Question for atheists: Proof?

Question

I have read numerous posts from atheists stating there is no proof that there is a God. Prove to me there isn't.

Answer 1

hahaha, how can we prove that there is no proof?
Remember, it isn't up to us to prove that God exists, it is up to theists to prove that God DOES exist. If I told you that I worship invisible flying unicorns that demands our worship and condemn those that do not to hell, would you believe me just because I say so, or would you ask me to prove it?

Answer 2

Here's why I don't believe in God:

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 to begin with, 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 Bertrand Russell argument is that I cannot prove that a china teapot is orbiting the sun between the earth's orbit and Mars. 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 enormously more sense to live your life as if there were no God.

It is more compelling to me that humans have invented God (a) to help people deal with the pain and fear associated with death and loss, and (b) to reflect the thoughts of the ruling powers in a particular time. Because humans are always looking for reasons, when none were found, it was the natural inclination to declare the cause to be "God" (or gods). As the faith grew, miracles (coincidences) and laws were ascribed to this Divinity, and an orthodoxy grew 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 my most compelling logical argument against the belief in God. It has nothing to do with faith. I don't have faith that planets exist beyond our solar system, because even though I haven't seen them, others have and their existence is logically realistic. But there is a massive lack of any evidence or logic arguing for God's existence. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence, and proof of God doesn't even rise to the ordinary.

Answer 3

Personally, I'm agnostic. This means that I don't believe that there is no god. I just don't necessarily believe that there is. And, given that there's no proof either way, this view makes the most sense. Personally, I don't believe anything that I don't have SOME reason to believe. That's not particularly logical. If you choose to, I can't hold it against you, but if you use that belief to start infringing on MY rights, then we have a definite problem.

In short, most atheists will point out that the burden of proof lies with the person making the claim. As pointed out above "there is no god" is ALSO a claim, so I get to sit back and say you're both being silly. :)

Answer 4

Prove to me the universe wasn't pooped out of the butt of a giant invisible rabbit.

Prove to me that the universe isn't just an elaborate simulation inside a giant computer.

Prove to me that the universe isn't just a dream taking place in the mind of some super intelligent flying kangaroo.

You can't.

There are many things that can't be disproven but that does not mean they are just as likely to be true as to be false.

It's not the case that the dreaming kangaroo is a 50/50 proposition and you just need to climb down off the fence and choose a side in order to be on solid ground in believing that.

It isn't just that there's no proof of the existence of a God, it's that there's no evidence whatsoever. If you are willing to believe something for which there is no evidence you might as well just believe any damned thing. A collection of old books is not evidence. There are a lot of old books with a lot of nonsense in them. As someone (Sam Harris maybe) pointed out if you are getting your understanding of natural history from the bible you are relying on the wisdom of people who "couldn't keep their excrement out of their food".

When you go to court it's the person who is making a claim that has to provide evidence. If I sue you and say I loaned you $500 cash and you promised to repay it and never did I have to prove that. If I present no evidence to the judge, I lose! You do not have to say a word, or submit documentation or have witnesses or anything. You don't even have to show up and you win! The burden of proof is on the person making the claim. The other person only needs to present evidence if it is needed to contradict the claimant's evidence. So if I present a signed contract that proves there was a loan, then you might need to present a signed receipt or a cancelled check or whatever to prove you repaid the loan.

Similarly in the "intellectual court" if someone presents an idea that could be considered true or false (not something like "I don't like spaghetti" but something like "Spaghetti causes cancer" or "Spaghetti was brought to earth by Martians") it is up to the person making the statement to provide evidence. It is not automatically believed to be true because it hasn't been (or even can't be) proven false. It is intellectually sound to assume such a statement to be false until proven to be true, or at least until evidence indicates a high probability of being true (e.g. double-blind study of spaghetti eaters vs. non-spaghetti eaters over long period of time or samples of spaghetti brought back from Mars). It is not intellectually sound to accept as fact a statement made for which no evidence is provided.

Answer 5

Can we say there where dinosaurs yes we have proof and can we say they lived millions of years ago yes science can prove that. If you believe that the bible is the word of god and that is why you believe if the bible is right then science most be wrong. Our world is much much much older then the bible says. We can prove that with science. There has been more facts that there is not a god then any solid evidence that there is. I like facts. I like proof! There isn't one single proof there is a god other then HEARSAY and a book called the bible.

Answer 6

no matter what i say you will have some stupid little biblical answer that gives you complete confidence but is not logical at all.
it cannot be proven.
can you prove to me that there is a god?

well you say that the bible proves it all don't you?
so i could worship the first book of harry potter adn carry it around preaching to everyone the story of the chosen one who is destined to kill lord voldemort .
i haev the same amount of evidence that harry potter exists as you have that moses existed.
don't get me wrong i think the bible is an eccelen view into the past of early humans but that is all. just a history book.

and also how could the same god who (according to you) declared that the world was 'good' and now is doing nothing about the suffering going on. eat from the tree ofknowledge my friend and your eyes will be opened

Answer 7

The "burden of proof" is on those who believe in something there is no good reason to believe, not on those who doubt it.

We don't need to prove there isn't a god, given the absence of any evidence or reason to think there is.

I don't need to prove it to you; I don't care what you believe. Believe in one god, many gods, witches, ghosts, Hogwarts, Vampire Slayers, whatever.

As long as you don't bug me about your beliefs, or try to make everyone else live according to your ideas of what your imaginary friend wants, I'm OK with it.

And don't insist that science not be taught in schools. That I will fight. That hurts everyone.

Answer 8

It's impossible to prove a universal negative, such as, "There are no gods." To prove it you would have to possess total knowledge of the universe, which is impossible.

On the other hand, the total lack of evidence for the existence of any gods means that there is no good reason to believe in one.

Impossible to disprove, total lack of evidence; these are the reasons why I am an agnostic.

Answer 9

Wow, not another one that can possibly be this ignorant.

I can't prove that a possible creator does not exist.

However, from the texts of the three abrahamic monotheistic religions, they have disproved themselves. It is scientific fact, disregarding evolution, that humans have existed for over 6-7,000 years. This is only one of the major impossibilities, there are also many contradictions to worldly knowledge that we now know of.

You can't prove a random thing does not exist, that is pretty obvious. You can not prove to me that flying space turtles do not exist.

Answer 10

Christianity cannot coexist with the thoughts of evolution.

But there is scientific proof that humans evolved. Along with
everything else on this earth.

Christians read from a book that has been translated over
thousands of years. A book that has very many different
versions. Some even stating that Jesus never died on the cross.

I used to be a christian. I believed in the bible. But then I saw
the destruction that Christians have caused and that my
reason for being wasn't to serve anyone. It wasn't to bow
down before anyone. And I sure as hell am not going to put
myself into a standard way of life that generates gossip and
lies amongst the general public. I am the kid that the Christians
picked on. I was the one who wears all black because that's
the color I choose to wear. I wear a ring on my right index
finger because I choose to wear a ring. And I choose to be
an individual because I'm not going to stand down to anyone.
All my life I have been told to be a Leader, not a follower. And
that was from Christians and atheists alike.

People die horrible deaths and their "God" doesn't save them.
The plan that their "God" had for them apparently failed.
Their loving "God" dismissed their feelings and their lives
and showed no remorse for the families who suffered the
loss of a loved one. That God never helped me, that God never
showed me a single bit of remorse. And that God didn't
spare my uncle when he needed "God" the most. "God" cannot
save me, and he cannot save you. He's proven this himself.
So my proof to you is not of what you would expect. I'm using
the false words of your own "God", the lies of your own "God" and
the failed attempts of your own "God" against you. I'm not
blind to religion and I'm not smugged by the destruction it brings
with it. All of the violence, the hatred, the death. The fact your
"God" cannot save you when you're staring down the barrel
of a loaded gun and the bullet pierces your skin. The pain and
shock that follows. Your bleeding and cries for help that follow.
Then your sudden and black death.

That's your proof. Years of lies brought into one thought from
only one human being. Show me your "God", show me his
"Power" and let him save the lives of his "Children" as they
lay dieing in the pools of their own blood screaming the cries
that echo through our minds and scare us for the rest of our lives.


- Void

Answer 11

Explain to me how you prove a negative.

And while you're a it, prove to me the Invisible Pink Unicorn is not the one true god.

When you make a ridiculous claim, the onus is on YOU to provide evidence, not for rational people to refute it. The default is disbelief until proven otherwise.