a. Lincoln -I would ask him about the challenges presidents face now are complex and polarizing in a different way than what Lincoln dealt with in his administration, I would want to ask him how he would deal with eh challenges say Jimmy Carter dealt with.

The lack of compassion is a root cause of many global problems, but love and gratitude are the antidotes. By embracing these qualities, we can find purpose in our lives and work together to create a more just, kind, and harmonious world. Whether through small daily acts or larger systemic changes, each of us has the power to make a difference.

Whether or not we were placed here with a specific purpose, we can choose to live with intention by embracing love, compassion, and gratitude. These qualities give meaning to our lives and allow us to leave a positive mark on the world. In the end, perhaps our purpose is simply to love deeply, act kindly, and live gratefully.

I rather not focus on minutia and look at where we are in alignment so we can reach the peaks of the absolute truths instead of one absolute truth

Love and compassion

Not applicable, there is always life

They are universal and built into the fabric of life.

I would like to meet Vincent Van Gogh. I have always found him to be a fascinating human; a complicated, misunderstood genius. He suffered a life of poverty and mental illness. Because of this, he saw the world differently. He felt so much emotion. He was a true artist in his ability to transform his struggle, rage, and sadness into something beautiful. I would want to get to know him, to understand him, and to try to see the world through his eyes. I would like to know what was going through his mind when he painted Starry Night, to know exactly what he was feeling.

There is a lack of empathy. Many people (including myself), have made this mistake. We can be set in our ways, and when this happens, they refuse to see another party’s point of view, which creates a disconnect. Whether it be politics, religion, lifestyle choices, if we cannot empathize and see the world through their eyes, to connect on a human level and find common ground, we will only distance ourselves further from each other, rather than uniting. I think it’s important to go out of your way to get to know people who are different from you, who have different politics, religions, sexuality, etc. Traveling, meeting new people, sharing experiences with people you may not normally associate with, and learn from them, don’t just talk AT to them. Actually see the world through their eyes and understand their experiences, feel what they are feeling, walk in their shoes. Staying humble, knowing you do not have all the answers, and having an open mind to the lessons of others. Being curious and non-judgemental will create bridges.

I would like to think so, but being mostly agnostic, I am not sure. If we did have a purpose, I think it would be just to love each other, to help others, and to learn from each other.

Yes, I think it matters what someone believes, if the ideas they believe are harmful to themselves or others. Personally, I have a problem with the idea of organized religion. I am not a religious person. I think religion itself is a man made concept, and humans are flawed. I don’t like the idea of people preaching to others what they should and should not believe, especially if these ideas are harmful to others. This is how religion can be dangerous. That being said, I think there is nothing wrong with believing in a God. Sometimes, religion can be beneficial to some people who find comfort and healing through the structure and teachings that religions offer. If it works for those types of people, great. As long as they’re not hurting anyone, and the ideas they believe in are not harmful, and they’re not forcing others to believe what they believe. Everyone’s spiritual journey is different.

It is a nice idea, and I certainly would like there to be an afterlife, I’m just not certain there is one. I hope there is one. I’d like to think I will see my loved ones again one day, to know that they are at peace somewhere. But I’m also okay with there not being one. Because if there’s no afterlife, our loved ones are still at peace, because either way they are not suffering, and I am okay with that. My choices in life are not motivated by me getting to go to this “awesome” place. In fact, I don’t like the idea that something is constantly watching me, like some sort of weird tally system where every single choice I make is being recorded somehow. I think it’s okay to just be a good person without needing the reward of an afterlife.

I do not know. That is one of the great mysteries of life. If we have souls, maybe our souls go back to where we were from, or maybe we came from nothing and go back to nothing, that consciousness is just random and temporary. Maybe we reincarnate. No idea.

I am unsure if there is an afterlife, but that doesn’t mean I have a problem believing in truth, love, beauty and all things good. In fact, I appreciate those concepts more, knowing that this may all be temporary. It forces me to appreciate all the love I have and all the beauty that life brings while we can, in the short time that we have.

James Brown. I would love to hear stories on the early days of funk music and his thoughts on modern funk-inspired music today.

Willingness to believe misinformation. There needs to be a cultural shift to go back to making decisions based on data and bring trust and respect back to existing institutions and career professionals who are experts in their field, rather than people on the internet with little relevant background who propose simple solutions to complex problems.

It’s possible but I doubt it. The universe is larger than we can comprehend and humans are one species on one planet.

No, unless someone’s belief is actively harmful to others, people can believe what they want. I do not believe any religion has all the answers and that any real answers would be beyond our comprehension anyways. In the end, no one alive knows what happens when you die and religion can give people purpose and help people feel better and cope with that uncertainty.

If there is an afterlife, I believe it would be a place where you are reunited with loved ones (people, pets, etc) and you gain the ability to comprehend the realities of the universe/multiverse. If there are requirements to get there, I would think the criteria would be that you have made decisions in your life based on concern not just for yourself and those you care about, but also based on the well being of those you don’t know at all, who have different situations and beliefs entirely.

I believe that events before the existence of the universe/multiverse would be incomprehensible to humans. As far as where humans on earth came from, I acknowledge the evidence supporting evolution.

These are universal concepts that make life bearable and meaningful. They are also ingrained into us from an early age. These are concepts we can latch onto amid the uncertainty because they can be experienced while we are alive and the opposite versions of these things (falsehoods, hate/indifference, etc.) all make life unpleasant and worse. Those concepts can exist with or without an afterlife.

I would go back and meet Jesus in order to determine the validity of my atheism. I would want to know if he was a crazy, misunderstood, or actually legitimately the messiah. I do not think he was the messiah, but I know I am biased. Thus, this is why I would want to meet him personally.

I followed up with a question: If you were to meet Jesus would there be anything that would convince you that he was in fact God? The interviewee was not able to answer this question directly. I would love to have additional conversation with him about the evidence for the resurrection.

The problem that the interviewee identified was a lack of empathy and care for other human beings. This is of course, inconsistent with his worldview that argues that no objective moral truth actually exists.

He really struggled with this question. He believes that there is purpose, but it is existentially determined by the individual. He expressed a lot of anxiety and worry about nihilism.

He does not believe that all perspectives are equally valid. He seems to hold to truth as independently verifiable fact. There is no a priori truth and right and wrong are determined by human logic and reason.

Because of his philosophical materialism he does not believe in the metaphysical. Therefore, there is no soul, spiritual beings, god, or afterlife of any kind.

He struggles with the question of origin, but thinks that a first-cause is circular (i.e. where does the first-cause come from?).

Love, beauty, and goodness exist, but they are self-constructed.

Robin Hood. I love the time period. I would also like to talk with Theodore Roosevelt because of his investment in the national parks.

Hunger. We need to stop greed and have a sense of community and be concerned.

No purpose. No predetermined destiny. Should not spread evil or malice to others. I was raised to be kind.

Not necessarily in reference to religions. Geographically I would assume things about beliefs. Some religions have better morals. Christianity follows the golden rule and Christianity is the one I know.

If I do not believe I go to hell. I don’t believe in that. Don’t have to believe to be a pleasant person. Like to believe there is some kind of karma.

Not sure I believe in afterlife. I would like to but just not sure. Think I had an experience with my grandma after she died. We might just dissipate after we die.

Nurture-We don’t inherently have these. There are taught. They are real, but they are just natural.