Atheist?

[Forever Atlas]

Well, hmm i figured, I ask about God and why you may believe in him or Jesus, and things along that line... but lets look at things from a different perspective, because there seem to be more people who dont believe in God on this forum and more and more in the world.... some believed in God before some never did.

My question is... why dont you believe in God?

[HadesDragon]

I could ask, in return, why you believe in God. Or better: why do you believe in Jesus and not Shiva? As soon as you can understand why you dismiss all the other gods, you'll understand why we dismiss yours.

Back to your question:that is attributed to a number of personal experiences among other things. Personally, I'm an apathetic agnostic atheist(though lately I'm starting to think there might be god(s), yet still fully understand why people wouldn't believe them).

Basically, that means, I hold the viewpoint that the existence (or nonexistence) of God(s) is by nature impossible to fully or even partially prove or disprove, hence, effectively, making them as real as invisible, immaterial pink unicorns (note: this analogy isn't an attempt to mock you, or anyone else, nor it is attempt to disprove God, so please try not to be offended), which would be why I don't believe in them.

In addition to that, most of the great religions prominent today rose at a time where our knowledge of the world, the universe, and its workings, was very, very poor. Many of the things which people at one time were only able to explain with supernatural forces can now be explained through other, more factual means. Meaning the supernatural is slowly losing its value as an answer to things we cannot explain.

Speaking of which, something else: a lot of people believe that just because there's something we don't understand and/or can't explain, then logically there must be some other force at work: this is not necessarily true. It just means we don't know how to explain it yet, hence instead of believing God was responsible I'd make an attempt to find the truth. If I couldn't, THEN I would attribute this to God/supernatural.

Also, I don't think that "proof" such as personal experiences, "miracles", prophecies *apparently* coming true, etc is really valid; any such piece of "evidence" is bound to be highly debatable and subjective, and, on the whole, not really conclusive/solid.

You have no way of knowing if God really answered your prayers or not; if he can help you finish a report so you don't get fired, why can't he help the hungry, diseased, and downtrodden in Africa or the Middle East? Is it part of his "plan"? Basically, if you want to believe a personal experience is proof of God, go ahead, but don't expect other people to think so.

On that note, you think you might have a good personal relationship with God, that you talk to him every day, and so this should count as proof: but it's not, because it's possible you're fooling yourself into thinking someone is there(that's not to say you are, just that the possibility exists, and it does).

To me, all religions are equal: only one can be right, but I treat them all the same on principle.

Furthermore, I'm indifferent to the existence or inexistence of said deities. To me, it doesn't really matter, we'll never know if they're there or not. Personally, I think it's better to focus on living a good life and do great things with it than spending all of it attempting to please someone who you can't know for certain is there, attempting to secure a spot in a place you don't even know exists.

On the more personal side, I've tried communicating with God before. Very hard, many times. I never felt anything. Could it be that maybe I just didn't try hard enough? Maybe, maybe not.

I just don't feel the presence of someone like that in my life, and don't feel it's necessary for there to be one;ergo I don't need religion to be happy and lead a virtuous life. I'm perfectly capable of accepting that once I'm gone, I'm gone.

[Time]

Hades summed up my reasoning behind not believing in that post.

Honestly, as much as some of it makes sense, other parts do not. I personally do not believe any major or minor religion in the world is 100% right, nor will any be. Humanity's obvious ways of corruption would stop that from happening. I believe there may be something out there, yeah, and I kind of hope there is. But I'm not going to center my life around it, when I could be enjoying the life God gave me in a virtuous manner.

[Square Ninja]

Originally Posted by Smooth

My question is... why dont you believe in God?

Call me weird, but I find the idea of licking the boots of some invisible, omnipresent, narcissistic **** with a penchant for sadism and draconian punishment to be not only horrible idea but greatly insulting.

[Einon SAMA]

So you'd rather do it to a dumb human not responsible for any of the great wonders around us? Lol. =P

[Master T]

Maybe I'm lazy, but I just don't care. It's all mythology; a way of explaining the ineffable. Don't get me wrong, I like tapping into the greater meaning of things and searching for truth (big and little "t" truths), but using God/gods isn't the only way.

It'd be nice to say "Yeah God did everything," and be done with it, but do you really think it's that simple?

[Trag]

Originally Posted by Einon SAMA

So you'd rather do it to a dumb human not responsible for any of the great wonders around us? Lol. =P

Did he say he would?

Anywho, I've thought about this, and I really can't come up with an answer. I just don't, and I honestly, 100% believe that there is God, and I don't really think I need a reason. It happens, that a kid who grows up in an extremist religious area such as a catholic town would become an Atheist, and this isn't a non-conformist act, it's me not seeing the reality in the superior being. Eh, a tad unorthodox way of putting it, but it's why I don't believe.

[Gavin]

Originally Posted by HadesDragon

In addition to that, most of the great religions prominent today rose at a time where our knowledge of the world, the universe, and its workings, was very, very poor. Many of the things which people at one time were only able to explain with supernatural forces can now be explained through other, more factual means. Meaning the supernatural is slowly losing its value as an answer to things we cannot explain.

Well correct me if I'm wrong but during the 19th century, within the European Dark Age's, it was the medieval Christians that believed in a flat earth?

[Rixam]

I don't deny there is a God. But I don't believe in God either. I can't deny something I don't know and I can't believe in something that might not exist at all.

[Relentless Blitz]

If there wasn't God(ALLAH,JEHOVA,BAGHWAN AND HIS OTHER NAMES)we wouldn't have the miracles that happen in our daily lives.coincedences?no.they are a sign of His Presence,Oneness and Divinity.

[Time]

Originally Posted by mon

If there wasn't God(ALLAH,JEHOVA,BAGHWAN AND HIS OTHER NAMES)we wouldn't have the miracles that happen in our daily lives.coincedences?no.they are a sign of His Presence,Oneness and Divinity.

Way to be open minded about the whole thing, man.

[Gavin]

Originally Posted by mon

If there wasn't God(ALLAH,JEHOVA,BAGHWAN AND HIS OTHER NAMES)we wouldn't have the miracles that happen in our daily lives.coincedences?no.they are a sign of His Presence,Oneness and Divinity.

Then what's to say all those horiffic accidents, traumas and simple cases of bad luck are? Also religion's fault?

[Time]

Originally Posted by gungonX

Then what's to say all those horiffic accidents, traumas and simple cases of bad luck are? Also religion's fault?

It's the fault of the person, for not fully believing in God. Or God's plan. Or then it was coincidence.

Nothing could ever be a coincidence. Seeing as miracles happen everyday, the polar opposites, tragedies occur everyday in the world. We just like the good, so we focus on that. The world is large enough so that coincidences happen at a frequent enough time for those miracles to come about.

[HadesDragon]

Originally Posted by gungonX

Well correct me if I'm wrong but during the 19th century, within the European Dark Age's, it was the medieval Christians that believed in a flat earth?

...I think so. And the point would be...?

[Forever Atlas]

I noticed some of you say that the problems or w/e around us are Gods fault... maybe thats one reason you dont believe in him. Or the fact that there is so much human suffering, or that God tortures people....

Also i noticed the fact that some of you were raised religious and then after seeing what you saw, probably the hypocrasy and so on in the churches, maybe the way ppl acted that were supposed to be Christian, or following w/e religion it was and didnt follow it. I can understand all of that.

And also some of you say that there is no way of proving the existance of him so lets just go on with our life as we may. I can understand that too.

But it kinda makes me think, would it be right to blame God, or come to the conclusion that God doesnt exist because of the things going on around us? Lets say God doesnt control the things at hand right now... lets say it isnt his fault, and lets say that maybe this God doesnt torture, and isnt sadistic etc. Then would some of you be more inclined to believe in him? or would it still be the same story?