Why can't atheists just believe?

Question

You cannot deny that there is still a probability that God exists! Why can't you just believe, and be on the safe side? What's it gonna hurt?

Answer 1

why do you have to push religion on us? why can't you just let us be? whats it gonna hurt?

Answer 2

Why not believe in Zeus? what if he's the right god?


Pascal's wager:

"If god exists, it's infinitely better to believe, since you get heaven instead of hell for eternity. If he doesn't, it doesn't matter since you're dead anyway. So overall it's better to believe"

This is, of course, false.

Some of the problems with the argument:

* The implied assumption that god may exist (with a 50% probability, no less!)

* The assumption that there is an afterlife with a heaven and hell

* The assumption that the god cares about belief in him/her above all else

* The assumption that if you believe in a god, it will definitely be the same god that actually exists.

* The assumption that you lose nothing if it's false. You have lost a great deal, from time praying to a nonexistent entity (some people pray several hours a day!!!) to morality (your god may ask you to hurt other people) and much more besides.

* The assumption that people can believe in something simply because it benefits them. Would you believe goblins exist for twenty bucks? Why not?

* The assumption that any god won't see through the "believing just to get into heaven" ploy.

For more:
http://www.abarnett.demon.co.uk/atheism/wager.html
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/pascal-wager/
http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/theism/wager.html

Answer 3

Safe side? Safe side of what. We're talking about beliefs that change the way you live your life. This is not some small matter. Saying, oh well since theres a small probability that god exists, i better devote my life to him and completely change my lifestyle and way of thinking. To be an atheist, is a very good example of independent thinking, non conformity, and the highest possible respect for all life. I think in order for a true atheist to believe in a god, it would have to be god that isn't yet understood in anyway. Each atheist if converted to believe (very unlikely), would probably each have their own individual concept of god that is far different than any major religious groups' idea of god. For example if i were to believe in god, my god would not be a god that banishes people to hell, nor will he be a god that mingles in human affairs at all. My god would not be jealous of me having other gods before him, or even not believing in him. So you see, in my point of view, since i definitely will never believe in the superstitious christian idea of god, not believing has the same consequences as believing.

Answer 4

They are happy the way they are.

Maybe they had religion when they were kids (follow their parents), but as they grow older they hate the church, too much order especially on Sundays , too many expectations with no reward, all the rewards back to the Church and they were told the reward is kept for the dayafter. Kids hate it. They like to have fun on Sundays. They like to go to the beach with their friends or going to movie, or stay at home play games. There was too much forced . That is why they rebel ; "Halfly grown Kids" hate being controlled.
That is how they start being atheist.

It is ok until they are max 12 I suppose; But after that they start rebelling. These days the ones who still diligently go to church are Chinese,Vietnamese because they are new to Cristianity, they used to be pagan or Confusiusm. The bulliest call them sputt, so "racialism" come to act, kids doesn't want to mix with the sputts ; Then they start move out from church. Parents can't stop it; many of them sort of agreeing with the kids for not mixing with the sputts.

Other reason : Usually the one who are regarded being religious have boring character , telling / pushing hard their class mates whats good or bad .
Thinks they are so close to heaven, thinking that they are so pure and spotless .
Clasmates p*****d off , but as time goes bye, he himself start getting bored, so slowly remove their present from church , feeling guilty ...but find excuses as well - they get nothing worth from church - be atheist. Then sometimes learn meditation , ....but still atheist.

The concept of dayafter is no more attractive and scaring people this days ; except for the muslims and the Confusiusm.

To the Atheist, Jesus being God is something odd; I ve spoken with lots of them , some of my relatives are atheists. You think it's not gonna hurt? It does tho, they say it makes them feel stupid; nobody like feeling stupid within.

That is why also, some Christians converting the Trinity believe to one God only; you can hope this group still believe in God, but they maybe convert to muslim, as Islam so far is the only Religion which never change their believe in One God Only.

Answer 5

bwahahahaha

you can't deny there isn't a probably that god doesn't exist

and "believing" something just to be on the safe side isn't believing anyway.

and what it's going to hurt is my intelligence and my ability to think rationally. yes, i can deny there's a probability that god exists. it's irrational and illogical. rational and logical science tells me there is no god, so i'm gonna go with that.

Answer 6

Because I've read the Bible, that's why. I was raised Catholic and being a female I refuse to worship a God who considers me subordinate to a male. In a twisted way, I kind of wish he was real so when it is my time to die I can tell him what a sexist, deceitful, lying, jealous, childish, stupid (for lack of a better word) God he really is. Believe whatever you want to, I don't care, why should you? Will your God punish you if I don't believe in him? You are part of the reason why Christians always think they're being "bashed" by Atheists...we just don't want to be told what to think...that's it.

Answer 7

True, I cannot deny the possibility that Zeus is the king of the gods. Tell me, what probability do you place on Zeus being the big guy? Do you pray to him, just to be on the safe side?

Answer 8

'Cos we don't HAVE to believe in order to have a fine and exciting life. Any God that INSISTS you believe in Him/Her otherwise he/she will burn you in hell for eternity, can't be a very nice God to believe in.

If YOUR God is truly a "God of Love", he won't hold it against me for making a simple mistake by not believing in him, and I will get to go to YOUR Heaven as well.

In the meantime I am having fun, living my life to the fullest, being the best that I can, without needing to attend church, waste half of my life on bended knee, or continually turn to an ancient work of fiction for reassurance.

But, to each his own.

And yeah, there is a slight POSSIBILITY of a God (note that I have deleted the term PROBABILITY). But I will go for the 99.9% probability that there is NO GOD I prefer the weight of evidence on my side.

Answer 9

There is not a 'probability' that a god exists, there is a zero possibility that a god exists. I can't believe in something that cannot exist - that would be ridiculous.

Answer 10

SO? EVEN IF WE DID ACCEPT THE SLIGHTEST POSSIBILITY THERE IS, HOW CAN YOU EVER CONFIRM THE ONLY TRUTH IS A GUY WHO DIED TO KEEP US FROM BURNING FOR EVER(BUT ONLY FROM OUR DEATH ON) AND THAT WE MUST ACCEPT THIS FREE GIFT BECAUSE HE WAS THE ONLY SON OF GOD.....?

Do you even realise how retarded that sounds?

I mean, perhaps the story can fascinate and bring comfort to some people and thats all good. But to claim it as ultimate truth?
WAKE UP!

Answer 11

Be on the safe side.....??



so your saying that someone should believe in god even though they dont believe in him?



so basically, live a lie?

no i couldnt do that