Strong Atheists: What are your reasons?

Question

Surprisingly, there were quit a few strong atheists out there.

I used to think I was a strong atheist, but long ago realized it was impossible to prove a negative.

I am very curious to know what has convinced you that god does not exist.

For the record I am a weak atheist.

Thanks for your responses!

Answer 1

Theodicy, aka the "problem of evil"

The omniscience, omnipresence, omnipotence, omnibenevolence paradox: If God knows everything that will happen, then God can make mistakes (the flood, etc.) therefore, God is not all-powerful. There are many other examples.

Technically, you can't be a "strong" atheist about the Flying Spaghetti monster either. Can you prove he doesn't exist? No, but the notion is silly, just like the Christian God. You can say "technically" about alot of things, and strong vs. weak atheism is one of them. But I'm a realist, and in reality, God does not exist.

Answer 2

I have a lot of reasons. My main one is that not a single person has been able to come up with a solid rational reason (philosophical proof) to believe in a god. My second reason, there are rational reasons to not believe in a god...especially a loving god. Additionally, if we look back through history we can almost map out how god changed from being sun worship to the complex religion it has become today. Back then it was an answer for why thing are the way they are and as we have been able to come up with natural explanations the concept of god has been refined and pushed further and further away (now being outside of time and beyond human comprehension). The concept of god just seems to have always existed as a god of gaps. Also, a complete lack of reliable evidence of any sort of miracle or supernatural things existing.

Answer 3

Can you prove that the Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy, Santa Claus doesn't exist? Or like the first poster asked, Leprechauns? I am an agnostic by the way. I beleive that God is a spirit that is within each of us but has no magic powers

Answer 4

why should i be convinced that God does exist? the stuff about letting people die and children raped aren't even part of my reason for not believing.

I just have a hard time believing that there is this higher being watching my every move. That I should pray and he will give me everything that I ask for.

The teachings that most people follow were probably founded by some wack job who heard voices and wrote them down.

Answer 5

I'm not convinced. You make an assumption that this "god" cannot exist for what reasons?

There are many things in this great universe you have neither seen, nor touched, nor experienced. Do they not exist as well?

Grow up.

Answer 6

I think the most rational way to answer is, "I don't know". To make a conclusion about it would require some proof, no? For or against. If there is a god, and (s)he gave me the faculty of reason, (s)he shouldn't be mad at me for using it? And if there is no god, oh well, no big loss.

I wouldn't be surprised if the answer is somewhere in between

Answer 7

1. Nothing has convinced me that God DOES exist.
2. I believe in historical materialism.

Answer 8

OK I will 2nd the 'If God created the world...who created God?' idea.

Also the following: Poop. Guts. Family histories of suicide. Birth defects. Vaginal discharge. The Clap. Genocide. Dustin Diamond.

A rational God would not have created any of the above, except for maybe vaginal discharge.

Answer 9

Nothing has convinced me that he does exist. I don't believe in fairies since I have yet to see of their existence either.

Answer 10

Quite simply, no one ever convinced me that god did exist.