we may at some point end up running into Clarke’s observation that any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.
It seems like you’re talking around supernatural entities, which I see no evidence for, and therefore no reason to consider. I do think we live in a naturalistic universe fully governed by natural laws.
Posted: November 4th 2009
Steve Zara www
I don’t really understand the question. If something is beyond human comprehension, then how can we know enough about it to believe in it or not?
If you mean can atheists believe that there may be things beyond human understanding, then of course. We have limited brains, and it could be that not all aspects of reality are going to fit in our heads.
Posted: November 4th 2009
Dave Hitt www
You’re asking two different questions. Could there be an intelligence greater than ours somewhere in the universe? Of course. We won’t “believe in” it until we have some proof, though.
But is understanding the universe beyond our ability? I’ve been sending that question to various smart people for the past year or so, knowing the answer can only be an opinion. Their replies have been, as expected, all over the place, but they’ve been mostly optimistic. Many people have pointed out that while our actual intelligence isn’t increasing all that rapidly, our understanding continues to grow because of the “shoulders of giants” effect.
My dog Sammy is the smartest dog I’ve ever owned, yet he’s incapable of understanding even the most basic math. If I wrote E=MC2 on the wall he wouldn’t even notice it, much less be able to understand what it means.
As we gain greater and greater understanding of the universe, how likely is it we’re just like Sammy, ignoring answers clearly written on the wall because we lack the capacity to understand it?
I suspect it’s fairly likely, but that’s only an opinion, and the question won’t be answered until we’ve reached the limits of human knowledge and understanding, which won’t be happening anytime soon.
Posted: November 3rd 2009
bitbutter www
There are two independent questions here:
Do atheists believe in anything that is beyond human comprehension?
If you mean, 'do I think that there are things that humans will never understand’, I think that the answer is yes. Of course many religionists have placed God in this category, so I’d also like to emphasise that if you don’t understand a thing, then you’re not in a position to make (or evaluate) further claims about that thing. If God exists but is incomprehensible, then the only tenable position towards it is ignosticism.
The second question:
bq. Do atheists believe in anything more intelligent or powerful than a human?
The phrase 'believe in’ isn’t appropriate here. In terms of the ability to reason and manipulate the world with intentionality, I’m not aware of the existence of anything more powerful than humankind. If and when evidence is available that strongly suggests a superhuman intelligence exists, then I will have a positive belief about its existence.
Posted: November 3rd 2009