To think that God doesn't exist and is a manmade concept

[Perimama]

As it is taboo to talk religion politics with people socially, I often wonder whether many people think like me. As a species we have dismissed all the other "Gods" ie Greek gods etc. What makes the Christian God any different? I wasn't born into a religious household although I was baptized Christian. The whole concept seems so unbelievable to me.

I agree. We fill in what we don't know with religion and faith.

Once upon a time, we had rain gods because we didn't know how rain worked. I don't see how modern religions are any different. My Catholic ex used to say that evolution wasn't real and that there were some pieces of evidence that were missing etс and it's just a theory... But got mightily offended when I replied that his "theory" of the universe had no evidence and was just a story.

Ultimately, humans are scared or intimidated by "the unknown". A religion helps comfort people.

If we look beyond our small island (which is difficult to find without a magnifying glass in a to scale world map), the vast majority of the world’s population believes in a higher power.

Atheism is a rare niche belief. Are the majority of humanity dumb and wrong?
I dare say the majority who do not live in technology based cities have a much wider knowledge of nature and the natural forces at play as yet unexplained by science.

We are still in our infancy when it comes to deciphering our little corner of the galaxy, let alone the universe, 90% of which is unseen and we don’t know what it’s made of or what it does. And we haven’t even touched on multiverses or multiple dimensions.

To say you know what’s going on enough to firmly class oneself as atheist is the height of arrogance and narcissism at worst, or simple ignorance at best.

A belief in a higher power would mean you have everything to gain after our short lives, and disbelief could be loosing everything.

Betting on another life, instead of non existence, is a no brainer, only positives can come from it. Whilst the pessimism of non existence is very negative and invites corruption without consequence to those with low ethics.

Belief makes us collectively psychologically and physically safer.

Knowing there is supreme love, as well as ultimate justice, even if it not found in this world, can make all the difference.

Not as offensive as saying atheists don't have a moral code.

Interesting you list marriage. I can get marriage in spite of the Church, not because of it.

Calling atheists ignorant, arrogant and narcissistic is also quite offensive.

@XDownwiththissortofthingX

when religion is completely absent.
But it has never been completely absent. Can we really separate from it? I am not so sure. Judaism is the religion from which christianity and parts of Islam flow and it is at least 4,000 years old. It is the cornerstone of our laws and cultural norms in so many ways. Even if you consider your self secular i don't think you can say you have no influence from religion. Also atheism is a belief system like any other. Atheism is a faith and i don't think it is better or worse or more proven than any other faith. My criticism of atheism is that it offers not much at all and is very dull and a sort of nothingness which doesn't cater for our need for ritual and spirituality, shared memory and basically anything very interesting.

@Rockofages3

Atheism is a rare niche belief. Are the majority of humanity dumb and wrong?

I wouldn't suggest they are "dumb", but it is entirely possible they are, indeed, wrong.

To say you know what’s going on enough to firmly class oneself as atheist is the height of arrogance and narcissism at worst, or simple ignorance at best

Well this is total nonsense.

Atheism, simply put, is the denial of the existence of the divine. There is no evidence whatsoever that divinity is a real thing, therefore, it is perfectly reasonable and sensible to conclude that it does not exist.

What else do you, if you believe in the existence of the divine, also believe in despite there being no evidence whatsoever to suggest it actually exists? Russell's teapot?

A belief in a higher power would mean you have everything to gain after our short lives, and disbelief could be loosing everything

So the afterlife is conditional upon belief? Ok, I'd like some sort of explanation for how the mechanics of this function precisely, because if you can be making claims about entry conditions, then you surely must be familiar with how, precisely it all works, so please spill the beans.

Betting on another life, instead of non existence, is a no brainer, only positives can come from it. Whilst the pessimism of non existence is very negative and invites corruption without consequence to those with low ethics

You are just lowering yourself to arrant nonsense now. There is nothing "negative" about non-belief, otherwise you wouldn't have so many people happy to testify that their journey away from belief and toward atheism liberated them and made them far happier than they were previously. It would also be impossible for atheists to describe the peace and contentment that freedom from religion provides. Corruption and low ethics you say? Care to comment on the unending series of revelations and abuse scandals associated with the priesthood, religious schools, churches and so on?

Belief makes us psychologically and physically safer

Evidence for this extraordinary claim please.

What exactly have I said that is hateful?

Nrft but the title sounds like something you discuss with uni friends convinced you are the first person ever to have this revelation.

OP, nothing is provable one way or the other. Believe what you like as long as it doesn't infringe on others. I'm not.religious but I do find the existence of the universe pretty odd and don't for one second think some bald, slightly smart (but not so smart they don't keep having wars and fucking up their planet) apes can possibly understand it.

this is a brilliant thread, i am really trying to write Christmas cards and also manage my unruly children but will try and read and reply to so many comments. thanks all who are contributing.

'all religions are cults', 'who brainwash their victims'?.......

Saying this doesn't make you sound like you have a tin foil hat on at all. Definitely not....

Of course they are. What are they if they are not cults?

@eardefender

I won't take exception with Atheism being described as a "belief". It's a term I'll use myself.

It is in no way a "faith" though, because it is not dependent upon the existence of something absent of proof.

My criticism of atheism is that it offers not much at all and is very dull and a sort of nothingness which doesn't cater for our need for ritual and spirituality, shared memory and basically anything very interesting

You are, of course, entitled to your own opinion of atheism, but I will just say that the fact it might appear "dull" or a nothingness, is of no concern whatsoever to atheists, and some people have absolutely no need for ritual and spirituality.

I am one of them. I do not have a spiritual bone in my body, I don't even really recognise the concept of "spirituality" because I find the notion absurd and alien. It is utterly superfluous to my needs, which is why I have no issues with accepting atheism.

You can 'get' marriage because of the church, not 'in spite of it'. (Interesting use of words there). Marriage is a religious institution and a good example of how even secular people are still living in a religious way.

I think it is a faith because you cant prove God doesn't exist.

There is no need for atheists to prove anything.

It's not atheists making the extraordinary claims.

xdown
I take your point. Everyone can be good, patient, kind etc
Maybe what I meant was that speaking now about what Christians specifically believe or experience is that if you are following Jesus you become better than you could be alone - through example but also through faith and the Holy Spirit.
We are flawed and fail but that is the aim / path.
It probably means more spiritual than earthly priorities. In general.

If someone needs religion in order to have a set of morals to live by, then surely that doesn't say much for them as an individual?

I think that people that use that as a pro-religious argument haven't really thought it through. People are perfectly capable of having a strong moral code without relying on religion. Do the people saying that think that without religion they would be a murderous adulterer that eats too much and moves too little?

I don't recall saying atheists don't have a moral code. I would argue that we don't know if we do or not without God and religion because we have never had life without it and i would also argue that religion does set out a moral code and that morality is a big deal for theology and law and a huge area of thought and discussion. I think religion can claim that they are the origin of moral leadership, thought and advancement. I am not sure morality as we know it is innate or from religion.

The largest religions in thus country actively campaigned against same-sex marriage so yes, in spite of.

It's very difficult to prove the absence of something. It's like Amazon asking someone to prove that their parcel didn't arrive...

Much easier to prove something is there - i.e. that they have the parcel.

Yet nobody has managed this with god, as yet.

Can we clarify before we move on. There have been accusations that offensive statements have been made. What are they?

I personally wouldn't use the expressions "cult" or "brainwash" to describe Christianity, although I'm not saying they don't apply. And I find using "belief" or "faith" to describe atheism very annoying. It doesn't offend me though- I don't quite understand being offended by things like that. Anything else offensive said?

My criticism of atheism is that it offers not much at all and is very dull and a sort of nothingness which doesn't cater for our need for ritual and spirituality, shared memory and basically anything very interesting.

So it's fine for you to say things like this but criticism of religion is hateful?

Atheists are making an extraordinary claim, that God doesn't exist. You don't understand the faith mindset and that people really believe if you think this isn't seen as an extraordinary claim.