The Atheist Perspective: Understanding the Fermi Paradox and the Limits of Our Knowledge

Have you ever pondered the question, 'How can someone believe in atheism when we don’t know who created the universe?' This query often arises from a place of seeking answers to untestable questions, but it fundamentally misses the core principles of atheism and the scientific method. Let’s explore how the atheistic perspective confronts this challenge and why the default answer of 'magic' is not a viable explanation.

Why an Atheistic Perspective?

The term 'atheism' does not mean a belief in a creator. Rather, it is a position that there is insufficient evidence to support the existence of a god or gods. The 4200 gods that have been asserted to exist throughout history remain just that—assertions without empirical evidence to back them up. This is not to say that God does not exist, but rather, that no evidence has been presented that can be conclusively attributed to the existence of a deity.

Impacts of Childhood Indoctrination

Scientific concepts presented as facts in early childhood can become firmly entrenched in a person's belief system. This process, known as childhood indoctrination, can lead to beliefs that persist even in the absence of supporting evidence. The idea that deities are mythological creatures is widely accepted among both theists and atheists. Yet, the personal suspension of disbelief for one’s own personal deity does not alter the fact that such beliefs are not based on empirical evidence.

Interacting with the Universe

Our existence and experiences are confined within the spacetime of our universe. As a result, it is impossible for us to interact with anything outside of it. This means that any entity or force responsible for the creation of our universe remains beyond our detection and understanding. Therefore, the default conclusion of 'whatever caused it' is a philosophical rather than a scientific one, and it lacks explanatory power.

Explaining the Big Bang

Despite the questions and mysteries surrounding the origin of the universe, science continues to make progress. The Big Bang theory, although it cannot yet fully explain all aspects of the universe, provides a coherent framework that aligns with observed phenomena. Concepts such as the 'singularity' and the 'pre-big bang mass' offer potential explanations for the observed expansion of the universe.

The Pre-Big Bang Theory

According to some theories, before the Big Bang, there existed a pre-big bang mass that accounts for most of the mass in the universe (approximately 99%). This mass was compressed to an incredibly small volume due to gravitational forces. Once the mass reached a critical point where further compression was impossible, it converted into energy, leading to the Big Bang.

Interestingly, this theory posits a diamond-like structure where the universe is surrounded by four pre-big bang masses, which themselves are surrounded by four other universes. This hierarchical structure suggests a multi-universe model, where the creation of our universe is part of a larger, multi-dimensional framework. The singularity or pre-big bang mass before the Big Bang could have been caused by an infinite space from infinite time, which inherently contains a balance between matter and antimatter.

Explanations for Navigating Unknowable Phenomena

Dark energy, dark matter, the biggest void in the universe, the cosmic microwave background, and the rapid formation of galaxies after the Big Bang are examples of phenomena that challenge our understanding. The theory mentioned above offers plausible explanations for these enigmas. For instance, dark energy is not necessary to explain the acceleration in the expansion rate of the universe; instead, gravitational forces from the pre-big bang masses could be the driving force.

Dark matter is explained by the gravitational forces between the pre-big bang masses and the outer universes, which affect our universe without being directly measurable. The presence of the biggest void and the cosmic microwave background are other phenomena that can be rationalized within this multi-universe framework. Furthermore, the early formation of galaxies can be understood if they were formed from collapsing pre-big bang masses rather than a magical event.

The key takeaway is that while the universe presents many mysteries, scientific theories continue to evolve and provide coherent explanations for unexplained phenomena. Believing in the existence of a god in the absence of empirical evidence does not align with the scientific method and undermines the principles of inquiry and empirical validation.