Yes, it's yet another "Christians, why..." Question!?

Question

Ok, just to be clear, I'm an atheist (as I'm sure anyone who has ready any of my posts is aware). Unlike some atheists, I have no problem with other people having faith in God, whatever form He may take for them. But I just have to ask:

Why do you believe?

It's a fact that there is no evidence in the existence of God. Most of the things "believers" will tout as evidence of God is simply evidence of SOMETHING. As far as I can tell over the years, God is just a convenient answer to questions we can't answer. I stand up to these questions and say "I don't know." I'm asking the truly faithful, the "saved" is you prefer that term, WHY they believe. Not an insult, not a disparagement, I am honestly trying to understand. So dig deep into your faith and think past your childhood indoctrinations and tell me.

I'm jealous.

Ok, to respond:
Nerd, your story is a good one and I believe it, and I suppose I can see how it might lead you to faith. But I was under the impression that you can't bargain with God? "If you save me I'll do this..." That's probably open to interpretation.

Missie, you either believe or you don't. If the Christians are right and the End Times come, believing "just in case" isn't going to do you a bit of good.

tracy211, davidm, you guys sound believe because you believe. Not helpful.

Travis J, mareecla, yes a good old fashioned miracle might just turn me around. :)

Skittles, yes it would. I told you I was jealous.

supertop, you still haven't shown me any more than the existence of SOMETHING. Why God?

ddead, I actually do NOT believe I have all the answers. You did read that "I don't know" line above? "Atheist" mentions only ONE thing that I DO NOT believe in. How in the world does that say I have all the answers?

And as for being unwilling to review (note, review, not accept as fact) other people's point of view, I thought that was what this question was about.

tracy211, thanks but I have read the Bible in two versions cover to cover, twice each.

upsman: Very well said. It would appear, however, that our definitions of "atheist" differ. You assume in your answer that since I do not believe in God I must somehow believe the pond-scum-into-intelligent-life theory. Perhaps it's our definitions of God that differ. Having read your answer for the 3rd time I will concede (not for the first time) evidence of intelligent design. I can't buy into the cause having to have every aspect of the effect, so I can't see the link to personality, emotion or morals, but intelligence I can concede. Maybe I'm focusing on the Christian God too much. I am completely hung up on the concept of anything with that kind of power caring in the least about anything as insiginificant as us. Intelligent design, perhaps. A loving, caring forgiving God? Heaven & Hell? The Bible and Jesus and forgiveness? Doesn't that seem just a little too neat for the scope of what we're dealing with here?

Answer 1

It's really refreshing to meet an atheist who has his beliefs and is willing to let others have theirs while, at the same time, being open to a civil dialog about why they believe what they believe. As a christian, most of the atheists I've met would like to see me dead and they tell me so in no uncertain terms.
It seems to me that the intelligent design answer to the evolution question is irrefutable. It simply says that design in the universe is undeniable. The law of cause and effect says that wherever you find design you must have a designer somewhere. Since the cause must have everything the effect does and the effect(the universe) has intelligence, the cause(the designer) must also have intelligence. So you need an intelligent designer of this universe. But who could design a universe outside of a God. You call Him whatever you want to call Him. I call Him a God. That refutes evolution since evolution says that everything came about by random chance. The I.D. argument, it seems to me, is irrefutable. It's a simple logical argument:
Premise #1: Wherever you find design, you need a designer.
Premise #2: The universe exhibits design
Conclusion: The universe needs a designer.
The only way around that argument is to deny the second premise. Every atheist has to deny design. As I've said before, If you read Richard Dawkins two latest books('the blind watchmaker' and 'the god delusion') that's exactly what he does. He denies design. He says that there's no design in the universe, just the "appearance of design". But that's insane. You just can't logically and realistically deny that there's design all through the universe. It's all around you. You have to be blind not to see it. There are branches of science that basically just study the design in nature.........scientific disciplines such as nano-technology and bio-mimetrics. These disciplines study the design in nature.......whales,bats,dolphins... have sonar.......and try to create machines that mimic that design. There’s even a weekly program on the science channel that looks at the design in nature trying to find leads for technology. Everywhere you look there's design. Where there's design there's got to be a designer. That's just common sense. Creation is not an unproven theory. It's a common sense fact that we come to by just using a little logic and reason.
. You look at bats. They do not fly by sight. They can barely see in the day but they sleep in the day. They are nocturnal creatures. They do all their activities at night and at night they are blind. They fly by means of sonar. They send out sound waves through their nose as they are flying. If those sound waves bounce off something and come back at them, they pick them up and know that they are heading toward something and need to veer in a different direction. Somehow they know how fast they are flying and they know that sound travels at 723 MPH and as they fly they continue to send out sound waves so they continue to get updated information. Given enough info(and continued updated info) a mathematician could sit down with a pencil and paper and some calculus equations and figure out how far the bat was from the object and with the right info could even figure out if the object the bat is heading toward is stationary or moving toward the bat or away from it. But that would take time and if the bat took that much time he’d be flying into trees and telephone poles other things. We have developed computers that can do that in a second. That's what sonar is all about. The bat has a computer in his head that can figure that info out in a nanosecond. It knows what it is heading for without being able to physically see. It's flying by instruments(as pilots would say). Do you really think that the sonar equipment that is in the bats head just came about by random chance(read....luck) natural processes?
The universe obeys certain rules-----laws to which all things must adhere. These laws are precise and many of them are mathematical in nature. Natural laws are hierarchical in nature; secondary laws of nature are based upon primary laws of nature, which have to be just exactly right in order for our universe to be possible. There are constants(gravitational and cosmological and others) in our universe which must be exact within infinitesmal parameters in order for life to exist(that’s called the anthropic principle). But, where did these laws and constants come from and why do they exist? If the universe were merely the accidental by-product of a big bang, then why should it obey orderly principles----or any principles at all for that matter? Since when does order come out of an explosion? Chaos comes out of an explosion. The atheist cannot account for these laws of nature(even though he agrees that they must exist), for such laws are inconsistent with naturalism. Yet, they are perfectly consistent with the bible. We expect the universe to be organized in a logical, orderly fashion and to obey uniform laws because the universe has a creator God who is logical and has imposed order on His universe(Genesis 1:1).
In your brain there are 100 billion neurons. Each one of those neurons(remember, there's 100 billion of them) is connected to 1000 other neurons. That comes out to 100 trillion connections in your brain. These connections send electronic signals(and you can measure the electricity) from one place to another. If part of the brain is damaged and you lose some function that is controlled by that part of the brain, the brain can actually re-wire itself and let other neurons in the undamaged part of the brain take over so that you can get back that function. That's only the connections in the brain, not the rest of the body.
Our bodies also have tons of information in the DNA. You have enough information in your DNA to fill encyclopedia sized books stacked from here to the moon and back 500 times. Do you really think that came about by just random chance........kind of like a monkey typing out the works of Shakespear just by randomly plucking away at the keys? Information always comes from intelligence and never from dead chemicals.
The human body is the ultimate machine. People have developed all kinds of efficient machines like the automobile but compared to these the human body is infinitely superior. It adapts to stress, it thrives and survives. It can even heal itself within certain limits. Certain cells regenerate; wounds and fractures naturally heal and the immune system can often overcome infections. And if you use this machine, it developes: If not, it shrinks and loses it’s function. Whenever we use an auto it wears out a little and finally malfunctions. But physical exercise causes humans to perform better at work or sports. And I haven’t even begun to mention the bodies amazing feats of data processing, analysis, synthesis, reasoning, inventing and creating.
The human body is a carbon based, chemically fueled, force-liquid-and-air cooled, bipedal, communicative, photochromatic, binocular, cellularly self-replicating, self diagnostic, self repairing tissuewisae, multidextrous, continuosly adaptive, computer controlled, biodegradable exhaust system machine, capable of short and long term memory with conceptual retrieval and integration, and precise decision making and creativity, able to copy it’s own DNA in the cells and to proof read the copies----truly an ultimate machine.
We know that to plan and construct something vastly superior like an automobile, it takes an intelligent human designer. An unbiased observer would have great difficulty denying the rational conclusion that the Ultimate Designer made the Ultimate Machine, the human body. One has to have a particular blind faith to believe that unaided molecules, arranging themselves by themselves with no intelligence to guide this arrangement(read……luck) could have created the Ultimate Machine, namely, humans.
You said "Most of the things 'believers' will tout as evidence of God is simply evidence of SOMETHING. But wherever you find design you need a designer. That's common sense. So that SOMETHING is a designer. The law of cause and effect implies that whatever the effect has, the cause must also have. You simply cannot give what you ain't got. But the effect(the universe) has intelligence(DNA is information, which always comes from intelligence). Therefore, the cause or the SOMETHING is an intelligent designer. The effect also has personality, emotion and moral appreciation(because humans have those qualities and we are part of the effect[the universe]. Therefore, the cause or the SOMETHING must also have those things. Now let's see, the SOMETHING is a personal, moral, intelligent designer with emotions who designed the whole universe. Again, you can call this SOMETHING whatever you want. I call it a personal God. I happen to believe it's the God of the bible but that's another argument which is outside the realm of our discussion, so I'll not get into it now.
You said " It's a fact that there is no evidence in the existence of God". I just gave you a ton of evidence.
One last thing. Your whole premise implies that the burden of proof is on me to show you some evidence. I say the burden of proof is on you. If there is no God then everything I just told you came about by random chance. In that sense you're the one who is making the unbelievable assertion.
You're saying that the unbelieveable complexity of the human brain(not to mention the rest of the body) is nothing more than re-arranged pond scum. It’s pond scum from the original prebiotic soup re-arranged over billions of years into 100 trillion connections in the brain by luck…..just random chance.
You're saying that dumb mud could somehow bootstrap itself into intelligence over billions of years simply by random chance luck? You're saying that man is just a lump of slime that somehow evolved into rationality. Those are highly unlikely assertions. I would say the burden of proof is on you not me. It makes sense that design would require a designer. It does not make sense that pond scum could somehow evolve into rationality. You could be right but I would say that the burden of proof is on you, not me. With all due respect to your beliefs, you asked me "why do I believe" and that is why I believe.

Answer 2

The reasons can be as varied as the individuals because God reaches us all on an individual basis. The are often hard to explain because they can be very personal and sometimes very subjective.
My own reasons are based upon my searching. I've looked into many religions and even questioned the existence of God. Too many of the things I discovered in Christianity made sense so I became a Christian.
My experiences after that became much more subjective. I know the voice of God both as a small quiet voice and audibly. I sense the presence of God when I'm talking to Him. I've seen Him move in my life and the lives of others. Knowing all these things re-enforces my belief.

Answer 3

"It's a fact that there is no evidence in the existence of God. "

NO, that's just a claim. There are plenty of reasons to believe there is a Creator. Science cannot explain, and never will explain, how the first living cell originated; I was recently informed by someone who claims evolution is a proven fact that evolution does not deal with abiogenesis. The exsitence of an orderly universe and complex life form necessitates a Creator. You can choose to deny it or ignore it, but the evidence is still there.
You can prove to yourself that there is a God by believing in Jesus and praying to receive the Holy Spirit. Millions of people have experienced this "new birth" and have been cured of alcoholism, drug addiction, and physical diseases.
When someone wants to quit smoking, and tries everything he knows to quit but can't get rid of the habit, then he prays to God and asks God to take it away from him, and the desire for nicotene completely leaves him and he no longer smokes, I think that proves something is real.
The Holy Spirit is just as real as electricity.
I can't put God in a test tube or run any type of analytical test to prove that he is there because God is not subject to the laws of science, but I find it very logical to believe in a Creator.

Answer 4

You know... the most unstable ground to be standing on is by claiming your an atheist. You believe that you have all the answers and yet are unwilling to review other people's point of view. Agnostics at least for the most part are honest and willing to listen to all points of view before making a decision... but an atheist will not.

Nothing I can write will appease your objections. Atheists simply close their eyes and put their fingers in their ears.

All I can say is to be willing to be open-minded and have the courage to examine all the evidence before turning a deaf ear.

Answer 5

I also beleive miracles are the key evidence.
I had a little one when I was about 6 or 7. I had heaps of warts on my hands (some very big ones...mulitple, on top of each other etc).
Then they started to spread up my arms and then to my shoulder. We were all worried that they were going onto my face. So Mum said why didn't she, my sister and I pray. WE did and literally overnight they were all gone!!! Everyone was stunned (I mean I didn;t really expect anything to happen myself....but I was hopeful).
There are many others throughout a long period of time that are documented accounts of true miracles happening...things that cannot be explained by science/medical experts etc.

It gives me the faith and proof I need to belief

Answer 6

i agree with nerd.

im born to a religious catholic family and i went to catholic schools all my life. as i grow older, i read more books, meet more people and science got the best of me. there are moments in my life that i got sick with all these doctrine, rituals, beliefs that i think are unreal and just some sort of propaganda the churches create. eventually, i stop believing in God.

but then miracles happen... one fine day (i've not been to church for 3 years since) my brother met an accident. He was in the intensive care, critical. Mum and dad stood vigil by his side. Family, friends, the church prayed for him to get better. i only put my trust in the doctors. to my suprise, one of the doctor join my parents in daily prayers and told me that my brother need a miracle. that's the last thing i want to hear!
I never prayed, in fact i was angry at God (if there's any) for putting us in such trouble.

after a week, my brother stablise and survive the ordeal, it took him another 3 years to recover and mum never stop praying... she believe i God so strongly and i think she's a miracle herself. in fact there's many other miracles that happen in my own family that makes me really think that there is really God out there... & now i know everything that happen does come from God... even pain, even our wondering minds... its a test to our own faith.

I'm not saying that you're wrong (being an atheist) but i've been where you are and maybe you should just wait for that miracle to believe...

Good luck then..

Well,

Answer 7

Wouldn't you like to have a life of peace. Imagine, going through each day in your life without worring abot stuff like "what happens to me tomorrow?" and "What happens to me if i die today?"

I know that it's hard to actually belive in something that you can't see or have even heard before, but believe me, if you call Him, He'll answer you. He did it to me.

I'm sixteen years old and i went though a time where i wondered how i could know for sure that God was real.

You may not want to, but please follow my advice

Get a bible. If you don't have one, borrow sombody's.

Read the book of John. It's not that long. I read it all in about two hours.

Read that, and then you can decide what you want to do.

No one can make you believe in Christ, so i won't try to do that. Just try and listen to Him. He'll answer you. I know it.

Answer 8

Miracles!

Yes I was an atheist 28 years. I saw miracles.

I was arrested and a drug team was searching my home....I had lots of pot, that was all found. I prayed for the 1st time in 15 years while in jail awaiting bail. I figured If I am going to be wrong about Jesus, now is the best time to test it out. I had a half ounce of cocaine under the couch cushion. I prayed my heart out that it would not be found....If it was not, I would give my life to Him.


As I was held overnight, apparently the search went on into the evening. There was a dog there they said in court, and I knew I was screwed!!! They also reported small bits of cocaine was found in the kitchen on plastic bags, so this dog has a nose for coke. I prayed that if G-d could turn that dog's nose off in my basement that I would serve Him. I went home after being free on bail. My house was destroyed. Golf clubs broken in half, fireplace disassembled, kitchen wrecked.....etc

I went downstairs and only one thing was as I left it, the cushion on my couch. I have 2 couches there, one was torn apart, the other was left completely how it was. I reached under, and there it was. I got rid of it.

And have not used drugs since. And had NO problem. Seeing as how I was a sever addict and alcoholic, thats a miracle too.

As I came more and more towards G-d, I kept going back to court. One by one, my charges continued to get dropped. Eventually they were all dismissed. Even my lawyer didn’t really understand it. They had all kinds of drugs, plants, bits of coke…lots of evidence. Yet they continually dismissed charges. Now I am 100% free and have no record at all! Praise G-d!

Also, years ago the pastor and a few of us from church prayed over a lady who had not walked in 10 years. Her feet looked swollen 3x normal size, as well as her calves. They went down before our very eyes and she walked that night.

I'm pretty much sold!

Blessings,
David

Answer 9

You ask us to give up our preconceptions. Give up yours also. You ask the wrong question. Why I believe is not why she believes or another believes or why you would. The question for you is "Why should you believe". We can't exactly answer that, only you can. It is the only answer that will satisfy you. If you are looking for answers that is your question. If you are questioning our motives for belief, that is our business and only your concern if you want to answer your question. Evidence there is. Don't confuse evidence with proof. You cannot prove or disprove God's existence with science. Wrong tool for the job.

Oh yes. Just ignore the non Christian answers on this since they cannot answer for us.

Answer 10

Read Hebrews 11. The Bible is the Word of God.
Look all around you and you will see evidence of God.

Answer 11

When I was an agnostic, I tried to tap into mere "universal energies" without avail. When I was not expecting it, GOD HIMSELF spoke to me, and I at once began to see Healings occurring in the NAME of JESUS CHRIST alone. These included the healing of flesh wounds.