"God is all powerful and has given us free will." Why am I an atheist?

Question

I am willing to believe in God. I'm not trying to be disagreeable, rebellious or stubborn. I don't lead a wild and "sinful" life. There are many atheists who share similar stories. Your thoughts?

Answer 1

Good question. Why are you an atheist? It would seem to be a contradiction in terms to be dogmatic about the NON-existence of God. Outspoken atheist Kai Nielsen once admitted: "To show that an argument is invalid or unsound is not to show that the conclusion of the argument is false....All the proofs of God’s existence may fail, but it still may be the case that God exists." ['Reason and Practice' (New York: Harper & Row, 1971), 143-44.] If you haven't found any convincing proof of extraterrestrial intelligence, for example, the best that you could say, in all honesty, is that the evidence is insufficient. In order to be certain that space aliens did not exist anywhere in the universe, one would need a greater amount of knowledge of the universe than we presently have. If a person was adamantly certain that extraterrestrial intelligence could not possibly exist, period, then one would have to assume that this person's anti-belief was not based on fact, but rather emotion.

Therefor most theists would assume that you are holding some type of grudge against God. Either that, or you know something, or thought of something, that 98 percent of the world's population does not know, since only two percent of the world's population claim to be atheist (With all due respect, what is the likelihood that you are some type of genius who has gotten it all figured out while the rest of us are stupid? I don't get the impression that you are rich, or that you created something like Microsoft). I would assume that you are an atheist simply because you only read the writings of people whom you happen to agree with already.

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from 'The Presumptuousness of Atheism'

....Second, the "presumption of atheism" demonstrates a rigging of the rules of philosophical debate in order to play into the hands of the atheist, who himself makes a truth claim. Alvin Plantinga correctly argues that the atheist does not treat the statements "God exists" and "God does not exist" in the same manner. The atheist assumes that if one has no evidence for God’s existence, then one is obligated to believe that God does not exist — whether or not one has evidence against God’s existence. What the atheist fails to see is that atheism is just as much a claim to know something ("God does not exist") as theism ("God exists"). Therefore, the atheist’s denial of God’s existence needs just as much substantiation as does the theist’s claim; the atheist must give plausible reasons for rejecting God’s existence.

Third, in the absence of evidence for God’s existence, agnosticism, not atheism, is the logical presumption. Even if arguments for God’s existence do not persuade, atheism should not be presumed because atheism is not neutral; pure agnosticism is. Atheism is justified only if there is sufficient evidence against God’s existence.

Fourth, to place belief in Santa Claus or mermaids and belief in God on the same level is mistaken. The issue is not that we have no good evidence for these mythical entities; rather, we have strong evidence that they do not exist. Absence of evidence is not at all the same as evidence of absence, which some atheists fail to see.

Moreover, the theist can muster credible reasons for belief in God. For example, one can argue that the contingency of the universe — in light of Big Bang cosmology, the expanding universe, and the second law of thermodynamics (which implies that the universe has been "wound up" and will eventually die a heat death) — demonstrates that the cosmos has not always been here. It could not have popped into existence uncaused, out of absolutely nothing, because we know that whatever begins to exist has a cause. A powerful First Cause like the God of theism plausibly answers the question of the universe’s origin. Also, the fine-tunedness of the universe — with complexly balanced conditions that seem tailored for life — points to the existence of an intelligent Designer.

The existence of objective morality provides further evidence for belief in God. If widow-burning or genocide is really wrong and not just cultural, then it is difficult to account for this universally binding morality, with its sense of "oughtness," on strictly naturalistic terms. (Most people can be convinced that the difference between Adolf Hitler and Mother Teresa is not simply cultural.) These and other reasons demonstrate that the believer is being quite rational — not presumptuous — in embracing belief in God.

~Paul Copan is a Ph. D. candidate in philosophy at Marquette University and editor of the forthcoming "Who Was Jesus? A Jewish-Christian Discussion" (Word, 1997).

Answer 2

Well, your idea of "sin" probably doesn't match God's idea of sin.

This is a problem with lots of people, they can't understand why such a loving, accepting God would turn away people who lead societal "good" lives.

Moreover, alot of non-Christians can't accept the others-serving mentality that comes from a life controlled by the Holy Spirit. This type of thinking goes directly against our human nature of "get before you get got," and " do unto others as they do unto you." Don't misunderstand though: Christians have an inner conflict with this as much as anyone else, but we choose to lead lives that are examples of Christ's love.

The primary issue seems to be allowing someone, other than themselves, to have control over their lives. Many, many people feel like they have done everything themselves, and thus, owe God nothing - even acknowledgement. This prideful self-image, again, is part of human nature. We Christians suffer the same illusions when things are going good for us: often, we completely forget that God is the One who blesses us for our obedience.

God says our "good works" are as filthy rags, in His eyes. The only cleanliness He accepts is the cleansing power of His Son's blood sacrifice on Calvary. So, as previously stated, our "sins" are generally completely different from what God considers sin.

Answer 3

You have the will to choose to do His Will or not. The rest is really just you choosing not to do his will. Most atheists are really just people who don't play into the common equilibrium of boring get nowhere ideas forced upon us through some inherited social thing. That they have no beliefs is a fallacy. That they don't share those personal beliefs with others is basically to avoid the same old droll conversations. And belonging to other religions is of your own personal choosing may or may not be from you choosing to do His Will.

Answer 4

Did you ever stop to think that it might not be in your hands? Who chooses who? Do you think you deserve faith? None of us does. It takes an intervening God to give us that gift. I can't give it to you, and you can't take it or even sign for the package. God must be the one to act in your heart and open your eyes. So let me point you to a Book He has written. You've seen it before, open it up and read what Jesus promised those who believe in Him. It's a good deal. Nothing beats it. Certainly not atheism.

Answer 5

I don't know why you don't believe in God. Maybe you don't lead a sinful life, but you can lead a better and holier life. Everyone can. The Catholic Church guides you on your path to holiness so that one day you will be united with God.
Even if you avoid God all your life, you will meet Him one day.
I'll pray for you.
God Bless.

Answer 6

Hi - I think the true metric of a person and their belief system is how they act. Are they good people, do they hurt others, do they contribute to the overall good. Obviously no one is perfect but if you tend to follow these basic principles then I won't think a rational God would care if you are a Jew, Christian, Muslim or Druid.

But, what do I know, ...

A

Answer 7

You answered your own question. God has given you free will and that includes not believing in Him. Your choice!

Answer 8

You're an atheist because you choose to as part of your free will.

If we were not given free will we'd all be little droids that are programmed to believe whatever we were programmed in.

Answer 9

Your an Atheist by your own free choice.

Answer 10

do what you want to do and how and where you want to do it as long as it does not infringe upon the free will and rights of others or go against the laws rules and mores of the society in which you live.