Have you ever considered the possibility of there being a God or wondered if God exists? Do you ever think "what if I'm wrong"? I'm not trying to convert anybody here, just curious as to how many atheists have searched for God or considered the possibility that God exists.
2006-11-01 08:18:51 · 24 answers · asked by Elle 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Yes, I've had doubts, and for awhile I was almost convinced God either didn't exist or didn't care. Not to sound preachy, but in my case it wasn't until I 'hit bottom' so to speak, and was willing to surrender everything to Jesus that I finally accepted Him and gave Him total control of my life. And yes, I've struggled with doubt since then. but it's only when I leave God to "do my own thing", He never leaves me.
2006-11-01 08:51:50 · update #1
It's a fair question, and I think most of us have thought about it. But don't believe what many Christians do about atheists. We don't disbelieve because we're stubborn. We disbelieve because we're not convinced that blind faith is something good. We want good reasons to believe in something.
You probably don't believe in Zeus, do you? You don't feel that your disbelief in Zeus makes you a bad person, or that you're missing out on something essential in life, do you? Well, neither do we feel any lack because we refuse to believe unbelievable things.
As for the "What if you're wrong?" scenario. That's so old that it has a name: Pascal's Wager. You can read about it on Wikipedia or elsewhere on the Net. This same question can be asked of Christians. What if you're wrong? What if, after you die, you find yourself before a tribunal of gods from ancient Egypt. What will you say when they ask why you have never sacrificed to them? Wouldn't it make sense to pray and sacrifice to every god that has ever been created by the mind of man--JUST IN CASE?
2006-11-01 08:22:10 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
There is a big misconception about atheists. And it's on display in your question. "Have you ever considered the possibility of there being a God...?" The reason I'm an atheist is precisely because I have considered the possibility and answered no. I'm not an atheist because I refuse to believe in God. I'm an atheist because I don't believe any such thing exists. I'm not trying to be difficult. Also, I never understood how the idea of God actually explains anything. What's the difference between saying God did it and saying magic did it. Both explain nothing. By explaining existence with God you're explaining a mystery with a mystery. There's no reason to believe it and it explains nothing. And what's even worse is that the God described in books like the Bible and the Koran is a very hateful, nasty character anyway. God didn't create us; we created God.
2006-11-01 08:31:30 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I've never wondered if your God exists, at an early age I did however wonder things like "would it be so bad to just try to believe" and "maybe there's something out there I can believe in that fits into my logical way of thinking." I am very open-minded compared to the answers you're probably going to get from other athiests. I have never been a religion before, but I have gone to almost every type of worship house and learned a lot. In the end, my beliefs are still the same (no gods, etc), but it didn't hurt my pride to ask questions.
2006-11-01 08:25:41 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Only if you ever considered the possibility of there not being a god or wonder if god does not exist. Do you ever think "what if im wrong"? Im also not trying to convert anybody but am trying to make a point. Im also curious to know if any religious people have doubted god or considered the possibility that he does not exist? But to answer your question from my view of course.
2006-11-01 08:37:00 · answer #4 · answered by Maikeru 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm an atheist but I was brought up as a Catholic. All it did was make me feel guilty, a sinner even if I had a relatively benign thought. Forced to go to church. Then as I grew up, I knew I doubted my religion but it wasn't until recent times that I have managed to break free of all that. I believe I am a good person I have good morals but the church didn't do that. it was the way I was brought up and my life experience and hopefully a touch of intelligence and logic.
I know there is a possibility of God existing just as there are millions of other possibilities but I am happier now than ever before.
If I'm wrong, then I'm wrong...doesn't matter.
I think one of the things that get to me is when some people say but if there is a God and you go to hell cos you didn't believe....I don't conduct my life in a good way so that I can get a pay off at the end of it. The things I do, the way I think my concern for others is for that in itself...it's definitely not to win 'brownie points' to secure my place in heaven.
2006-11-01 08:33:43 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
All, if now not so much, individuals consider and beauty approximately the unknown, such a lot that we may not take "We do not know" as an reply! (Which is most often why faith got here approximately!). Nonetheless, we can not say for targeted. But we will bet, that is for targeted. My individual tackle it's that I do not know what occurs, however I suspect that recognition will stop to exist, and our 'soul' might be cleaned, on account that that our recollections, mind, chemical reactions, and so on. which govern who we're, how we consider, what we think, and so on. might be long past, and may not be any further, lol. If you seem deeper into it, the soul truthfully does not have to be there within the brain in any respect, considering the brain is very nearly a problematic enter/output laptop that's ruled by way of the legislation of the universe; now not a few unusable, untouchable, predefined 'you'...
2016-09-01 05:39:04 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Considered the possibility? Of course, in order to have not, you would have to have never even heard of the concept of god, and I'm sure there's only a few people in the world (if even that) that haven't. You first have to be presented with an idea, or come up with it on your own, in order to decide it can't be true. What's interesting is, I don't know which I'd prefer? For the idea of god to simply have never existed, and atheism (a word which wouldn't exist) to just be the natural state of things, or to have to rail against it as we do? I suppose, though, it's a bit like an immune system, you have to be exposed to a bit of the disease to be protected from it, so there's that.
2006-11-01 08:29:56 · answer #7 · answered by The Resurrectionist 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No. Furthermore how does one religion know that their god is the true one and not another? How do Christians know that Allah is not the actual god. How do Muslims Know that it's not actually Zeus or Vishnu. Did they actually research the other religions of the world or did they merely go with whichever happens to be the dominant religion in their area.
The only sure way to hedge your bets against this dilemma would be to worship every religion that ever existed. This would be largely impractical.
2006-11-01 08:33:48 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have you ever considered the possibility of there being purple elephants or wondered if they exist? Do you ever think "what if I'm wrong"?
Why would I or other atheists look for something that isn't there? Until there is proof that a "god" exists, there aren't any. There's no more evidence of christian mythology than there is for hindu mythology.
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2006-11-01 08:24:40 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Never since I became an atheist. I'm willing to accept the hypothetical for the sake of a thought-provoking debate but other than that, I'm as certain now, 100%, that there is no deity at all, as I was certain then, 100%, that Jesus was the Messiah.
2006-11-01 08:23:56 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋