Discussions of religion and ethics from an atheist perspective

Tract #63: Answering Ray Comfort’s 10 Questions

Tract #63, Answering Ray Comfort’s 10 Questions, is ready for you to print and hand out. Download it, see page #3 for printing instructions, and let me know your comments! Thanks!

063_ray-comfort.pdf

Some time ago, Christian minister Ray Comfort published a list of “Questions Atheists Can’t Answer.” Surprisingly, they’re not all that tough. Here are brief responses from a moral atheist perspective.

What was in the beginning?

There probably wasn’t a beginning. The Big Bang likely occurred in the context of a space that had no starting point in time.

How will life on earth end?

The dying sun will destroy all life (if something else hasn’t destroyed it already).

What happens after death?

Physical decay.

What is the purpose of existence?

Life has whatever purpose you bring to it.

Why is there order in all of creation?

So far as there is order, it comes about through natural processes. I’d say that there’s far more disorder in the universe than order, though.

Why is there morality in every civilization?

Because without morality, there is no civilization. I hasten to point out, though, that not every civilization has a morality you’d agree with.

Why does every civilization believe in a Creator?

Because until relatively recently humanity didn’t know enough to realize that nature doesn’t require a creator.

Why does every sane person have a conscience, even when it is not dictated by society?

Because we define people without a conscience as insane (with dissocial personality disorder, for example). This makes the question meaningless: “Why does every person with a conscience have a conscience?”

How did nothing create everything?

I doubt that anyone believes that nothing created everything.

Which came first — the chicken or the egg?

It depends on how you are defining your terms. I’d say the egg.