Atheists -what makes you so sure?

[OMG12]

I often wonder what makes atheists so sure that there isn’t a god. I’m not talking a particular iteration of the Divine, eg it’s easy to say I can’t believe there is a God because of childhood cancer, but that is predicated on the concept of a God who is only good and considers childhood cancer as bad and further is capable and willing to stop all bad things. I’m talking gods not religions here which a very different things.

Most cultures throughout time have have gods so it’s somewhat of an anomaly to not believe. I just wonder why people don’t believe. (And can we try and keep this a decent debate rather than any of the sky fairy shit those with an inability to debate a point beyond regurgitated social media soundbites seem limited to)

I’m not sure there is no God. That would be unscientific. My opinion is based on evidence - or rather lack of evidence. If there was suddenly some evidence for the existence of God I would accept that. But there isn’t.

That’s because you’re clinging to a largely Abrahamic iteration of God.

There’s many other thoughts about who or what God is.

Honestly OP why not read some books by Christopher hickins or Richard dawkins to get an idea on why people don't believe in a God- it's pretty well explained. The Bible and other religious texts are like fantasy novels and very unbelievable, I'm not sure why you don't understand why people chose not to believe it.

Religion has always be in place to control people (especially the poor or women) the same as we say to our children if you are naughty Santa won't come or you will get a lump of coal.

Yes , quite likely, tbh ,as I grew up in a c of e family and community, church every week from birth etc. I certainly don't believe in that god.

I agree. It's a tool created by humanity to keep people without a moral compass from behaving badly imo.

Oh I’ve read books by Richard Hawkins not sure who Christopher Hickins is (Did you mean Christopher Hitchens?)

They might explain why people don’t believe in certain views of God (but mainly why they don’t follow a religion) but neither exclude the possibility of a God.

Maybe I’m missing something though. Maybe you could set out the key arguments they make.

not sure who Christopher Hickins is (Did you mean Christopher Hitchens?)

Yes obviously they did 🙄. No need to be so smug.

Why obviously??? They could have meant someone totally different. Why is asking for clarification a crime? -Bizarre!

Sure, whatever helps you feel superior.

What can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence... the end.

Honestly, I could write pages with the against religion argument, but it is meerly pointless, as you will use your superiority (ironic really as God pushes the ideology of being humble) so there is no point in having a discussion as the petty remarks with regards to spelling, just shows there is no discussion to be had.

You want to believe then believe but don't sneer as those you don't.
You know nothing can be proven because how do you prove something invisible isn't there? But there are plenty of theories that make more sense on how humans are here such as evolution.

You want evidence that there is no God but at the same time you can not give evidence there is.

Interesting post. Why do you think the God I believe in demands humbleness at all times? Like many posters here you seem to be confusing the concept of “God” (the subject to of this thread) with religion (not the subject of this thread) the two things aren’t interchangeable, Theories such as evolution doesn’t exclude the existence of a God. Why do you think it does? Maybe God is playing a computer game with an evolutionary element😀.

“What can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence... the end. “

Great little soundbite, but it’s not “the end” is it? I think you’re working on the basis that everything that exists is material and therefore can be understood through the lens of techniques and philosophies designed specifically to investigate this part of the universe (even then our understanding is small). No one can even agree on how the rules of quantum physics marries with the rules of classical physics.

Maybe the followers of the mysterious cult of Pythagoras were right? Who knows.

There are more things in heaven and earth, than are dreamed of in your philosophy.

Well I was asking for clarification.,But think what you like if it makes you feel better 💚

Ha, Richard Dawkins not Hawkins - he was my childhood piano teacher- he was very religious so probably not to be confused😂

Having been raised in an atheist household, for me it's just an absence of belief. It's not like I go about thinking about not believing in a god, I don't think about a god at all apart from in a historical, cultural comparative religion or fictional capacity. I mean it's interesting and all that, but even if I'I suddenly wanted to believe in a god, which one would I even start with? And why?

Precisely. Most atheists are actually 'apatheist'. The existence or lack of a god is irrelevant to our lives. In the same way that the existence or lack of unicorns, Thor, parallel universes, fairies are irrelevant to most peoples lives. Those who don't believe in fairies aren't spending their day contemplating their existence.

It just doesn't figure. I don't think about it. Ever. It's just irrelevant to life.

But if someone asked me, do I think fairies exist, I would have to contemplate their existence to reach a conclusion as to what I believed.

So if someone asks you whether God exists how would you reach your conclusion of “no”?

Because there's no evidence @OMG12

I don't have to think very hard to conclude that and I certainly don't think about it daily.

The existence of God or not is irrelevant to my life.

"So if someone asks you whether God exists how would you reach your conclusion of “no”?"

There is no credible evidence for the existence of god. That's how.

So it’s basically boils down to a philosophy that all things can be proven (now or in the future) by scientific method?

So it’s basically boils down to a philosophy that all things can be proven (now or in the future) by scientific method?

It boils down (for some people) to the balance of evidence and proof.

I don't believe that if someone asks you if you believe in leprechauns, you would be unable to answer 'no' very quickly.

For many people it's as just easy to say 'no' when asked if they believe in god, as to them there is just as much of a lack of evidence they consider valid and not subjective.

Their 'no' to believing in god is as valid as your personal 'yes' to believing god and 'no' to believing in leprechauns.

I think sometimes people who believe in god think that to ask someone whether they believe in god is somehow more difficult a question than asking if someone believes in fairies / unicorns / leprechauns. But for some (not all) people who don't believe, that isn't the case 🤷🏻‍♀️

Totally agree with this.

Because it's utter nonsense. What makes believers so sure there is and where is their evidence?

Well if someone asked whether I believed in Leprechauns I would first ask them what they meant by Leprechauns then I would say I don’t know whether they exist. I have no experience either way. I don’t see how I could answer any differently. How do I know leprechauns don’t exist? What does it mean to “exist” anyway?

So yes it boils down to a particular philosophy, a particular world view IMO

Ah, well that solves this age old question- thanks.

@OMG12 "So it’s basically boils down to a philosophy that all things can be proven (now or in the future) by scientific method?"

Kind of. I don't think of it as a philosophy though-just reality. There is a whole class of things that don't exist-fairies, leprechauns,unicorns...and it is reasonable to put everything paranormal/supernatural in the same class. Obviously, things can be taken out of that class and put in a different one should further evidence emerge.