Prof. Provine's statements are nihilistic, and in my opinion, show the worst side of secularism and atheism. The fact is that most educated people who deny evolution do so for emotional reasons, often fueled by anti-humanistic rhetoric like Provine's. They don't like the consequences of a world without an interventionist creator, so they push the unpleasant thoughts from their heads to avoid dealing with the possible reality of a godless universe.
Personally, although I am an atheist, I still find reasons to live, a foundation for ethics, and grounds for -- if not "free will" -- at least some kind of capacity for choice. My reason for living is to do as much good and spread as much kindness as possible.
I feel ethics is largely subjective and aesthetic, but can still be rationally grounded on the desires and preferences of sentient beings (beings capable of subjective experience), including, but not limited to, humans. Basically, on this system, one should act in such a way as not to violate the basic, most deeply-held desires of sentient beings (for instance, the desire to live, pursue happiness), unless a compelling reason exists to do so.
Side note: Provine teaches at Cornell, not Chicago.
