Darwinian philosopher on finding meaning in life without God.

Wintery Knight summarizes the most recent episode of Unbelievable, with host Justin Brierley, discussing how atheists find meaning in life with apologist Andy Bannister, author of The Atheist Who Didn’t Exist: Or the Dreadful Consequences of Bad Arguments, and Darwinian philosopher Michael Ruse:

Bannister: (to Ruse) what do you think would follow next if you got new information that caused you to believe in God?

Ruse: I’d feel scared, I’d think of all the reasons that God would dislike me, rather than any reasons why God would save me

Bannister: according to the Bible, God is not so much interested in mere belief, but in active trust in him

Ruse: without being smug, I just completed 50 years as a college professor of philosophy, and I have a sense of worth from that

Ruse: if God turns up, and says that 50 years of being a professor is not good enough, well, I don’t know God, I’m sorry, I did my best…

Ruse: “obviously, someone like myself cannot have meaning with a capital M in that sense”

Ruse: the real question is and atheist can find a sense of self-worth, “I find that I’m happier within myself, I can find meaning”

Bannister: what would you say to someone who drinks away the family inheritance and gets the same sense of happiness you have?

Bannister: what would you say to all the people who are unable to get “a sense of self-worth” from their career, because of where they are born, sickness, etc.

Ruse: I have nothing to offer them, some people are born into such awful situations that they are bound to be bad people

Ruse: these unfair accidents of birth, etc., fits with atheism better

Ruse: what we should do is change society so that more people can build a sense of self-worth through achievements

Ruse: that way, they can say to God “I used my talents” so they can create feelings of self-worth and happiness (apart from God) “ Andy Bannister and Michael Ruse Discuss How Atheists Find Meaning in Life ” at Wintery Knight

We are learning something about Darwinian atheism here but it doesn’t sound very inspiring

Hat tip: Wintery Knight

See also: At Unbelievable: Fun with Scooby Doo and the Silly Sceptics

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