Expert: Philip A. Stahl - 7/4/2007

Question
Hello Phillip
What do atheism really believe and being that there are certain things like god, reincarnation, karma, prayer - what do atheism offer instead to answer that which we have no answers for?
How does atheist explain the creation of the universe and is there an atheism bible or book that one can read to explain the atheism point of view in an easy to read way

Thank you
Regards,
Sunil Mahabir
Pembroke Pines, Fl. 33084

Answer
Hello,

As atheists we do not "believe" (that is accept without evidence) anything that a group or person may say regarding unverified existences. What we do is withhold investing intellectual/emotional resources in any supernatural entity, especially if said entity has not even been defined.

Indeed the word atheism itself embodies this definition: a -theos (= without God)

What is happening here is *not* active disbelief, i.e. making a statement 'There is no god', but rather simply passively withholding belief/acceptance in a statement already made.  Hence, the deity (or supernatural phenomenon) believer has made the positive claim. The ontological atheist’s is the absence of belief in it. No more - no less.

Given this, the normative atheist will withhold acceptance of a God, and also of the need to propitiate the God as in prayer. Acceptance of "Reincarnation" is also withheld since it entails that a non-physical entity ("soul") be re-located over and over.

Since atheists withhold acceptance of "souls" they will also do so for reincarnation. That will also include "karma" - because as usually uderstood - one's reincarnation will be shaped by one's past karma.

Interestingly, a general (non-personal) life after death may be more difficult to reject, because - as Sir A.J. Ayer once noted (in an article in the Sunday London Times back in 1988): "Just as it is conceivable to have a godless life, it is possible to have a godless afterlife".

In other words, perhaps consciousness continues after death, though certainly not in any form or manner we would recognize! (One proposal has been that on death, quantum deBroglie waves are released and since these are primarily energy, they survive death. What that means in terms of consciousness is difficult to say!)

What does atheism offer? Basically (assuming there is no consciousness via deBroglie waves) *nothing*. We simply return to the base molecular composite that constitutes us.

Is this depressing for some? Maybe. But the upside is that it releases fears: whether of the Christian Hell, or of constant re-birth cycles, and karma.

Many atheists I know explain the origin of the cosmos by appeal to quantum mechanics. For example, it can be shown that the "instantaneous formation" of the cosmos is quite possible.

In the paper: ‘Universe Before Planck Time – A Quantum Gravity Model, in Physical Review D, Vol. 28, No. 4, p. 756, by T. Padmanabhan (1983)  the instantaneous formation of the universe by a possible quantum fluctuation arises when the conformal part of space-time is treated as a quantum variable.

Without going into all the complex mathematics entailed, Padmanabhan employed integrals related to the “action” (J) as a function of time. He proceeded by solving for the expansion factor S(t) using two separate energy equations, one of which (2.15 in his paper) bears a remarkable resemblance to the basic quantum wave potential equation. . The potential energy term is remarkably similar to that for the quantum harmonic oscillator.

The most masterful section in his paper is III. ‘Geometry of the Quantum Universe’ - wherein spacetime itself is taken to be in a particular quantum state U(q, t). He then uses this to obtain an expression for his “energy content” of the universe E(t) - thereby fixing the state of the universe to be compatible with a harmonic oscillator of frequency alpha.

Physically, it is found that the conformal factor (alpha) contributes a negative energy density, which also (interestingly) has been found associated with the 'dark energy' responsible for the current acceleration of the universe. (See any of my posts about this in the 'astronomy and space' section of All experts!)

It is also this basis that provides the model for the instantaneous formation of the universe by a possible quantum fluctuation that arises when a particular threshold is crossed near alpha = 0 (from quantum to classical domains)  As Padmanbhan shows in his paper, such a cosmos from “nothing” is perfectly justified in the context of the model, and follows from the basis of the equations, the light cone, scale factor restrictions and so on.

This means the limits at spontaneous inception must definitely be for acausal determinism and quantum cosmology, NOT classical – including classical causality.

Now, so we are clear- while I have provided you with a reasonable alternative explanation for cosmic origin- it is crucial to understand that the atheist NEED NOT do this. Merely because one disputes that a God created the cosmos, doesn't mean s/he is obliged to present an entire alternative theory - though I did give you the basis for one that makes sense to many.

As for an "atheist bible" we do not produce such, since as I noted, atheism isn't predicated on beliefs, or ancient teachings. A "bible" would tend to solidify beliefs - but the atheist accepts the findings of scientific inquiry - which are subject to change as better methods and instruments become available.

However, if you are interested in seeing how one can reason to a basic atheism, using everyday examples, my new book has all that and more. It is entitled: 'Atheism: A Beginner's Handbook' and can be found at:

http://www.amazon.com/Atheism-Beginners-Handbook-wanted-atheism/dp/0595427375/re...