Freethought & Rationalism Archive

SUTG · 08-02-2002, 01:16 PM

Hello Atheists...

I am new here and would like to introduce myself and ask a question. The question is "Why don't you believe in God?"

Darwin's Finch · 08-02-2002, 01:20 PM

Utter lack of evidence.

SUTG · 08-02-2002, 01:27 PM

Do you have evidence for everything you believe in?

Jobar · 08-02-2002, 01:32 PM

Hello SUTG, and welcome to Internet Infidels.

I'm sorry, but your question is far too general to answer in any but the most general terms. I suggest you first read some of the ongoing topics in this forum, Miscellaneous Religion Discussions, and any of our other forums.

You will find that our individual reasons vary- but most of us would agree that the (specifically Christian) definition of God is self-contradictory; an all merciful God could not send us to Hell for any reason, and a God who wants praise would not hide himself from us so effectively.

Some of us are strong atheists- firmly believing no God does, or can, exist. Some are weak atheists- seeing no evidence that God actually exists, without completely denying the possibility. Some of us are agnostics, and say that no answer to the question ("Does God exist?") is possible given the limitations of human knowledge and ability.

I also urge you to look at our library, which is full of arguments against the existence of a God who is all-powerful, all-knowing, all-loving, and separate from our world.

If you wish to then refine your question to something more precise, which we *can* answer meaningfully (or at least try to!) please come back and ask it. Jobar, moderator.

SUTG · 08-02-2002, 01:41 PM

Jobar,

Thanks for the kind words.

Allow me to clarify. When I ask why you don't believe in god, I am using the word "you" in the singular sense, no the plural. Therefore, I feel the question cannot be answered by the Infidels.oprg librabry, but can only be answered individually by members of this forum.

Why is it, Jobar, that you do not believe in God?

Autonemesis · 08-02-2002, 01:50 PM

There is no reason to believe in God.

Can I help you with something else?

Mad Kally · 08-02-2002, 01:54 PM

God is the only childhood myth carried over into adulthood.

phlebas · 08-02-2002, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SUTG:
<strong>Why is it, Jobar, that you do not believe in God?</strong>

Well, I'm not Jobar, but for myself...

Examine why you don't believe in Apollo or Zeus. When you know that answer, you'll know why I don't believe in the Christian God.

Michael Davison · 08-02-2002, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SUTG:
<strong>Hello Atheists...

I am new here and would like to introduce myself and ask a question. The question is "Why don't you believe in God?"</strong>

Sutg:
The best book I can suggest to answer your question is "Atheism, The Case Against God", by George K. Smith. It is probably available in the public library. Briefly atheists do not believe in God for the same reason they do not believe in tooth fairies and Santa Claus, or what Smith calls "Unis" (plural of Uni). When religious people posit a god who is allegedly all powerful, omniscient, omnipresent, infinite in time and space, we have no means to refute such a being. Our minds are not omni-anything. Therefore some strong evidence is required to accept God, tooth fairies, Santa Claus or unis.
It is better to examine the mirror image of this argument. If our minds lack the infinite scope required to disprove God, the same finiteness limits the original assertion. If God is infinite, all knowing, invisible, unknowable and all those other commonly claimed attributes, how does the believer know this? The burden of proof falls to the asserter. If you would like me to believe in an unknowable being, respect my mind and give me some good reasons why I should.

Michael

SUTG · 08-02-2002, 02:01 PM

KindBud -- What make you think there is no reason to believe in God? That is my question.

MadKelly -- I am asking why you think God is a childhood myth.

phlebas -- Does your reason for neot believing in God depend on whether I believe in Apollo or Zeus?

08-02-2002, 01:16 PM	#1
SUTG Regular Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Cole Valley, CA Posts: 112	Hello Atheists.... Hello Atheists... I am new here and would like to introduce myself and ask a question. The question is "Why don't you believe in God?"

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08-02-2002, 01:20 PM	#2
Darwin's Finch Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Gardnerville, NV Posts: 666	Utter lack of evidence.

08-02-2002, 01:27 PM	#3
SUTG Regular Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Cole Valley, CA Posts: 112	Do you have evidence for everything you believe in?

08-02-2002, 01:32 PM	#4
Jobar Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: secularcafe.org Posts: 9,525	Hello SUTG, and welcome to Internet Infidels. I'm sorry, but your question is far too general to answer in any but the most general terms. I suggest you first read some of the ongoing topics in this forum, Miscellaneous Religion Discussions, and any of our other forums. You will find that our individual reasons vary- but most of us would agree that the (specifically Christian) definition of God is self-contradictory; an all merciful God could not send us to Hell for any reason, and a God who wants praise would not hide himself from us so effectively. Some of us are strong atheists- firmly believing no God does, or can, exist. Some are weak atheists- seeing no evidence that God actually exists, without completely denying the possibility. Some of us are agnostics, and say that no answer to the question ("Does God exist?") is possible given the limitations of human knowledge and ability. I also urge you to look at our library, which is full of arguments against the existence of a God who is all-powerful, all-knowing, all-loving, and separate from our world. If you wish to then refine your question to something more precise, which we can answer meaningfully (or at least try to!) please come back and ask it. Jobar, moderator.

08-02-2002, 01:41 PM	#5
SUTG Regular Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Cole Valley, CA Posts: 112	Jobar, Thanks for the kind words. Allow me to clarify. When I ask why you don't believe in god, I am using the word "you" in the singular sense, no the plural. Therefore, I feel the question cannot be answered by the Infidels.oprg librabry, but can only be answered individually by members of this forum. Why is it, Jobar, that you do not believe in God?

08-02-2002, 01:50 PM	#6
Autonemesis Contributor Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: I've left FRDB for good, due to new WI&P policy Posts: 12,048	There is no reason to believe in God. Can I help you with something else?

08-02-2002, 01:54 PM	#7
Mad Kally Banned Join Date: May 2001 Location: LALA Land in California Posts: 3,764	God is the only childhood myth carried over into adulthood.

08-02-2002, 02:01 PM	#10
SUTG Regular Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Cole Valley, CA Posts: 112	KindBud -- What make you think there is no reason to believe in God? That is my question. MadKelly -- I am asking why you think God is a childhood myth. phlebas -- Does your reason for neot believing in God depend on whether I believe in Apollo or Zeus?

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