Is the burden of proof on religious people?

Question

Telling somebody to DISPROVE a Supreme Being is a bogus argument because honest people aren't trying to make such cosmic claims one way or the other. They just point to day-to-day reality. If you want to make outrageous, fantastic claims that run counter to that reality, then it's up to you to gather up the evidence. You are not the status quo, and getting fuzzy feelings listening to a choir doesn't cut it.

Answer 1

Only if they care what you think

Answer 2

Increasingly.

Go back not all that far and the religious hypothesis was really pretty much the consensus, so to dispute it would have taken both clear reason and courage. But then the dividing question was on the *nature* of the divine, and that was argued with armies as much as with philosophical discussion. We *may* have got a little further than that, but we'll need another century or two to be sure.

There are other explanations for the world and for religion, now, that do not involve a supreme being.

If the religious want to make their case, they must do so in the marketplace with all the other world views.
Something isn't "intuitively obvious" just because it is claimed to be.
(Actually, I have some trouble with the American founders' "self-evident", but I may be in the minority there.)

Answer 3

Yes, it is. The burden of proof is always on the person making the claim, no matter what it is.

Let's say there's a box on the table. Nobody knows what's in it, if anything at all. If I say that there's an old sock in there, I have to prove the truth of that statement. I can't start by telling people to disprove my theory.

That's how it's done in the scientific community. Physics is a nice, neutral field. If I'm proposing an alternative theory of gravity, I have to present my evidence and prove that I'm right. I can't barge in and tell everyone to prove me wrong.

Answer 4

sigh... How ignorant you seem of the laws of physics. God is usually defined as: All-knowing, All-loving, All-powerful (without using words that might confuse you). Also, a God has the ability to create. This being the case, NO-ONE can disprove or prove that a God CAN/CANNOT EXIST! Because... First law of thermodynamics says that energy cannot be created nor destroyed, thus, by the very definition of a God, he is violating the laws of physics, therefore on must assume that the God is above the laws of physics, thus enabling him is special "powers". This also means that God can never be "proven" by human standards since the human's define proof as evidence that can be tested, and since God is outside of the physical universe, he cannot be tested or even "collected" as evidence. Jeesh, if you want proof, there is one thing you need to look at, Creation. the Fact that everything exist denies the laws of physics, since nothing couldve been created nor destroyed. Have a good life trying to disprove the impossible, may God reveal himself to you, Amen.

Answer 5

You're assuming that your view of all this being a result of some big explosion and a highly improbable series of fortunate mistakes is more rational than a supreme being intentionally making everything that is. To me, this explanation is not only ludicrous, but equally unprovable, based upon supposition after supposition, and has no basis in either reality or fact. In my day-to-day experience I see the working Hand of God at every turn, and find it truly sad that you do not. We have a fact: God created all that is. YOU are the ones refuting the truth, so the burdon of proof is on you. Fortunately, God is very patient and loving, and always ready to hear your next, more ridiculous explanation of how things came about without Him.

Answer 6

Religious people and people of faith are not the same thing.

Christians are told that they are to plant the seed and let the rain come and make that seed grow. The farmer can't make a seed grow, he can only plant and till the seed.

We run into problems when we start trying to push that seed into germination. That has never worked. Bible Thumpers, Jesus Freaks, Jesus Pushers seem to be trying to push that seed into germination.

Jesus never did that sort of thing. Why do we Christians seem to fall into that?

I don't expect someone to disprove a supreme being or to prove it. My task is to just tell what I have been given.

Kev

Answer 7

The only proof of God is a book called a bible. I am sorry any rational person would want more than a book to show the existance of a God that is above all else. God created you, the planet you live, and everything else in between. Given this belief man has no rights above God. Should you want to have more proof for a claim like this?

The bible has many different versions and writers. What is amazing to me Christian are willing to give up their life to the idea of a God. God has no voice of his own yet Christians are willing to accept the bible as the word of God. This is pure lunacy that can only be seen if you are not so indoctrinated in Christian beliefs.

Christian have child like relationship with their God. Their God can do anything from Move Mountains to creating life out of thin air yet this same God has chosen to only communicate with his precious creation through a book. Kind of how you feel about your parents until you learn they are just human. I mean this from the utmost respect but only a person that lacks the power of reasoning can't see man's hands in the creation of the bible and stories.

Christian’s beliefs are patterned after the relationship between parent and child but in real life the child grows up and become an adult. Because a child is indoctrinated into the belief of Christianity he to succumbs to the belief of an all power deity and the irrational relationship with a being he cannot touch, see, hear, or have a two-way conversation.

The whole relationship between God and his followers are built upon dysfunction and abuse. Fear is the main catalyst for keeping Christians in line that is why religion can only survive through lack of education and indoctrination.

I forgive Christian for they know not what they do however there is enough information in this world for Christian to walk away from their insane relationship with a God. What Christian can't see is there belief in God and their shear number will give rise to an Anti-Christ that will use them for his own person agenda. Kill Christianity and you kill the Anti-Christ's power. There is no God and there is no Satan but only in the minds of millions of Christian because they were taught to believe this from childhood.

Answer 8

"Because the bible says so" is proof enough. If you're a believer of course.
I think that there are many religious believers who want me to believe the same nonsense as they believe and even suppress atheists (eg. trying to get Intelligent Design crap in the classroom, in the US I'd get no government or political job when it's known I'm an atheist). Religion should come up with the evidence first. As long as that's not the case, please keep your megalomaniac, ambiguous and unjust god as far away from me as possible.

Answer 9

Absolutely.

The person making the positive assertion bears the burden.

If I claim there is an invisible pink one eyed elephant sitting next to you. I claim I can see it. I even have a book written about it.
How could you possibly prove it doesn't exist?

.

Answer 10

What makes more sense: being magically created by some higher power that can not be proven, or slowly evolving over millions of years through small changes?

Answer 11

The burden of proof is on the fool.
Religion, including humanism, has no absolute proof, because we were not there when it started.

Faith is the only absolute determining factor for all humans in choosing the circumstances behind the dawn of man.

We have all chosen by faith.