Atheists, what do you consider the most persuasive argument against God to be?

Question

I realize that many will answer by saying "there is no argument/evidence/proof" for God, but avoid it if you can (or outline an argument that argument/evidence/proof doesn't exist or is categorically impossible, etc).

Answer 1

Here's my argument.

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 (a) to deal with the anxiety brought on by loss and one's own ultimate death, and (b) to reflect the thoughts of the ruling powers in a particular time. Because humans are always looking for reasons and escape from pain, when none are found, it was the natural inclination to declare the cause and salvation to be "God" (or gods). As the faith grew, miracles and laws were ascribed to this Divinity, and an orthodoxy grows up around it.

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. And you know what? It's okay if you do believe God exists.

Answer 2

I presume you were brought up speaking English. It will take some effort to learn about other languages. You look at the world from the perspective of your country. You look at the rest of the USA from the perspective of your state, Etc, etc.
It would be very difficult to understand or accept any argument against the existence of God. The fact is that no one can really prove his existence. Pure and simple.
You have your perspective on God, that will never change.
Now you are expecting some argument against the existence of something that cannot be proven. Very difficult.
My own perspective is this: this world, what happens in it ,does not make any sense.If God created this world with a purpose, he certainly could fool me.

Answer 3

The thousands of other gods and goddesses that humans have worshiped throughout history. Also, the fact that there were at least 15 earlier gods with attributes similar to Jesus (virgin mother, performing miracles, crucified, resurrected) that were worshiped centuries before Jesus was invented or the Christian Bible was written.

Also, the hundreds of contradictions in the Bible, the history behind which books were chosen or rejected, and that thousands were FORCED to become Christians or killed via the Inquisition, Crusades, etc.

Sadly, most Christians are not educated about the history of their (or any) religion, and have never read the entire Bible. They've depended upon churches and preachers, who obviously have a reason to hide stuff, so they haven't made their choice based upon ALL of the available facts. Of course, they're free to believe whatever they want, but it's ludicrous to expect anyone else to ignore the facts and history and blindly accept a deity who drowns and slaughters babies and commands his followers to hurt and kill people.

Answer 4

I don’t need an argument regarding something no human has ever seen or heard and that has left no physical evidence indicating its existence (and according to the physics of our universe, could not interact in our world).

Physics has a more than fair understanding of the behavior of objects (i.e., equal and opposite force, friction, torque, mass, inertia, etc). If one object (thing) can touch and move (alter) another thing (object), then that object also has force being applied to it. Therefore, for example, no god, ghost, or spirit can both 1.) open-shut a door and 2.) also walk through doors.

If you make contact with it, then you can’t pass through it – and if you could pass through it, then you could not make contact or apply force to it.

So, non-physical invisible things (like gods) could not write something like the bible even if it wanted to because it would be impossible for it to even hold a pencil or pen.

And, God also could not dictate his message, because humans hear via waves of sound, and they are real physical things as well. Physics denies the possibility of a god even moving air, let alone the ability to create sound waves that could move through it.

Answer 5

People and society in general throughout time have done some incredibly horrible acts. Be it war with each other, genocide, mass murders, and on and on. Most religions talk of peace. If there was a God. It's presence would have been seen many times since the bible.

Answer 6

The most persuasive argument against the existence of god is the fact that there is no persuasive argument FOR the existence of god.

Answer 7

Which god? Seriously if it is the Christian god of the bible there are too many for the space here, if it is just the first cause type of god then the discussion becomes more technical involving infinite regresses.

For example I can talk about the problem of evil concerning the Christian god but not about the prime mover type of god.

Answer 8

I don't need no evidence or proof, I was a young child who had no parents, God saved me by bringing the good into my life and I chose to go the good way, I could've been a whore in this life if I chose to be, because of my upbringing, we've all had despicable lives, lives of hurt, do we keep on blaming everyone around us? or do we take stalk and say, I leaned this from that experience and by gosh I'll take the good from it and kick the bad to the curb, we can't keep on harping on the bad things in our lives otherwise it hurts and makes us cynical, unforgiving!

Answer 9

The origin of the Universe is unknown, but theists try to explain it by suggesting the existence of something far more complex and mysterious they they don't feel needs any explanation at all- God.

That is just idiotic thinking.

Answer 10

1. The problem of why bad things happen to good people and good things happen to bad people.

2. The support of slavery throughout the OT and NT.