A question for atheists: What proof do you have that reality exists?

Question

Cecil J. Tallywacker: I could be a figment of your imagination or an hallucination.

Kevin J: You could be a figment of my imagination or an hallucination.

Betta: You have fantasies about controlling me? Kinky.

danjmnyc: Who said anything about church? I wonder why atheists are so obsessed with Christianity that some can never stop talking about it.

Adam M: Some folks find me quite thoughtless. Or should that be witless?

ThePathMaker: I am neither ticked off nor am I ignoring you, but your argument does seem to be something of a non sequitur.

oxyman42 Re-Loaded: All things change. In what ways do you find me more extreme? Perhaps I have stayed the same and it is the general tone on YA that has gotten more extreme.

havenwood87: If it is such a dumb question, let's see your proof that reality exists. Is it also a dumb question when someone asks for proof of God's existence? Why or why not?

The Key Master: There's nothing Christian about my question. In fact, the question would be far more characteristic of Buddhism than Christianity.

And why not ask atheists questions here? Atheists come here and desire to participate. Why leave them out?

eduarodi: I don't see how what I have asked distorts your words at all. If anything you are distorting your own words. Rather than being an atheist, you appear now to be someone who believes in God but has doubts about organized religion. If you had been honest about that from the beginning, things could have been much smoother.

randombantor: Not at all! Atheists claim they have a right to particpate here and so I throw them the occasional question their way.

Nerdly Stud: I doubt it, since no one appears to be in the same room with me right now, but give it your best shot.

Michael X: The proof of reality is your inability to carry through on a resolution? If the naive perception I have of reality is accurate, thousands of people commit suicide. Perhaps they are just more in control of themselves than you are.

Mark M: I didn't say anything at all about God in this question. I am merely testing the principle that if proof for something doesn't exist, then that thing doesn't exist either.

jonmcn49: Let me get this straight: asking what proof there is for reality is the proof of reality? Then why would you rule out leprechauns and unicorns?

emmadropit: Does anyone else exist?

'Schmod: You seem to be operating under the assumption I am a Christian Fundamentalist. Perhaps you should learn about someone's position prior to trying to rebut that position.

Answer 1

You're nailing the very essence of spirituality -- that all of this (including our theologies, scientific models, beliefs about ourselves, etc.) is all just a set of concepts, perceived by a dualistic mind. NONE of any of this is true - theologies and secular thought systems can only be used as tools to go beyond them and have a direct experience of the truth. We perceive through a dualistic mind (a mind that perceives itself and the universe as separate) and see everything that way. Those who have a direct experience of Reality (not 'reality' that is the result of perceptions based on body input and the brain's interpretation) see themselves as non-individuals and EVERYTHING. The joy of the experience (which can be called 'god') is overwhelming. So .... there are many answers, from a dualistic perspective, to your question but all will just be concepts (like the garbage I'm writing :)). In the end, a mind that perceives itself as a separate thing from the universe can never know reality; only by direct experience (which results in transcendence of the 'illusory' self). All religions (and no religion) have people who have had the experience and tried to express it in the context of the concepts from their religion or secular thought system.

Answer 2

I'm not familiar with your work, but your question seems more combative and retaliatory than an effort to spark a healthy debate. If your retorts and put downs are the snappiest, is that a victory in the eyes of your Lord? Smite away my odd friend. Any day could be our last, and you must rack up as many brownie points as possible before judgment day.

A quick question for you: what would you say is the average IQ of ewe and all your flocker comrades? C'mon now, be honest. Think about some of the goofs you see at church every week. You know who I'm talking about. Nice people, but isn't it amazing that they haven't forgotten to breathe? Are you proud to have them on your team? What do you folks chat about when you're riding on the short bus? Now.. how about the average IQ of all those pesky doubters who you feel compelled to smite? Brain power is a useful tool in the search for truth, oui?

Lastly... let us agree to disagree... none of us can prove or disprove our beliefs or disbelieves to the satisfaction of the other. If all us infidels promise not to make fun of your imaginary friend, will you please come in off the ledge and be a good boy? Tell your jihad friends to go home now, it's time to wash up for supper.

Answer 3

None. Scientific experimentation and observation can give us some hints as to the kind of reality that we're living in. However, it is ultimately questionable. No human can experience raw reality; rather, all of our observations are mediated by the assumptions and filters of society. We can create (somewhat) internally consistent models for how the world works so that we can at least operate effectively within it, but when we get right down to fundamental epistemological questions like this, we have to admit that we don't really know. The important thing is not what *exists*, or what is "True" but rather what works for us and for society. Usefulness is really the only benchmark off of which we can operate at this level.

Answer 4

For me atheists are more loopy than 100% believers. How as mortal, dumb humans can we even possibly be certain about the mystery that is the world around us? To say definitively that there is no God is ludicrous. Its like an ant telling you that gardners are just a figment of the guilibles imagination.

The only thing I would add - is that 100% Christian believers should maybe also look at the bigger picture and wonder whether their particular beliefs or specific religion have the sole rights to the truth.

Maybe we are all just scrabbling in the dark, eh?

Answer 5

The proof is in the pudding. I am aware of myself and the fact that I'm sitting here, typing, therefore my reality exists. If it didn't, I wouldn't have any knowledge of the above fact. 'Course, that has to take into account that everyone has their own reality. I could be out of my gourd crazy and locked somewhere in a basement and not know it. But, despite that, what our minds tell us is real, *is* real. It just depends on who's looking.

Answer 6

There is no proof, if you think about it. Everything that you see, hear, feel, etc. could be false input. The only thing that I know for sure, is that I exist, simply because I am contemplating my own existence. The rest of you, on the other hand, are just figments of my subconscious, and will disappear as soon as I log off of Y!A.

Answer 7

Actually, Einstein pointed out that reality does not exist except for in the imagination - although it is a very persistent imagination!!

However, this proves nothing. You cannot prove rality, as my reality can differ from yours. Reality is a concept attached to perception.

I can only offer a type of proof of reality: look at all the moronic responses to this question - thats reality bub....

Answer 8

No no you get it all wrong. See, you have faith. Faith is the opposite of proof, so atheists ask you about proof. You don't retort by asking us for proof - ask us if we have faith. Faith in science or the like.. But this simple logic goes beyond anyone not free enough to think, I can't blame you.

So to a question as stupid as this, I have to say that I don't have proof and I don't require it. I simply believe in nothing and I'm open to all suggestions but I'll never accept one black&white view as the only one. I don't have faith either, for the same reasons. Just because you need a higher being to guide you by the hand through the incertainties of life, doesn't mean no one else can face it and live happily without 'parental control'. Call me a lost soul. I call you a poor sod. Take my hand and I'll show you hell is actually your synonym for 'life as we know it'.

Answer 9

Um... I know that I exist, and for me to exist means that something is real. Maybe this world that surrounds me is fake or a hallucination or virtual. But outside of this reality that I know to be true (assuming this reality is false), there must be a real reality existing. Unless everything exist in a parrallel universe of non-reality, with non-real worlds created by other non-real worlds, that came into existence from outside non-real worlds. No, no.. I cannot come to the conclusion that there is no reality, because I DO exist. And as I said before, if this world around me is false, there is something real that created this false world. So reality DOES exist.

Answer 10

Proofs are something mathematicians and logicians do. In science we rely on evidence. I have credible evidence reality exists, that is enough for me. I lack the credible evidence necessary to reach god belief. Since I don't have credible evidence that gods exist, I lack a belief in gods. That makes me an atheist.