Godless Girl

… and her adventures in Atheism

Posts Tagged survey

Why Do We Exist?

Aug 10

Posted by Godless Girl in god, questions, religion, skepticism and freethought, surveys and lists, videos | 8 Comments

I am sure we’ve all been asked this question or  wondered ourselves. But have you ever heard the answers given by Buddhists? Scientists? Mormons? Taoists? Roger Nygard, director of Trekkies and Trekkies 2, took his curiosity and sense of humor on the road and asked this important question to hundreds of people. His new film The Nature of Existence tells the tale:

About the film:

I wrote the toughest 85 questions I could think of, about our purpose and the nature of existence, and then asked hundreds of people all over the globe, such as: Indian holy man Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (The Art of Living), evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins (The God Delusion), 24th generation Chinese Taoist Master Zhang Chengda, Stanford physicist Leonard Susskind (co-discoverer of string theory), wrestler Rob Adonis (founder of Ultimate Christian Wrestling), confrontational evangelist Brother Jed Smock, novelist Orson Scott Card (Ender’s Game), director Irvin Kershner (Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back), Stonehenge Druids Rollo Maughfling & King Arthur Pendragon and many more… How would YOU answer?

I decided to take a look at these 85 questions, and I think we should all try them on for size. Here’s a taste:

  • Why do we exist?
  • What is the best thing about existing?
  • What is our purpose?
  • Should religions be challenged?
  • Is skepticism a good thing?
  • Which religion is right?
  • Do we have a need to believe in something?
  • What is spirituality?
  • Is there a God?
  • What does God need from us?
  • Who is/are the Messiah(s)?
  • How do we determine truth?
  • Where does morality, or our “conscience,” comes from?
  • Does God want to test us? Why?
  • What determines sexual orientation?
  • Why is God interested in our sexual behavior?
  • Do we have free will?
  • Is everything predetermined?
  • What is best path to happiness?
  • Does meditation work?
  • Why do we need an afterlife?
  • When does life begin?
  • What is the greatest danger facing man’s existence?

I love them all, and I think I’d like to take some time to write out my own answers in the future. What do you think of The Nature of Existence? If there’s a screening near you, will you see it?

How would you answer the questions?

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30+ Writing Prompts for the Honesty Project

Mar 9

Posted by Godless Girl in memes, personal, questions, surveys and lists | No Comments

Jennifer of BlagHag.com suggested that a few writing prompts might get the ball rolling for people participating in The Honesty Project. Since I love asking questions, I wanted to give it a go! Feel free to use any (or none) of these ideas to get started on your blog, journal, video, or any other format you find most fun.

The Honesty Project from GodlessGirl

Original photo by Lady Vic on flickr

30+ Ideas and Writing Prompts

  1. Many people say the most influential persons in their lives are their parents. That’s just too predictable. What unexpected individual has had a significant affect on how your life is headed today?
  2. What have you missed out on because of fear? What different sorts of activities or experiences have you chosen not to do? Does fear play a part in your decision-making?
  3. Do you consider yourself to be sexually confident? Do you think you have a healthy outlook and perspective on what sex is for and what it means on a deeper level? What is that?
  4. What’s the story of your website? How would you feel if it was deleted tomorrow?
  5. What was the biggest lie you ever told? Did anyone find out? Did you benefit from it?
  6. Have you ever acted in a way that went against your values/morals/ethics? In other words, have you been a hypocrite?
  7. When was the last time you inspired someone? Feel free to toot your horn ;)
  8. When was the last time you were truly enraged? What caused that reaction, and was it deserved?
  9. Do you have any addictions or obsessions? Maybe you’re a fangirl or an obsessive shopper?
  10. What’s the hardest thing you’ve had to overcome?
  11. Picture the worst sexual experience you ever had… now either tell us about it or tell us if it was bad because of inexperience, awkwardness, or a dislike for that individual.
  12. If you’ve converted from one religion to another (or left religion all together), was there  a “honeymoon” phase after making that decision? How did you feel for the next few months? Has that feeling changed?
  13. What traits would someone have who was the opposite of you?

    14. Read the rest of this entry »

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40 Questions

Nov 23

Posted by Godless Girl in memes, personal, surveys and lists | No Comments

Couldn’t resist doing one of these circa 1998 memes to pass the time while under the weather. :)

1. My uncle once: held me upside down by my ankles and I never fully recovered.
2. Never in my life: have I awakened early for the fun of it.
3. When I was five: I was the most self-conscious child on the block.
4. High School was: under-utilized for all its opportunities for shenanigans.
5. I will never forget: to never use the word never—just in case.
6. I once met: some famous people, but I have an aversion to people who name-drop.
7. There’s this girl I know who: is much smarter than me, but I don’t want her to figure that out while she still admires me.
8. Once, at a bar: The waiter gave all the girls free drinks except me.
9. By noon, I’m usually: just feeling good and awake…and starving.
10. Last night: I took a shower at 3AM because I couldn’t get back to sleep.
11. If only I had: A teleporter and some private income.
12. Next time I go to church: I hope I can sneak in a video camera. Read the rest of this entry »

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Poll: Do Motivations Matter?

Nov 19

Posted by Godless Girl in questions, religion, society | 4 Comments

We need more love in the world. There is so much acidity, bad blood, inequality, bigotry, hatred, poverty, hunger, suffering, and sorrow all around us. Each of us could improve the situation by helping someone in need or promoting peace and love.

But what about those who do these things for religious or superstitious motivations?
Jack believes God is asking him to donate groceries to a food bank.
Rhoda has been taught that good Mormons should give to charity and volunteer their time.
Quinn is afraid of being cast into hell because he didn’t help the poor (Matthew 25:31-46 [show] "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.' "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' Then they also will answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?' Then he will answer them, saying, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." (ESV)
This text is from the ESV Bible. Visit www.esv.org to learn about the ESV.).
Sam’s psychic told him that good fortune would come to him if he first gave a large sum of money to a homeless shelter.
Lola founded an international charity to provide water for the poor because she wants to lead thousands of souls to Jesus.

What about the good these people are doing? Do their motivations taint the effects of their charity and dedication? Is service done for wrong or religious reasons less of a service?

As long as you do the right thing, love others, and help the poor and needy, does it matter what your motivations are in the long run?

For the sake of the greater good, do motivations matter?

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