Is refusing to believe in something the same as disbelieving it?
2007-06-20 11:02:05 · 14 answers · asked by keri gee 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
lol! no need to be defensive! I'm not trying to make a point, it's a genuine question and I'm interested to see who makes that distinction.
2007-06-20 11:09:43 · update #1
Just in general-refusing to believe in something isn't the same as disbelieving it. If you refuse to believe in it you can sometimes know it is true but not believe in it anyway and disbelieving it is just not believing, without knowing its possibly true. Or something like that/ I think I screwed up a bit. This is n't about religion, my answer, that is.
oh and for your first question, no.
2007-06-20 11:09:54 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If I refused to believe something, it is denial of overwhelming evidence. Fundies refuse to believe the Earth is more than 6,000 years old.
I don't refuse to believe in God, the evidence is not strong enough to compel me to believe. I lack belief in God.
When I state emphatically 'there is no God', I mean it in the same sense that there is no Santa Claus, no Invisible Pink Unicorn, no Leprechauns, etc... I have yet to see compelling evidence of existence in higher being.
2007-06-20 18:10:42 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Technically, yes.
Saying that you refuse to believe in a god leaves the door open a crack. If some actual proof showed up, you might believe.
Stating that there is no god pretty much means that you also know very well that no proof will be forthcoming.
2007-06-20 18:10:25 · answer #3 · answered by Sun: supporting gay rights 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's exactly the same as one's personal refusal to believe in moon maidens.
Is refusing to believe in moon maidens the same as disbelieving moon maidens?
2007-06-20 18:14:40 · answer #4 · answered by CHEESUS GROYST 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think they are basically the same. I refuse to believe in something that does not exist.
2007-06-20 18:19:19 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Refusing to believe in god is not the same thing as stating that their is no god/gods.
By refusing to believe, you are simply stating that you have not received enough proof for you to believe.
2007-06-20 18:06:33 · answer #6 · answered by Sapere Aude 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I would say it is. You can tell me an 18 wheeler is coming at me and I can say, "No it's not" and by saying that, I disbelieve that one is coming and I refuse to believe one is coming... until it hits me of course. And by then, it'll be too late. Same with God. Saying He doesn't exist is the same as disbelieving... and by the time you realize He does exist... it may be too late.
2007-06-20 18:05:50 · answer #7 · answered by lifeinreturn 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
It's not a refusal to believe. There just happens to be no logical reason to believe.
2007-06-20 18:08:54 · answer #8 · answered by Shawn B 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Not believing is very different than emphatically knowing there is NOT something!
2007-06-20 18:11:31 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes? Your point being?
2007-06-20 18:06:52 · answer #10 · answered by Citizen Justin 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋