College Media Network - Search the largest news resource for college students by college students Jobs and internships for students -

The Northern Iowan

The atheistic evolution

By LUCAS HEWITT

Opinion Columnist

Print this article

Published: Monday, November 2, 2009

Updated: Monday, November 2, 2009

Why am I here? What’s my purpose? What am I living for? These are some of the most important questions you can ask yourself. The answers affect our entire lives, whether we’ve consciously thought about them or not. If you hold to atheistic evolution, as many do, these questions are unable to be answered satisfactorily. To put it bluntly, you have no reason to be alive and nothing to live for.
   
In atheistic evolution, all things evolved from one original single-celled organism without the help of any sort of divine or supernatural power, said power being nonexistent. Pay attention to that: ALL living things evolved from one single-celled organism. Humans, dogs, cats, birds, bacteria, ladybugs, giraffes, apes and everything else are from the same ancient source which sprung from nowhere for no particular reason.
   
You are simply smarter than the average bear, cursed with the ability to ponder a meaningless existence. In this view, human rights are a joke. It truly is speciesism. Humans are no better than a rat or dragonfly. You and all other living things are simply sacks of chemicals. In evolution no one organism takes precedence over another. This is the essence of survival of the fittest. If there is a weak human, he should be left to die for the good of the race. To make a defense for human rights, you would have to pull support from nature, evidence that is as nonexistent as a god.
   
Not only are human rights a ridiculous idea in atheistic evolution, but also, simple acts of kindness have no place unless they are for your immediate pleasure. Why should you go out of your way to help a weaker individual? In the end, what does it matter? Once you die, you stop existing. Eventually, Earth will be destroyed and then what? What will be the point of all your philanthropy? What will be the point of giving your seat on the bus to that old lady? What will be the point of not raping or murdering or stealing? Everything you do (in atheistic evolution) should be to make you feel the best in the shortest amount of time before you simply stop existing.
   
To sum it up: you are nothing special, you have no purpose, everything you do is in vain and nothing is worth doing except for instant satisfaction. Any attempt to live with purpose is a grand delusion. Ours is a bleak existence. However, this is only true if atheistic evolution is also true.
   
But the good news is that it isn’t true! God specially created you for a purpose and that purpose is greater than any worldly thing we could try living for. God desires all people find their greatest satisfaction in giving glory to God. He loves you. What purpose could be better than worshipping and adoring an infinite God? All else you could live for is merely finite, but living for God has eternally beneficial consequences. What would you rather have: no God and no purpose or a perfect God and an eternal purpose? The answer seems unquestionably clear.
 

Recommended: Articles that may interest you

24 comments

Next »
12
Your name
Wed Nov 11 2009 14:42
not that theres anything wrong with you columns, but between you and cory its like reading the same stuff over and over
Lucas Hewitt
Tue Nov 10 2009 23:58
Haha, sorry! I like to make others think and challenge the common opinion of Christians (a lot of misconceptions and prejudices out there). Maybe someday I'll do a light-hearted one but those are harder to write, in my opinion.
Your name
Tue Nov 10 2009 23:30
do you write columns about different topics other than religion or politics? like anything not so freaking content heavy?
Lucas Hewitt
Tue Nov 10 2009 15:06
It seems Nick and I have a doppleganger. The last two comments were by someone who apparently enjoys writing things in other people's names. I have actually read all of the comments and have sent in a follow up to this article for my next column. Please read it as it will clear up a lot of misconceptions.
Nick
Wed Nov 4 2009 14:39
As a christian I see these types of articles,that cause these kind of responses as a failed attempt to live out our faith through our actions. If we truly were doing everything Jesus taught we would be demonstrating to others how to act through our actions and not our words. The most important thing a christian can do is shut his/her mouth sometimes and let there lifestyles reflect and demonstrate their faith. To many people are quick to condemn one another and totally neglect their own problems. "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brothers eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, Let me take the speck out of your eye, when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brothers eye. Mt 7:1-6

Lets try and bear some fruit like the bible says to do. Let our actions speak louder than our words just like almost everyone was taught, non believer or believer. Lets get out there and demonstrate love, respect, compassion, forgiveness, and grace. Just like our role model Jesus did. If we claim to have a set of beliefs that determine if we live in pure joy forever or live in pure suffering forever lets live out those set of beliefs like we were told to do... that is our divine purpose on this earth because that is what pleases God.

Observer
Wed Nov 4 2009 13:53
This is the worst op-ed I have ever read. Don't right about things you do not understand... it was a waste of my time...
Ivan Karamazov
Wed Nov 4 2009 13:41
I don't think Mr Hewitt precisely understands what he said in his article and how damaging it actually is, not for the atheist community, but for his own camp. If one is doing good merely for the gain of reward and the aversion of punishment, then there is no purpose whatsoever in his acts, he is merely "going through the motions" so to speak, with a false heart. If this is how he would like religion to be perceived, so be it. It's his article.

Let me clarify: If I were only doing good because I would be rewarded, I would have zero capacity for actual compassion, and would not at all understand the difference of right and wrong on a fundamental level. The dynamics of reward and punishment as a primary motivator for one's ethical actions shows an immature and extremely poor character.

To address some of his other points, I actually find death a positive thing. No, not premature or painful death necessarily, but the fact of death is a necessity not only biologically, but so that we are motivated to do what we need to, and not stagnate. Living forever would be boring, and we would quickly grow uncaring and callous towards even the largest travesty, and even begin to suffer because of it. Everyone thinks Heaven is great, but no one can give any specific details of it [laughs]. I wouldn't want it.

"Eventually the Earth will be destroyed, what would be the point of your philanthropy?" Didn't Jesus himself encourage philanthropy? Having to answer this question the way you intended means that you are clearly both self-righteous and quite ignorant, at least one of those Jesus doesn't like.

In sum, Mr Hewitt, you have done your religion a severe disservice, confirming the perceptions of those like myself of your ilk. Carving a schizm with the knife of ignorance and false superiority will not make you many friends. But, if you are seriously interested in secular ethics (I still will not presume the worst), I suggest Aristotle and Plato, for starters, and to answer your questions, specifically "Why would atheists be good people?", I suggest Michael Shermer's The Science of Good & Evil.

Lucas Hewitt
Wed Nov 4 2009 00:57
And since most don't know what my ug-mug looks like here's my number if you'd like to sit down and chat sometime: (319)290-9380. It's much easier debating/arguing/discussing/chit-chatting in person. =)
Lucas Hewitt
Wed Nov 4 2009 00:55
I prefer conversation versus typing as much is lost in this medium. I understood that before doing this.

The lack of purpose was my point, though I can see where you got that conclusion. I do, though, believe that without God there wouldn't be morals (heck, there wouldn't be anything!) but I do believe God exists and only because He does can we (INCLUDING ME) as deprived sinners do any sort of good.

drj
Wed Nov 4 2009 00:43
Lucas, if you are going to hide behind comments like "This is why I prefer face to face conversations, but whatever" you should stay out of the newspaper. You have created an argument and have loosed that argument to the public. You must now be prepared to face the results.

In addition, you seem to greatly misunderstand just exactly what your own article said. You now claim that your argument is "simply pointing out that in atheism there is no purpose for our lives*" - but your article went very much beyond such a tepid remark. What you said is that in a world without God there would be no morality. Whether or not this is what you intended to argue, this *is* what you said and it is grossly incorrect.

Your article shows a gross misrepresentation of evolution, a complete lack of understanding of the history of ethics, and a smug triteness that is rather off-putting.

I do not say these things to be demeaning or insulting, I apologize in advance if you feel that way. I say this things so that you understand where you went wrong and how you can improve in the future.

*As an aside, as an atheist I basically agree with this argument, except I would say that "in atheism there is no INHERENT purpose for our lives" ... existence precedes essence, after all :)

Your name
Wed Nov 4 2009 00:16
As an active Atheist, I am often approached with arguments that are much like our good friend Lucas'. Most Christians claim that they do what is “good” only because they seek appreciation by some supernatural being. They need a nice little pat on the back, a treat and a "good boy". Why else would we be kind to each other? What is to stop us from killing people if there is no reward for the opposite?

Why don't dogs rape and murder each other? How can any other species be kind to each other if they don't believe in a higher being? We have a choice as humans. Godless animals live to support their families. We get to choose what we live for. Some live for love, some for pleasure and some live for others.

When I do something that is considered good it is because I am a righteous person. I have a purpose in life that I have created, I am a good person and I am an Atheist. Does that sentence conflict with your views? I do what I believe is good because I am righteous, not because there is some god looking at me to judge what I am doing. Humans are social animals and it benefits the community as a whole if we are cooperate and do not harm each other.

"What would you rather have: no God and no purpose or a perfect God and an eternal purpose?"

Quite the choice you have given us. I have never seen such a horrible ultimatum. I, and many others, have no god and can easily show you we have purpose. I have a question for you: Once you get to heaven and have everything you desire, what is your purpose then? What is your purpose when you are in heaven and have all that you will ever need? The utopia, that most christians speak of, contradicts the purpose that you say god gives us.

"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." (Revelation 21:4)

What is your purpose then? And how can there be a place with no sorrow, crying or pain without god somehow canceling your emotions? Personally I enjoy my ability to have sorrow and feel pain. Would you not miss those you have left on earth? Would you not weep for those that continue to suffer on earth?

And what exactly is “Atheistic evolution”? Evolution is the truth Lucas, despite how much your dying religion wants to fight it.

Lucas Hewitt
Wed Nov 4 2009 00:15
Well, it certainly seems everyone's riled up about this. Misunderstanding abounds, much of which is not able to be cleared up through text. (This is why I prefer face to face conversations, but whatever).

I don't need the threat of punishment to not rape or steal. I'm not saying you need God or religion to do good. I'm not saying atheists are immoral. I'm not saying that only Christians have purpose. I'm not saying atheists have nihilist mindsets. I'm simply pointing out that in atheism there is no purpose for our lives. You can live under the illusion of purpose but it never actually is there.

Sorry I can't respond more thoroughly. If you'd like to talk I'm usually in the Maucker around noon. Sorry if I've personally offended somebody, perceived or actual.

Kyle Woollums
Tue Nov 3 2009 23:21
Read "The Razor's Edge." You can certainly live a non-religious life and find meaning and fulfillment in one's self.
Michael Dippold
Tue Nov 3 2009 22:32
@ Lucas

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

Seth Coster
Tue Nov 3 2009 18:09
Oh, and feeding off the comment just before this one... I re-read the article and just realized something. If you believe that good acts aren't satisfying unless they are tied to rewards, there is a flip side to that coin.

"What will be the point of not raping or murdering or stealing? Everything you do (in atheistic evolution) should be to make you feel the best in the shortest amount of time before you simply stop existing."

If I'm interpreting this correctly, the things that would make you feel the best in the shortest amount of time include rape, murder, and theft? So good things don't bring you pleasure, and you do them for the rewards. The only reason you aren't satisfying your desires to rape, murder, and steal is that you don't want to be punished.

If that's the case, I'm thankful that you are restraining yourself by holding yourself accountable to something, since you apparently don't feel accountable to other human beings. Keep on praising the lord!

Luke
Tue Nov 3 2009 17:27
"What will be the point of not raping or murdering or stealing?"

I don't need religion to not rape or kill people. But it is pretty sad that you apparently do...

Joopo
Tue Nov 3 2009 15:41
This article is so terribly written and logically flawed it actually hurts me a little bit just to read it. I am now and atheist and used to be a devout Christian, and even my past devout self is ashamed of what this article has to say. Please take one of the many rewarding and enlightening Philosophy courses offered at UNI and in several of them you will have it explained to you that morals and ethics can be and are most realistically a result of human reason.

This article feels like a terrible formation of a Christian elitism which I would never apply to more than a small portion of believers. Where did you come up with the term "Atheistic Evolution"... or was it the product of prejudice against non-believers? You say it is a blatant inconsistency to not believe in God and to live a moral and ethical life... where do you even get that? That is a blatant disregarding of any past philosopher, humanitarian, or individual who not only lived, but wrote and revolutionized the moral life based off of human reason which you would just as soon say that God created and no one else had access to without him... its actually plainly insulting of history, I mean I guess I most have forgotten about when Hammurabi went up the mountain and got his code from God. Such an accusation is actually angering. Why are you even spending money to get an advanced education when as you put it “What purpose could be better than worshipping and adoring an infinite God?” This assertion would imply that there is nothing else you should do other than worship and adore God… why try or do anything else, I am sure some monastic societies are still looking for members? You accuse atheists of being contradictory and inconsistent when everything you say is inconsistent, contradictory, or untrue. I understand this is an opinion piece, but it reads like a joke. You have no academic understanding of morals or ethics, let alone of what it means to be an atheist. Please leave your biased, prejudiced, logically flawed, and uninformed opinions to yourself until you have fixed the previous four mistakes.

I could go on for hours, this is just ridiculous. Does the NI not proof for content, even opinon articles have to have standards?

Anna
Tue Nov 3 2009 13:22
It seems you misunderstand atheism.

All it takes to be an atheist is to not believe in the existence of a god. That's it. It is not required that you believe in a bleak existence. It is not required that you believe in evolution.

Your article creates a false dichotomy: it's not either your life is purposeless and empty without god or that your a strong religious person with a life full of purpose. It's a spectrum, and there are a million choices along that spectrum that you have chosen to ignore.

For example, I, as an atheist, believe that I get meaning out of life through my interactions with other people. I get joy out of helping others and with understand who they are and what they stand for. I don't need to cower in terror of "hell" in order to do good works. It's a pity that you, apparently, do, but please don't project your incorrect assumptions onto an entire group of people who you, clearly, don't understand. Even if you understand how one atheist thinks and feels, that doesn't mean you have a grasp of what every single atheist thinks. Because, as I said, the only thing that atheists inherently have in common is a disbelief in god. Nothing more.

Seth Coster
Tue Nov 3 2009 11:27
I would also like to point out that the core of your argument, Lucas, is that doing good things for others isn't inherently satisfying. You do it because you will be rewarded later.

That's pretty sad.

Seth Coster
Tue Nov 3 2009 09:04
Hi! I'm an atheist.

Acts of kindness are not only consistent with the idea of evolution, they are paramount to our particular brand of evolution. As a weak (yet social) species, we have had to rely on assisting one another to get by. It makes perfect sense that we have evolved to be altruistic.

What about pack animals that hunt together? They don't believe in God. Why don't they slaughter and eat each other? You somehow managed to overlook this extremely simple fact in your rant.

God is not necessary to be good. We are held accountable for our actions by ourselves and by those around us. People don't need an invisible adult version of santa claus to punish them with a lump of coal if they're bad. Some people can be good without being terrified of hell. Maybe you aren't one of those people, Lucas, but you shouldn't project.

Next »
12






log out