Atheists and proof

[Kdtym10]

On several threads, some atheists have said they would believe in God/the Divine if they had proof. If you’re an atheist what would that proof look like to you?

Religions have things that are very different

Given that there are lots of religions, can they all be true? I mean, can there be a Buddha, Allah, God, etc at the same time?

All religious people are atheists with other religions. Nobody believes in Poseidon.

There was someone called the Buddha (Siddhartha Guatama). Allah means God so its the same idea really...different beliefs about God may contradict so then its up to you to make up your mind really.

@1Corinthians13 What do you mean by "open"?

I consider myself open- but I going to look at what's offered to me and make judgements. I think you have to understand that people can be open, but still not accept what you offer.

The challenge arises from the multitude of religions and the extensive repetition of events across them, leading one to ponder whether it's a matter of faith to believe that any one of the various human created religions adequately explains concepts or beings like God.

What I offer is a perspective on an online discussion. Everyone makes their own judgments - yes. Not sure what you're getting at exactly.

BioHive - that's for you to make up your mind about.

and every individual especially when one studies the various religions that have arisen over human history

@1Corinthians13

Not an atheist so maybe not the thread for me but...I believe the only way to faith is through the Holy Spirit. Conversations where people try to prove they're more right or more rational or talk about hypothetical unicorns etc.etc. can go on forever & have nothing to do with knowing God. That comes from the Spirit.

I struggle with the 'you just need to invite him in' argument because so many people pray so hard for loved ones who are ill (for example) or to be saved from desperate and frightening situations (just another example) and aren't helped by a god.

But when other people pray and what they're asking god for help with does happen, it's attributed to god listening to and responding to those prayers. But both people can have prayed just as hard.

So why would god help one who loves him and not the other? It's where the 'you need only to accept him in your heart' concept falls down for me.

Whatisitwhen - Yes you could lose your faith if your prayers aren't fulfilled but I'm saying faith in God (as in that God is real etc.) is from the Holy Spirit.

Why do you think god chooses to answer some people's prayers and not others, when both absolutely believe in god and pray just as hard? I struggle with how believers rectify this if an all powerful, ever loving god who loves his followers so much exists.

Well as you say...I'm a believer. So that means i trust God. Life is tough for all of us sometimes but I don't think God chooses one person and not another person.

If two children are being horrifically abused and both pray hard for help and one is rescued while the other is abused for the rest of their childhood, you say you trust god's reasoning for rescuing one and not the other. What possible reasoning could there be for him answering one child's prayer and not the other, if he loves all of his followers? I can't understand how that is a kind, loving god.

I'm not asking you to understand. Your opinion is you don't believe God exists I'm guessing? So we can't get very far talking about God which is kind of what I meant in my first post. Nobody can explain evil really, why do people abuse children in the first place. I don't believe that is from God.

I think it takes cognitive dissonance to believe that god is kind, loving and good and also believe that some prayers are answered and others aren't. It seems to me that those two beliefs would have to be mutually exclusive, requiring huge cognitive dissonance. Maybe that is what faith is I guess. Many of us who are atheists grew up in religious settings and have studied religious texts and lived by their teachings along the journey to atheism.

Not really, my Christian faith gives me a lot of insight but I don't think you need me giving you chapter and verse and I didn't come on to do that. I know how these conversations go, happy to agree to disagree & have no problem with you not believing. My only point really is the Holy Spirit is the one who leads us to faith and anything else is just going round in circles in my opinion. Hope i haven't offended.

Not offended at all, happy to agree to disagree of course.

why do people need religion to begin with ?

I don’t understand why some people need or want faith and the rest of us don’t.

I think a big driver has got to be fear.

@BioHive "why do people need religion to begin with ?"

Most religious people were brought up in religious families.

I think you’re probably right

How is it not from God? (if you believe in God that is). Isn’t everything from God? Is it only God’s will if it’s the good stuff but nothing to do with Him if it’s the wicked stuff?

Fear of what? Assume we all have the same fears so that can't be the deciding factor. I'm going to be scared eg jumping out of a plane without a parachute but not less scared if I pretend I've got one. TBH I don't find it " scary " if theres no God I just know there is one so it sounds a bit silly to me. I mean you are not scared about not thinking there's a God are you? Am I just an extra scaredy Cat 🙀 for some reason..? Except its not that scary if most ppl just live their lives without and don't even worry about it.

CaterhamReconsituted - there's plenty of books etc. About this, I'm not here to defend Christianity bc a) you probably have already heard (so why ask really) and b) other people say it much better. Plus c) I've got better things to do than play mind games, if you don't accept something then thats your business but this is all an unoriginal repeat of the same old problem. Not criticising you I just don't find it interesting, I'd rather get on with my life and faith than explain evil on the Internet.