Atheists, how do you consider yourselves right?

Question

Atheists don't believe in God, nor religions...You're free to choose whatever religion you like, but how could you not believe in God the Almighty?
If you say there's no God, then who created the universe, and who created YOU?
I'd really like to listen to atheists' points of view, and I want to know what they think...Of course everyone else is welcomed to express his/her opinion (plz keep it clean, and serious)....Thanks :-)

Thanks for everyone who posted an answer.

but you all must know that God WAS NOT created by anyone, since he is the ultimate creator of everything, and before him this universe did not exist...This is what I believe, and what millions of others believe as well

Answer 1

You've opened up the box of mirrors. If you ask, "Who created humanity?", then state it must be God, the only logical follow-up question becomes, "Who created God?" Then who created that creator, and that creator, and that creator, ad nauseum. It's the "God of the Gaps" argument. If there is something we don't understand, it must be God. Well, in fact, there is no compelling reason to believe it "must be God."

I don't believe in God, and I've thought this out fairly carefully.

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).

So everything stated hereafter is based on inductive reasoning. I believe it to be true, but it is not certain. However, it is even certain to assert that God exists, based on my statements below.

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 or is not 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 with an assumption that there is no God.

It is more compelling to me that humans have invented God to reflect the thoughts of the ruling powers in a particular time. Events happened, and in a pre-scientific age, people hadn't a clue regarding the causes. No one could explain disease, floods, earthquakes, or lunar eclipses. 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 find God unbelievable. And you know what? It's okay if you do believe God does exists.

Answer 2

Abu, suppose as a three year old you were stranded on a desert island. As luck would have it, you were an exceptionally smart child. You watched the animals, followed them to a stream with fresh water. You also managed to find food... berries, maybe birds eggs, bananas, mangoes. You took shelter in a cave. As time passed, you learned to catch fish, or crabs. The point is, you survived.

Not having any human contact, you'd never know about god. All you would know is the world worked the way you observed. The sun came up every morning. Sometimes it rained, sometimes it didn't. Sometimes you found berries, other times you did not. You survived without knowing, or believing in god.

After some years, you are rescued by natives from a nearby island. They take you back to their island and start trying to teach you their ways. They explain you must "pray" for the things you want... you must ask an invisible "thing" called god for rain, for calm seas, for berries, for the sun to rise. But, all your life you've KNOWN these things happen by themselves.

What do you believe? What makes more sense to you?

People believe in god because they've been taught to believe in god. When you were afraid, you were taught to take comfort in knowing god was watching over you. When life became difficult you were taught that you can ask for help by praying. When you had questions that seemed impossible to answer, you were taught that god is the reason. You were taught that no matter how hopeless, or lonely, or hard life gets, god is always there with you, and always loves you.

What an awesome way to feel!!!

At the same time, you've also been taught to be afraid... to feel fear, and guilt, and shame if you doubt god. You feel like this because from a young age you've surrendered a portion of your free will to the idea that god controls parts of your life, and the universe around you. It is almost inconceivable to think you, a piddling little human, can simply "wrest control" of your life, your destiny, the universe, away from something so powerful... ESPECIALLY when the penalty is ETERNAL ostrazation from this great, kind, and wonderful thing that is responsible for so much good.

The truth is, you are under a spell, just like the natives who rescued the little boy from the island. All you have to do to break the spell is realize that the people who taught you to believe in god are just like the island natives. They are simply trapped in their own paradigm, and they're too afraid to see the world for what it is. But, the three year old boy has no such fears. He just sees the world as it is... a place he must learn as much as possible about in order to survive.

Atheists are the same way. They've cast off the yoke of god and religion, and look around at the world like an innocent three year old. This can be frightening at first, but it frees you to understand the truth of things... that YOU are in control of your life, that life is a HUMAN matter, and that while you may not know everything, the only way to find things out is to keep searching for answers.

Ultimately, life becomes a much more cherished experience because you realize how precious and brief it is. It also forces you to take total responsibility for everything you do, which is both terrifying, and absolutely empowering. You are still left with the same difficult questions... who created the universe, who created you... why are we here... what happens when we die? The only difference is that you can no longer hide behind answers that, in all honesty, make no sense. Atheism compels you to search for truth no matter how difficult or humbling the answers may be. I can think of no better, or more honest way to live.

Answer 3

You have to realize the same question can be asked of you- How can you put so much trust in something that has no real proof?
But, on to my answer...

I believe nature is a beautiful, amazing, spiritual thing. I also believe it was all created in some varition of the big bang. That is what I truly love about life- a simply random, unplanned chain of events and conditions led to our existance. THAT is a miracle, of a different kind. This is why I do not need God as an explanation of my existance.
For me, it is not really a choice. I was brought up in a fairly neutral family- my parents, who are not religious but believe in some type of God, brought me up with little exposure to church and religion, but also with little exposure to atheist views. I have actually tried to believe in a greater spirit, but I just cannot accept that it's true. What I see here on Earth is enough.

Answer 4

So I consider myself more of an Agnostic that an Atheist but here is my answer anyway.
I don't claim my point of view is the truth or the right way, it just feels right for me. I think too many people get caught up with trying to force their point of view on others 'cause they think it is right. Religion and spirituality is a very personal thing and like each person is unique, so will their beliefs.
As to the qusetion of why I believe what I do, like I said it feels right for me. I had tried to be a Christian all my life, yet I always felt like I was living a lie. I thought better to be true to myself, than to live a lie no matter what is the true religion.
Hope this is what you wanted and that you get real answers from others. It seems when I ask a question in R and S way too many people get side tracked on their own agendas.

Answer 5

I actually don't consider myself right in the sense that I know something that everybody else doesn't. I have examined the data to the best of my ability and have come to the only reasonable conclusion that I can. It works for me but I, of course, have no concrete proof for it.

As to not believing in "god the almighty". Which god are you referring to? I assume you don't believe in any of the ancient Greek gods like Apollo and Zeus? Or to be more contemporary - why don't you believe in Hindu gods? Same problem. They just don't make sense to you, do they?

Finally, as to where the universe came from. I don't know. But do you know where god came from? If nothing comes from nothing then god is impossible - so what can you do about that.

Again, in all seriousness, this is the best read of the evidence that I can muster.

Cheers,

A

Answer 6

lol, you really don't want a proper explanation. WHO created you, WHO.....
Well, if you need to know my parents made me..(I really don't want to get into the process of explaining reproduction.)
Now, with who created the universe....No one did... It's a bunch of natural reoccurring processes that occur in nature. It occurs cyclically and I believe that time is an concept just developed by man instead more of a extra dimension. But, its just skewed by our perception. But, thats just theoretical physics there's a lot of stuff still to be discovered. A new discovery in science always brings more questions then answers. Also by logic its impossible to prove a negative, god not existing but it's a valid statement until proof of god exists.

Answer 7

i dont believe in god because i see no reason to.
if you are trying to tell me that everything came from something else, then where did god come from?
most people ive heard from say he needs no creator, but then why must the universe have been created if not everything had to be created?
This is my point of view...Thank you
^_^

Answer 8

What I believe is right FOR ME, ad what others believe to be right for them is in fact right for them.

Whatever brings you peace should be right for you.

I think it is the other way around with the respect that most others that DO believe in a god seem to always want to consider themsleves RIGHT.

I wont push my beliefs of non believing on someone that believes, but it is often times the opposite.

Answer 9

My beliefs are right, for me.

It's easy for me not to believe, I just don't, that's it. I don't believe in creators and I have no need to believe that we were created by something. The universe managing it is enough.

Answer 10

i'm particularly curious as to the place you acquire this tips you're picking to state as info. it particularly is all enormously ridiculous to me. you're making extensive generalizations here, and clearly don't understand a good take care of regards to the psychology of the introvert. Quiet each and every physique is quiet human beings, no longer inevitably those with something to conceal. For the checklist, i'm a deist, no longer an atheist, yet i assume it nonetheless style of is going against the "norm" you're pointing out here. besides, i'm certainly an introvert. additionally, i understand a extensive quantity of homosexuals, and that i'd estimate that they are cut up enormously calmly as to being introverted or extroverted. i choose to understand the place you acquire the concept that gay each and every physique is extra introverted - i'd say they are merely as even cut up as the different team of folk.