Just a question to some other atheists?

Question

If evidence arose that supported the existance of god, enough to make the probability of him existing equal to him not existing, would you convert so as to give yourself the comforting thaught of life after death?

And in answer to Davidus' argument down the bottom, the fact that god can't be proven does NOT mean that the likelyness of him existing is 50/50. It is much more probable that he dosn't exsist

I also accept that this is a rediculus argument and that god can never be proven and dosn't (to the best of my knowledge) exist

Answer 1

I'm afraid there is sufficient evidence to support the non-existance of God.

I will admit that the thought of death is enough to churn the stomach of any academic, given that our perception of existance before our birth will be the same as our perception of existance after our death (i.e. we have no perception of it). The thought of us ceasing to exist is impossible to comprehend because, in order to imagine our non-existance, we have to exist as a reference point.

The philosophy behind death is very interesting and developed. Unfortunately, the thought that there is 'life after death' would not comfort me because it isn't real.

No, the only comfort to me is that when I die I will not be unique. I will be ceasing to exist in exactly the same way billions of other people have, and billions of other people will. Once you realise how insignificant you really are, it brings some comfort to the removal of your conciousness. After all, if you see yourself as the centre of the universe, a universe without you in it can be the most unimaginable thing. If you picture yourself as an insignificant biproduct of probability, then the end of your conciouesness should cause no concern.

But, of coarse, it will cause concern because it is impossible for anyone to remove themselves from the centre of their universe. Everyone views the universe in the first person. That is a biproduct of our evolution and is our greatest strength - pushing us to strive for survival above everything else.

So, our greatest strength is also our greatest weakness. The fact that, when we die our conciousness no-longer exists is what has driven us as a species to spread and breed. On the other hand, it is the same phenomenon that will subdue every single person alive.

One day, you will die. Any what is worse, you won't know about it (because you won't be alive).

Answer 2

Well, a 50:50 chance isn't really very convincing. If there was evidence for God existing, in the way there is evidence for air existing, would be enough to make me 100% sure. There is no 50:50.

And I think you make the common mistake of thinking that the thought of life after death bring comfort that atheists lack. We are not afraid of death. We know what death means and are prepared for it. The thought of life after death adds nothing of value to that at all.

Answer 3

No. If nothing else I would be even more aggressive considering that I regard God as a curse on humanity. All these laws handed down, the judgment, and the persecution and pain just to satisfy a sociopath being. I would only affirm that I hate god.

Answer 4

Religions and I do mean all of them are creations of man to control man. This simple fact is all anyone needs to put god and any other name you use for it in its place.

People need something to believe in to be able to place the blame so they do not have to accept the blame.

No there is no god. never has been and never will be. He is in peoples heads only.

Some say a loving god yet this god of theirs destroyed all mankind except a very few according to their beliefs. Is this a loving god. He suposedly dround thousands in the red sea. Is this a loving god. A city blown to pieces instantly and all killed by your god. This is a loving god?

Get real and face the facts and learn to like yourselves and you will not need this dream.

Answer 5

Your question is flawed entirely. you said what if evidence arose ' making the probability of him existing equal to him not existing'

This is wrong intially. why?

Because at the moment, from an entirely empircal perspective, God canot be proved to exist, or disporved to exist - either way.

Therefore the balance of this choice is already entirely equal. Now it becomes a matter of logic choice and faith. Mathematically it is always better to hedge your bets with God's existence, than without

Answer 6

Absolutely, but some atheists would argue that there's an inherent problem with the definition of God. They'd argue true omnipotence is impossible, since in order to be omnipotent, one would have to be capable of doing things in direct contradiction to each other. (For instance, the infamous "Can God create a rock so heavy He can't lift it?")

I accept the possibility that a God or God-like being does exist. However, semantically speaking, He couldn't be truly omnipotent. (Although, to be fair - if somebody is capable of hurling lightning bolts at you from far away, you're probably not going to be arguing with him over whether he's omnipotent or not.)

Answer 7

You are mixing several things up. If evidence arises for anything, an analytic mind of course will be prepared to accept new information. But convert? Convert to what? To one of the existing religions which are explicitly NOT based on evidence, but on faith? And only in order to give myself comforting thought? Comforting thoughts are a facet of wishful thinking, not of analytical thinking. Therefore they also belong in the domain of faith and not of evidence.
So, please, one speculation per question and not more. And if you ask a question that relates to logic, do not mix it with spirituality.

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Edit: Mawkish, your answer is excellent. I'd give it a star if I could.

Answer 8

Which God?

You might as well ask me what I'd do if they found a colony of huge, fire-breathing dragons in some woods in the middle of a park in some major city.

Its ridiculous. Its never going to happen. Believers are ignorant. I know from experience.

Answer 9

Probably not. I don't really know. I don't think theres a God. Honestly, I don't so much consider it a choice, but rather a lack of faith. I didn't choose to not have faith. I used to go to church, but I just never felt that way.

Answer 10

Probably not, it's along the lines of "O I don't know he exists but I will believe in him just to be safe". That to me isn't considered true faith. Some people probably actually do that now. Tsk tsk.