Atheist and Religious (does not apply to agnostic)?

Question

If I had to be convinced about the existance or not existance of God what would your best argument be?

Answer 1

The universe, itself, is the best evidence for a God.

Answer 2

First, you have to define the term "God." The problem with most theists is that this term is a moving target.

In addition, because there is no evidence either for or against the existence of God, you cannot use deductive logic (a+b=c; therefore c-b=a). You can only reach a conclusion by inductive reasoning using the balance of evidence (90% of A is also B; C is B, so the chances are 90% that C is also A).

I will assert (and others may shoot this down) that the only RELEVANT definition of God states that he intervenes to circumvent natural laws.

If God circumvents natural laws, then it is impossible to understand natural laws. All scientific findings would have to include the stipulation, "it is also possible that these results are an act of God, a miracle, thereby making our research meaningless."

However, since we have been able to expand our knowledge of natural laws (evidenced by every appliance in your kitchen), the scientific method works in this discovery. And the likely conclusion is that God, at least the intervening kind, does not exist.

Additionally, if God is defined as all loving, all powerful, and all knowing, then it is impossible to explain suffering. Either God is not all loving (he acts sadistically), not all powerful (he cannot prevent suffering), or not all knowing (he created suffering by mistake because he didn't know the consequences of his actions).

If God is less than these and/or does not intervene in our existence, then he is either non-existent or irrelevant. The classic argument is that I cannot prove that a china teapot is orbiting the sun directly across from the earth's orbit. But while I cannot prove this is not true, the evidence against it is compelling.

The evidence against God is equally compelling, and while it is not possible to prove beyond any doubt, it makes more sense to live your life as if there were not God.

It is more compelling to me that humans have invented God to reflect the thoughts of the ruling powers in a particular time. Because humans are always looking for reasons, when none are found, it was the natural inclination to declare the cause to be "God" (or gods). As the faith grew, miracles and laws have been ascribed to this Divinity, and an orthodoxy grows up around it.

Successful religions over the long run also are accompanied by some level of economic well-being to the populace. Unsuccessful ones are seen as false because they don't lead to improved lives.

Now it seems unhelpful to believe in such superstition. The only matters that aid in our ongoing well being are work, location, health, sustenance, and pure, blind luck.

So that's why I don't believe God exists. But do you know what? It's okay if you do believe God exists.

Answer 3

I'm not really sure I could explain it to you in a tangible way. I mean, I look at the trees, flowers, animals, and humans, and I realize that there is no way everything came together by chance. There is like a one in 10^9 billion chance that our world just "appeared" by chance.

I also see people's lives changed every day. People are so filled with joy. Even when they are not happy, they are still joyful. They may have had the worst day of their lives, but even when they can barely muster a smile, they know that at the end of the day, nothing matters b/c God loves them and they will one day be in Heaven with Him. It's such an amazing feeling that I cannot even fully describe to you. I know God exists because of the peace I feel when I am near Him.

As far as actual historical proof goes...I believe that there is too much proof to deny God. Historical documents record things that the Bible talks about, which means He has to be real. He has to have done the things He said He did. If Christ had been a lunatic, over 1 billion people thus far wouldn't have followed Him and be willing to die for Him. We put the crazy people in asylums for reasons. He couldn't have been a liar because we wouldn't follow liars whole-heartedly either. He rose from the dead like He said He would, and people actually saw Him. If He had been a liar, He would have died on the cross and that would have been the end of everything. But He came back. So, if He wasn't a lunatic or a liar, He had to be Lord

Answer 4

I cannot prove or disprove the existence or nonexistence of God. I'll tell you why I believe, though.
Humankind is a unique species on all the earth. Is there any peer to mankind? Do dolphins build skyscrapers? Do mice go to war? Do monkeys design expensive clothing, and then actively market it to make the other monkeys wish they were skinny? Of course not. For these reasons (and a lot reasons that are personal to me alone) I have a hard time in believing humans evolved from the same mix from whence came all other living things.
Now, I once heard someone say that he'd rather believe aliens put us here than actually believe in God. And that's his prerogative. I choose to believe in a living, loving God, and I have put my faith in His only Son. Whatever your choice, I hope it brings you the peace and joy that my choice has brought me.

Answer 5

If we strip away everything that we know or believe to exist, layer by layer, all concepts of God, all beliefs of science, all natural law, all fancies of the imagination, all articles of faith, what are we left with? Nothing? Something? Can we even say? The ethereal "place" I am talking about here lies far far beyond our puny event horizon. "Wovon man nicht sprechen kann, darüber muß man schweigen" — whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent." (Wittgenstein)

But I am not bright enough to follow Wittgenstein's wise advice. So I can't resist hazarding a guess. At that far distant stratum of Existence/Non-existence the two are indistinguishable. They are one and the same. Call that God if you want. Call it anything you want. Just realize it's all just different names we're arguing about and is it really worth it? I really wish I were as bright as Wittgenstein.

Answer 6

Well , I could give you my own words, but I got them from the bible , the book of Romans to be exact.

If you take the time to read it, it will tell you right away In chapters one and two how even without knowledge of God and the law, that nature cries out that there is a creator (God)

It is up to you to believe this and to worship the creator rather than the created.
The rest is all detail.

Answer 7

I have yet to hear a convincing argument for either belief. And hey, let's face it even if there were, would you consider it proof? We can't ever actualy know either way, even if there was proof would you trust it? How would you prove the proof? Believing is for the desperate; agnostic all the way!

Answer 8

Why exclude agnostics?
There is no conclusive proof possible, that's the beauty of the scam!

Answer 9

there's no proof of a god. there's nothing that can convince a person there's a god unless they want to believe.

Answer 10

1) Fulfillment of Bible prophecy.

2) REALLY living by Bible standards gives a better quality of life than anything man has come up with. (Proof that the Bible is God's Word)