An honest question to atheists.?

Question

What kind of evidence would be necessary to believe in a deity? Would you need to see Him or could it be something more personal in your life? Is your mind so made up that even if there was evidence you wouldn't accept it? I personally just became Christian after being atheist for all of middle school, high school and early college. I first began to believe again based on the feeling of hope I got after praying for the first time since being a kid. This helped me get through my persistent panic attacks and to stop smoking pot everyday. That was just personal though and the only "evidence" that has really been able to convince me to be Christian specifically was Jesus' fullfillment of the Old Testament Messianic Prophesies.
Sorry for rambling but I'd appreciate some honest non-sarcastic answers from atheists on what if anything would have to happen to sway them.

Answer 1

Fair enough, David. Here's an honest answer.

My son has autism. He is "high functioning." He is also one of the kindest, most loving and forgiving people I know.

If God can cure death, autism is a walk in the park. I am simply unable to understand how ANY being could have the power to heal my son, yet choose not to do so.

The concept of a "loving God" who could willfully refrain from healing him makes no sense to me. I can either believe in a God who would be that cruel and/or uncaring, or I can believe there's no one up there. I'd rather believe in the latter.

What kind of evidence would I need? My son's waiting, and there's no time like the present. He deserves the same opportunities for happiness as any kid, and he won't get them.

Incidentally, and in the interest of full disclosure: My son does believe, and I will not attempt to dissuade him. He has the same rights as anyone else to make this most personal of decisions.

Answer 2

There are two reasons why some Atheists don't believe and won't believe in God and the Bible. One, Atheists are very scientific in their thought process. There is no evidence outside of the Bible itself to support it, and the things that happen in it just don't seem plausible to an Atheist. A guy parting the sea with the wave of a hand? Carrying on a conversation with a burning bush? These are things that are today known as not being scientifically possible, and therefore not believable by Atheists. Second, some Atheists see how some Christians choose to promote their religion and are turned off. Some (and read: some, not all) promote it in a way that is arrogant, judgemental, and condescending to those that don't believe in it. I've said in other answers, Christians should promote their religion as being positive and tell others how faith has enriched their lives instead of running around telling everyone that Christianity is the right religion and regardless of how a person lives their life they are going to hell if they don't believe in it. Again, that attitude can be a turnoff to nonbelievers. The best thing that Christians can do to possibly convert others is to change their overall attitude towards promoting their religion. No more harsh judging and arrogance. Also, there are times and places in which is is appropriate to promote it. If a person expresses interest in it, discusses their religious views, or is having problems in their life that could be made better with faith in God then bring it up. Don't just do it out of the blue however, on someone's front porch on a sunday morning, and definitely not in a pushy or overbearing manner.

Answer 3

I don’t really believe you were an atheist which might sound narrow-minded. But I would like to know why you were atheist. I'm atheist because we know that we evolved and that the universe is self maintained. I don't really see any proof of there being a god. And I believe if there really is one he will accept that I tried my best at finding the truth. And like the great minds before me I went on actual evidence and not just the faith I went on when I was younger. Of course you can through out the torah since everyone knows it's garbage and go by the new testament. But I still don't believe Jesus was god but more a supposed messenger like the other messiahs at his time. I’ve tried praying to god many times and it just doesn’t work I never hear anything. And I don’t think you have ever heard a definite answer. But only had an idea pop in your head that agrees with you and since your looking for god it must be him and not your brain that’s talking. Sorry for being so condescending but hey I’m an atheist I think you're delusional so I gotta express my view somehow.

Answer 4

"I first began to believe again based on the feeling of hope I got after praying for the first time since being a kid"

So, how is this proof of God?

And, um, were you raised in a christian home by any chance? You mention atheist in later life and then turning to christianity but I wonder about your earlier upbringing? I think you must have been raised christian because praying would never ever enter my thoughts no matter how bad things were. I'm just saying I often see people fall back on their childhood 'programming' in times of need and troubles.

Anyway, it would be nice if the guy came down from heaven and showed himself to and talked with all humanity simultaneously. Better if he took a hand of dirt and created a human before our very eyes.

Answer 5

i would need to see this god. i would believe if the ppl of the church were christ like. I stopped going to church because people thought that they were holier than thou yet they broke the laws of the bible all the time.I am definetly open to ppl saying why they think god exists, but all of it is based on faith and hope and not real evidence. just because you pray for something doesn't mean that something else had it's hand in it. good and bad things happen to us regardless of how we would like it to be, it is life. I used to be a christian and have prayed for many things that just didn't get better that i child shouldn't have to go thru. even the adults around couldn't see what was going on which shows me they didn't have common sense. i know that man wrote the bible so that doesn't help in me believing in god again. if the leaders of the church lived what they preached then maybe i would still believe in god. i have been open to other religions before becoming an atheist and have seen it all pretty much be the same. I can't fit in with groups of people and I won't try to either.

Answer 6

Dear heart, do you understand at all how the bible was written? Of course Jesus fulfilled Messianic Prophecies. People wrote the stories about Jesus many many years after those prophecies were recorded. The accounts of Jesus' life are all fictional. So how hard is it to write fictional stories that incorporate those details.

Please educate yourself about the history of the bible. I would suggest "The Jesus Mysteries," "The Jesus Puzzle," and "Misquoting Jesus" as good places to start.

As far as what evidence would be compelling to an atheist, how about a contemporary documented miracle that could not be explained in any other way? Miracles recorded in the bible are, again, mythical and/or fictional accounts written by bronze age people.

Think about this: do you believe the miracles recorded in the Koran? Do you believe Joseph Smith received the golden plates from the angel Moroni? I'm willing to bet you think those are just silly stories. Do you see how the same logic applies to bible stories?

You can take control of your own life without imaginary friends to see you through. YOU are the one who is doing it now.

Answer 7

First, you'd have to define what we're talking about in the first place. What is this "god" thing? And no, I'm not looking for secondary or relational attributes. Don't bother telling me that God is generous, wise, kind, merciful, etc... those don't tell me what God IS. What IS God so that he's capable of possessing these traits? Also, don't tell me how God supposedly relates to other things, such as telling me he's the "creator" (relating him to existence, labeling him the creator and everything else the created). That doesn't tell me what God IS, only what he's allegedly capable of doing. But WHAT is he so that he is capable of creation? I'm also not looking for negative definitions. Don't tell me is "without end", "without limits", "without time constraints", "without boundaries", etc. This doesn't get me any closer to understanding what God IS.

Second, you'd have to show me how a logically impossible concept like a deity COULD exist. See, if the concept in question couldn't possibly exist, then I shouldn't concern myself with the question of "does it exist?" because there's no way it could. So far as I understand the concept, it is logically impossible. You would have to demonstrate a concept to me that is internally consistent and logically possible, and THEN we could start consideration. Until then, there's no point in wondering.

Third, you'd have to convince me that we aren't discussing one of the other thousands of "gods" out there. Describe Yahweh and you could be talking about AT LEAST a dozen other deities. Talk about Jesus and I could describe to you at least 4 other nearly identical "messiah men" from history and mythology. Why should I lend credence more to one than another? Why should I think that you're proving YOUR god?

Fourth, this god you describe along with it's nature, it's primary attributes, it's secondary and relational attributes, etc etc, does it make sense for this god to exist considering history, current events, the state of the world, the reality of existence, etc etc etc.

Answer 8

I was an Atheist for a while. I now believe in a universal God, but not the God of the Bible. I seriously doubt many Atheists will turn to the God of the Bible, because it is one of the Gods that makes the least sense from an outside logical perspective, especially once you get into Creationism which goes against our best most tested science.

Answer 9

What would it take? That's a tough one!
I think I'd need to be cast into Hell for about a few seconds along with the rest of the world, then be warped into God's domain and witness him/her first hand.
After that I'll look around if any bongs are lying next to me, or any syringes.

Answer 10

How do you know if it was the Christian god that helped you? Have you tried praying to other gods. Have you talked to anyone of any other faith that also prays to their own god? Interesting enough I have talked to many different faithed people and all say they get help from praying. I also found it funny that people who meditate also receiver similar clarity/ relief from their stresses and addictions. Not to dull your experience, but it could just be you mind or someone elses god doing all of this.