To Atheists: A Challenge for You.... (respectfully)?

Question

First off - I am NOT a fundamentalist Christian. In fact, I consider myself not religious - I'm spiritual.

So, with respect, I've been asking around a lot lately, trying to figure out the mind of the Atheist (respectfully, again).

There is a beautiful video, I found that has touched me, and my challenge, or question, is, could you, would you, watch this video *in full* - it's short, just a music video ~ 4 minutes - and tell me what you think of it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlKhw_o6kzE

While watching, keep in mind this quote:

“If [a scientist] has not experienced at least a few times, this cold shudder down the spine, this confrontation with an immense, invisible face whose breath moves him to tears, then he is not a scientist.”
-Edwin Chargaff

Thank you for furthering my understanding. Peace and blessings upon you :)

Answer 1

The video is cheesy. I know that secular music can be so too, but why is God rock always so full of bombast?



As for the quote...I don't understand it. Is it suggesting that if a person has feelings they can't control (or any deep feeling), they are not a scientific mind?



Did you want your understanding 'furthered'? Or were you just spreading your stuff?

Answer 2

Yes I can, Sam I. Am. Wait, sorry, wrong story.



I don't see what the big deal with the video is. If I'm to critique it as a piece (being a practising freelance designer) I'd say it wasn't all that inspiring. It literally looks like someone browsed through some of the stock for the Discovery channel and spliced it together in ways that loosely matched the lyrics. However none of it was special and none of it seemed to gel perfectly. It's the difference of a photo in the local wildlife weekly and a photo in National Geographic (arguably one of the best magazines in the world for photography).



If we're talking about the, "Ooo, wow God did this? Cool!" sentiment of the video, I would say it's useless. Or, rather, as Neil Degrasse Tyson (a prominent astrophysicist) puts it, "When you stop and bask in the majesty you stop discovering. You become useless." I agree completely. Stating something is pretty is all well and good, now get back to figuring out why it is in the first place. What annoys me even more is this idea that by understanding something it loses some of it's majesty. Did you know that on the atomic level you are comprised of particles that were once in the heart of a star? And that those same particles make up the Earth, the other planets and the sun? I defy anyone to tell me knowing that doesn't send a bit of a chill up your spine.



That reminds me, be careful about quoting scientists when they are talking about God. It's just a trained way to respond when you don't know the answer. If you look at scientific writings from back thousands of years, when they can explain something there is almost no mention of god. Yet the second they hit that wall where they don't know, that word comes right back. When something is perceived as unknowable it's because of god.



What I love most about that song is it ignoring certain facts. Saying how good this universe is and conducive it is to life and then ignoring the 99.9999999999% of the universe where, were we to go, we would die instantly regardless of any precautionary measures we could take without some very advanced technology.

Answer 3

It's almost like a video promoting the concept of irreducible complexity which is false to begin with. I think it was well shot and edited, if perhaps a bit "on the nose" but it was okay.



I can't tell what the challenge is really though. The video isn't really making a challenge and the asker's only challenge was to watch it in full which I did so...I guess...I win?



I guess I also disagree with the Chargaff quote. I mean that's his opinion and he's welcomed to it, especially after getting snubbed from the Nobel Prize.



If you really want to pic the brain of an atheist you're welcomed to email or message me through here, but seeing how you don't allow messages, I doubt you're here for that.

Answer 4

The video has some cool visuals. I'm not moved by the music though. The message seems to be that the complexity of the universe necessitates a God. I disagree.



I think the quote of way off base. Science deals with explaining observable and measurable phenomenon, not cold shudders and invisible faces.

Answer 5

I didn't watch the video, nor am I a scientist but I will answer your question anyways.



I don't know if it's cause I'm a nutcase or what but if I have to take the trash out late at night I get chills down my spine and feel like someone is watching me the whole time I creep out to the trash can. Then I run back to the house like my @ss is on fire and lock the door when I get inside.

Answer 6

Frankly I think you're insulting nature

1) you ignore everything that it tells you about complexity arising out of simplicity, and instead substitute a creator figure thus robbing nature of its deserved respect.



2) you upload those great images to youtube which is simply the lowest quality video sharing site on the planet, why not let us appreciate the greatness of the natural universe on a site where the video isn't reduced to the size of a postage stamp.

Answer 7

well i was watching george carlin, but this crap with crap music will do for 4 minutes. sounds crap so far.



ok...



mountains.

a blue whale.

plants.

a chameleon.

a toucan.

another whale.

a wolf (the best animal).

North america.

earth in a very very poor scale in relation to the moon the sun and mars and jupiter and saturn and in VERY VERY poor scale to the galaxy, it doesn't even show the heliosphere and the bowshock caused by the sun

and... very bad scale to other galaxies.

trees.

weather.

more mountains.

stupid equations.

the savannah.

3d effects.

weather.

old tv footage.

the moon.

the earth from space.

3d effects.

a very very inaccurate picture of an atom.

more weather.

more 3d effects.

another very inaccurate picture of an atom.

water, a bird and a feather.

a foetus.

our old friend bird water and feather.





all coupled with antares autotune, nice.



still don't see any comprehensive proof of any deity.





I'm only an atheist because I don't believe in deities. Shizm like that only increases my despair at this human race.

Answer 8

I watched.. I'm not impressed.



The video attempts to appeal to ones emotion and give it more importance than it merits. Our imagination can certainly be stimulated to invent all kinds of nonsense that isn't necessarily true or real.



I wonder if you considered all the science and technology that it took to carry mankind out of the dust and ignorance of your precious Biblical times in order to create the music and the images of that video -- something which is apparently inspiring to you? I wonder if you're to superficial to understand just what is truly inspirating and deserving of awe? You may conclude that it's God and that he is wonderful, but I'm inclined to praise man himself. It is man and not his imaginary God that knows beauty and it is man and not his god-idea who finds the good in the universe.



Mankind and not his God-idea is worthy of awe and great praise.

Answer 9

God must either be a malevolent being or a fictional one.



Evil occurs in the world. This is undeniable.



Since evil occurs, there are only three possibilities:



1. God does not exist.



2. God exists and is unable to prevent evil.



3. God exists, is able to prevent evil, but allows evil to occur.



In the second case, God is irrelevant -- in other words, why call a powerless being God?



In the third case, God is, by definition, a malevolent creature -- he allows evil to occur, despite his ability to prevent it.



So, either you must believe that there is no God, or that God is malevolent.



That being the case, I do not understand why anyone wishes to discuss God at all.

Answer 10

The video is insulting to the majesty of Nature.



To rob her of her due, to attribute all her beauty to a mythological magic giant in the sky, is unfortunate.



The song was kinda catchy though...

Answer 11

Soooooooooo what's the challenge?



Figuring out the mind of the atheist is like figuring out the mind of the motorist.



We don't share the same brain.



PS~ The video was f@ggy.

Answer 12

Yeah those are some pretty pictures. Good thing they left out the ones of giant isopods.

Answer 13

for starters the song really sucked, secondly if the creation is evidence of God then the bible is irrelevant now isn't it, since the creation reveals God---I may smoke a crack pipe but I can spot bull poop when I see it.

Answer 14

The video is biased. What if the singer said "Xenu" instead of "God"?



Or as Johnny's answer, Nature instead of God?





Beauty is relative.

Answer 15

That was an awsome video and it really touched me too. However, don't think you are going to change the minds of these atheists. I think it's evident from their answers that they are blinded to the beauty and majesty that God has created.

Answer 16

yes its a nice video. ive heard better music but the video itself i liked. so what about it? with all due respect it doesnt change my stance. causes me to stare in awe at the universe but doesnt change my stance.

Answer 17

"Isn't it enough to see that a garden is beautiful without having to believe that there are fairies at the bottom of it too?"

Answer 18

I'm not sure if i want to watch that. videos don't tend to be good for anything else but entertainment.

Answer 19

Yeah and everything in that video can be explained by science. No need to add in a God :)

Answer 20

I can't watch it now, but I'll watch it later and edit my answer.

Answer 21

I'll watch it if you promise to buy the Barney's Greatest Hits CD.

Answer 22

lol that stuff was beautiful

atheists are so pessimistic wow they see nature and think it's all just one big accident

friggen retards

Answer 23

Sorry, but logic > pretty pictures.

Answer 24

I don't look at videos. Too many Christians have set them up with viruses.

Answer 25

I think it is christian propaganda.

Answer 26

ummm okay then

Answer 27

not religious but spiritual? oh okay!!!!!!!!!!!