6th responder with some follow up questions

Why is there something rather than nothing?
From a purely scientific point of view - there is always something air, a molecule a miniscule particle. Even space or "outer space" has particles, stars, moons planets. Something is always there. Even in ones self there are the intangibles of feelings, thoughts and emotions. A state of nothingness does not exist for me - in life.

Have you ever thougth why all the "stuff" (or someting) exists?
I believe that something exists rather than nothing because to me nothing equals death.

How do you explain human nature?
This was probably the hardest question. The last one I answered. And I still don't think I have a very good answer. I think it is just human nature to survive and maybe even to deny the eventual end of life. It is in our nature to find what gives us pleasure, whatever that may be.

Would you say that human nature is basically good or bad?
Neither. I think people are born with a clean slate. What you learn and how you are raised play a big part in determining if a person is good or bad. Maybe even just your natural development helps determine good or bad. But I don't think that human nature is either good or bad. Good cannot exist without bad, something can't exist without nothing. I think everyone has a little of both in them.

What happens to a person at death?
I think when you die that's it - it's over. You are gone. I wish I could say I believed in some form of life after death or some continuance of the spirit but I don't. Death is final.

What makes you come to this conclusion?
Many faiths that follow the bible have contradicting stories or beliefs or rules. Christian religions for me are the most unbelievable. The bible portrays "god" as a vengeful wrathful being. Do these things and I will strike you down to hell. I will not forgive you for doing these things and I will send you to a terrible place. With a god like that - No thanks. I have learned about other religions that believe in reincarnation or other version of afterlife/heaven/hell and I don't find solace in any of them. I'll stick with dying frees you from fear, emotion and pain. Death is the absence of all life.

How do you determine what is right and wrong?
Part of it is the same as knowing you know. You can feel inside that your heart and brain are in sync and there is no anxiety in your body. (See next question for full detail) The other part I think is deeply rooted in childhood. I think you look back on experiences and ask yourself what is right. Since everyone had a different childhood perspective there is no simple answer as to what is right and wrong. Some believe in cultural norms or ethics or morals or whatever you want to call it. But determining what is right and wrong goes much deeper than what a culture says is OK. I rely on feelings to determine what is right and what is wrong. Again, it's the feeling that my heart and my brain are in sync. This is a very broad question and I think alot of my answer has to do with a specific right or wrong. Be it a personal decision, a question of someones business practices, a government decision, a religious practice.

Do you think that there is some objective moral standard of right and wrong or good and evil?
No. It's different for every one. I don't think with the world we live in today it could that black and white.

What if two people's feelings on what is right and wrong are diametrically opposed? Who is "right" in that case?
There is no simple answer as to who is right or wrong. Could be both, neither or one. Honestly, I think would depend on the situation. There is no way to say one person/culture/group/ideal is "right".

2nd responder

Why is there something rather than nothing?
Because God exists and made something

How do you explain human nature?
Sinful


What happens to a person at death?
If they believe in Jesus and accept Him as their savior then Heaven awaits
If they don't believe, they go to Hell


How do you determine what is right and wrong?
Based on the Bible the standards of right and wrong contained w/i it.

How do you know that you know?
Because I know that know - I simply know - There is no greater authority than God.


What is the meaning of history?
not sure- would defer to Webster on the English meaning of "history"

This question doesn't refer the the meaning of the word. Basically it is asking if history has any meaning.

Here are some examples:
One answer is that history is determined as part of a mechanistic universe. Another answer is that history is a linear stream of events linked by cause and effect but without purpose. Yet another answer is that history is meaningless because life is absurd

Those history answer examples are way out there. I have not found my mind capable of producing that kind of abstract thought in most cases.
so "What is History?

I would say it is events of the past from creation until leading up to right now that we can study and learn from now / learn from past mistakes and successes - that's all I got.

4th responder

Why is there something rather than nothing?
Everything can be defined... which means "nothing" can never exist.

How do you explain human nature?
An oxymoron. Its the desire for order within the chaos of life.

What happens to a person at death?
Hopefully something wonderful. But I'm ready for disappointment and the smell of sulfur!

What makes you hope for "something wonderful"? Why do you think you will be disappointed?
The romantic in me would like to believe in a heaven/hell. But the realist in me thinks you just vanish. The strange idea is that the energy in your brain has to go somewhere. Energy doesn't just stop. Does it dissipate or move on?

How do you determine what is right and wrong?
Usually with logic... if its faulty or not is the question.

How do you determine if your logic is faulty?
All you can do is keep an open mind. Listen to opposing points of views, and always understand that you could be wrong. After all the data is gathered, processed and interpreted, a decision is made. Whether you care if its right or wrong is another question.

How do you know that you know?
The only true knowledge is that you know nothing.

If the only true knowledge is that you know nothing then how do you know that you know nothing?
You don't.

What is the meaning of history?
History is a wonderful thing. If only it were true. Its all about perception and who hold the pen.

8th responder

Why is there something rather than nothing?
without something there is nothing.
without something there is no existance.
without something there is no matter, no life, no thought.

How do you explain human nature?
Human nature is both instinctual and learned reactions to situations.These situations can be organized and well planned, random andchaotic, or even dangerous and frightening. The great scope of "humannature" sometimes drastically conflicts with a rational well thoughtout reaction due to the seriousness and/or instantaneousness of thesituation. The difference between rational planning and a person'sdecision is often determines how others rate their actions; rangingfrom brutal and inhumane to heroic and purely self sacrificing.

What happens to a person at death?
While the thought of a person's personality and soul simply disappearsat the moment of their death is both disheartening and depressing, itis easy to see how this idea was the initial catalyst of religion andidea of life after death. That idea makes the thought of our ownfuture death more acceptable as well as accepting of the passing ofthose we love. Almost all religions believe in some form of acontinuation of a person's spirit or soul once their earthly shellceases to function. This can be the idea of reincarnation, Heaven,Valhalla, a continual replay of the happiest moment in your previouslife, or even a random combination or blending as one sees fit.Personally, I try to think of it as little as possible. I neither lookforward to seeing what awaits me nor fear it. I embrace what and whomakes up what I know now.

How do you determine what is right and wrong?
A combination of what was instilled (or beaten) into me growing up,current criminal and civil law that I am aware of, and the idea of thegolden rule; treat others as you would like to be treated. I oftenthink of how my actions would or can affect those around me andsometimes a random stranger.

How do you know that you know?
I don't. I guess alot. ALOT!

What is the meaning of history?A record of previous event in time as scribed by persons involved inthe events or a theory of previous events through careful examinationof artifacts and scientific data from a given moment or moments intime.

7th responder

Why is there something rather than nothing?
Out of nothing, God created everything.

How do you explain human nature?
Human nature is sinful.

How do you define sinful?
That which is contrary to the nature of God.

What happens to a person at death?
When we die, we are judged by God according to His book of life.

What happens to those not in the book of life?
They spend eternity separated from God.

How does one get into the book of life?
By confessing that Jesus Christ, born pure and without sin, took our place on the cross to be the only sacrifice worthy to be placed before God as payment for our sins. And that through Christ, and only Him, we may stand before God without blemish to spend eternity in His glory.

How do you determine what is right and wrong?
That which is wrong goes against the nature of God. That which is right agrees with His nature.

How do you know God's nature?
From reading His word.

How do you know that you know?
My brain and five senses enable me to perceive the world I live in. More importantlyI know what I know because of God's word.

How do you know what God's word is?

I'll admit, this question made me think quite a bit. I believe that which is written in the Holy Bible. Without getting into extreme detail, I believe those books to be without error. Many events that took place in the scriptures have been proven by scientists and historians, and other documents around the same time period have also proven the Bible's accuracy

What is the meaning of history?
Man's view is the occurrence of events which make us as a species what we are today.God's history is the events revealed in His word for His glory and purpose.

3rd responder

Why is there something rather than nothing?
There is something because the without something, existence would have no purpose. The existance of something is the basis for all that we see, feel and do.

Where did the something that we call the universe come from?

God created the Universe. The Universe is the physical realm of existence and Heaven/Hell is the spiritual realm.

How do you explain human nature?
Homo sapiens are inherently greedy and violent creatures. Human nature is to consume, to amass belongings, to procreate and to crave power over others. It's our humanity and our soul that separates us from other animals. It allows us to control our animal urges and live in an orderly society. Our laws are crafted to control the more animal aspects of our human nature (murder, assault, theft, rape, etc.) so
that we can live in a civil society. People who give into our instincts have lesser control over their humanity and are jailed to keep the peace of those who
do obey the laws of society.

Based off of your description of human nature I would say you consider humans inherently bad or evil. How are our souls and our humanity not corrupted by our inherent bad or evil nature? Or how do inherently bad/evil people come up with good laws?
Human beings are simply animals. Most of our animal instincts drive us to bad or evil behavior. However, I believe that humans are the only creatures on earth who have souls. The soul is what differentiates us from animals and gives us the understanding of good and evil. The soul gives human beings a duality of physical (animal) and spirtual (the soul). The soul influences our behavior and tells us what is good and what is evil.

Some people choose to favor their animal instinct and indulge in sinful behavior. It's when people turn their back on what the soul tells us is right and wrong that people turn to evil and sin.

What happens to a person at death?
I've heard many versions of what happens at death, spanning many different religious views. Here is what I believe happens, culled from what I've been taught and what I feel in my heart is right. When a person dies, he or she is brought to the gates of Heaven. The person's life is judged based on the negative and positive things they accomplished while alive. If the person is truly good, they're allowed passage to
heaven. If they're at heart a good person, but may have a 'tarnished' soul due to excessive endulgence in their vice(s) of choice (sex, drugs, etc.), they are
sent to Purgatory so their soul may be cleansed. While time doesn't exist in heaven, a soul is very aware of passing time while their soul is purified and they've sufficiently attoned for their sins. The truly evil (those who have committed horrible acts, and show no remorse) are sent directly to hell and are punished for eternity. Those who believe in God, no matter what God they pray to, will be eventually accepted into Heaven. I do not think God would punish any soul for praising his glory in the wrong manner. Those who deny God's existence are sent to a
particular level of hell, which is basically limbo.

How does a person go from being "inherently greedy and violent" to being a "good person"?
The soul is the difference between a "greedy, violent" homo sapien animal and a "good" human being.

Who or what decides how much indulgence is "excessive indulgence"?
I'm not sure how to define excess. One could argue is that more than one of anything is excessive, or that more than one needs to survive is excessive. Only God knows what truly separates need from greed.

Where does the idea of Purgatory come from?
I was taught about Purgatory in CCD when I was very young. I'm not certain where the concept of Purgatory originated, but I believe that God does not see things in black and white. Purgatory is the gray area, where people who are neither pure enough for heaven or sinful enough for hell are sent as their soul is purified and they atone for their sins.

Since every religion has exclusive claims to who God is and what happens in the afterlife then how can all paths lead to the same place?

For example Buddhism is pantheistic and says there is no personal God and everyone can reach "godlikeness" on his own. Islam says that Jesus was just a prophet, and not the only way to God. Christianity says that there is a personal God, and that the only way to Him is through Jesus.
(I think the answer to this follow up question was included in the next one)

How do you determine what is right and wrong?
Generally speaking, right is thoughts or actions that
help yourself or another person and wrong are thoughts
or actions that hurt.

Let me rephrase the question a bit. How do you know that what you see as right and wrong actually are right and wrong? Or how do you know what good and evil are? Do you think there is some sort of objective ethic?

I believe that the common set of ethics held across the world is due to the fact that human beings have souls. The general sense of right and wrong is the same across the world, though the specifics may differ. That general sense of right and wrong is because of the existence of the person's soul. No matter what God they pray to, the soul guides their sense of right and wrong.

How do you know that you know?
I don't know that I know anything. All I know is what
I believe. I don't know there is a God because there
is no physical proof that he exists. God defies
science. However, I believe in God. That's faith,
believing in something you cannot know because of
proof, but something you do know because you have
faith -- that you know in your heart to be the
absolute truth.

If you don't know that you know anything then how can you "know in your heart" that something is "absolute truth"?
Faith. It's the sense that what I know is right.

Do I think there are aliens? Yes. Can I know that there are aliens? No, unless one knocks on my door sometime. However aliens have no connection to my soul while God does. So while I can say I believe in aliens, I cannot prove they exist because there is no scientific proof. The spiritual connection I have with God allows me to know God exists without scientific proof.

Science is defined as "the effort to understand, or to understand better, how the physical works, with observable evidence as the basis of that understanding". Given that definition how does God defy science?
God is not physical, God is spiritual. Science can only prove or disprove what exists in the physical world. They haven't invented the gauge or meter yet that can prove or disprove anything spiritual.

What kind of evidence would qualify as proof of God?
I don't think there will any be any true evidence of God. God won't allow it -- proof would remove faith from the equation.

What is the meaning of history?
History is the record of what has happened. It's
guide for ourselves to study, so we can grow and
evolve our humanity. We study the past so we can
avoid the errors of history in the future, though when
leaders with flaws of human nature (greed, lust for
power, etc.) are in power, the errors of history are
often repeated.

6th responder

Why is there something rather than nothing?
From a purely scientific point of view - there is always something air, a molecule a miniscule particle. Even space or "outer space" has particles, stars, moons planets. Something is always there. Even in ones self there are the intangibles of feelings, thoughts and emotions. A state of nothingness does not exist for me - in life.

How do you explain human nature?
This was probably the hardest question. The last one I answered. And I still don't think I have a very good answer. I think it is just human nature to survive and maybe even to deny the eventual end of life. It is in our nature to find what gives us pleasure, whatever that may be.

What happens to a person at death?
I think when you die that's it - it's over. You are gone. I wish I could say I believed in some form of life after death or some continuance of the spirit but I don't. Death is final.

How do you determine what is right and wrong?
Part of it is the same as knowing you know. You can feel inside that your heart and brain are in sync and there is no anxiety in your body. (See next question for full detail) The other part I think is deeply rooted in childhood. I think you look back on experiences and ask yourself what is right. Since everyone had a different childhood perspective there is no simple answer as to what is right and wrong. Some believe in cultural norms or ethics or morals or whatever you want to call it. But determining what is right and wrong goes much deeper than what a culture says is OK. I rely on feelings to determine what is right and what is wrong. Again, it's the feeling that my heart and my brain are in sync. This is a very broad question and I think alot of my answer has to do with a specific right or wrong. Be it a personal decision, a question of someones business practices, a government decision, a religious practice.

How do you know that you know?
Best I can say is gut reaction. I feel deep down inside and my heart and my brain feel together and centered. When I don't know,I do feel conflict in my body especially in the stomach area. It shows up in the form of a nervous/anxiety feeling. When I know, it feels natural and there is no second guessing.

What is the meaning of history?
"They" say history repeats itself. Does it or do we just find events happening now that could coincide with the past? When thinking about history, I do feel it is important to know what happened and do our best not to let the bad things happen again. History is boring to learn about and I don't think it really has too much bearing on this time in the world. We should learn from our mistakes but as a whole - people are stupid and are destined to make the same mistakes over and over agian. Both on a personal level and on a global level. Some do learn but not enough to make a difference.

The first response

Here are the answers that I got from the first person to respond.

Why is there something rather than nothing?
(no answer)

How do you explain human nature?
Sinful

What happens to a person at death?
according to revelation you are asleep until judgement day

How do you determine what is right and wrong?
I read G-d's laws that Moses wrote down so we would know what was right and wrong

How do you know that you know?
in regards to the previous question? - the rest of the bible points us back to the laws to determine what is right and wrong

(There was some confusion on this one. After clarifying the question the responder replied with the following)

That question is tricky and I feel like it is a trick. I almost want to ask the asker a question to clarify but I know I can't. Sooo...I would have to respond like this...

"How do I know that I know anything? By the response of the things around me according to my actions. Cause and effect proves that I know something. For example, I am confident that I know my husband's name because he responds when I say it...to put it simply. The only way you could NOT prove that you know anything, is if you were floating in black space and could not use any of your five senses. Even a baby in the womb knows something. He/She experiences cause and effect too and remembers it even after he/she is born."

What is the meaning of history?
In my opinion, something that took place whether completely truth or not.

_________________________________________________________________

I will be posting more as soon as I get permision to.

An interesting quote I found about truth

Without it the world devolves into an amorphous chaos where everyone's preferences describe a personal reality disconnected from everyone else's. In that dark place no decision is good or bad, no action is right or wrong. But in the presence of truth - we are exposed for what we are. Therefore we need truth as the divine measuring rod of our identities.

I thought that this is a pretty relevant quote since everyone thinks that their own worldview is true.

Beginning

I have decided to start this blog to document a little experiment. I have sent out 6 worldview questions in an email to 30 people and asked for their responses. So far I have gotten 6 replies with interesting results. I plan on posting some of the answers here but that will be a bit later.

First here are the 6 questions I have asked:

Why is there something rather than nothing?

How do you explain human nature?

What happens to a person at death?

How do you determine what is right and wrong?

How do you know that you know?

What is the meaning of history?

I think that how one answers these questions will provide a pretty good picture of their worldview. If anyone reading this would like to send me their answers to these questions you can email me at worldview.experiment@gmail.com.


Note: I forgot to mention that these are not questions I came up with. I got the questions from Probe.org