Why would a person not believe in a Universal Greater Power--God?

Question

Because a person does not see God is that reason to not believe. What would it take for a non-believer to believe in a God who gave life?
I am not saying you should or "preaching" to you, I'm just asking why you cannot believe.

Chefed: I can't see the reasoning there. Does not gravity exist, we cannot see it, touch it, smell it, taste it, hear it?

t rex: No evidence? You mean because you cannot see a Greater Power-God!

Lucky John: Sky Critters! that's the best one yet though I wouldn't exactly call myself an earth critter. I think I am wonderfully made.

William: And then you came to accept that the Great Scientist is God.

Everyone: I do appreciate all you honest answers. Thankyou!

Linedancer: That's a good point for some who do choose not to accept God and I have met a few people who have declared that to me. But there are those who do not believe but are very upright citizens who try to keep the law, morally and otherwise. It also goes the otherway. But then who is perfect?

Thank you Cheir, for answering the above, Tom P.

Answer 1

I'll tell you why I didn't believe in God. Others have different reasons, I'm sure.

I had a really rough childhood in a very verbally abusive family. I did hear Jesus's name and title mentioned quite frequently, but not in a pleasant or praising way. I hear lots of other mean and hateful language too.

I wanted there to be a God, but I was so miserable I figured it was just another lie like Santa, Tooth Fairy, etc. I knew absolutely nothing about any religion. I never went to any church until there was an Uncle's funeral when I was 12. I was so ignorant of Christian concepts that when we sang Christmas carols in school (they did that years ago) I had no idea who Satan was when we sang, "And saved us all from Satan's power when we were gone astray..."

I learned about science and technology and it made sense of the universe. And, of course, you learn about tribes in far off places believing in the evil spirits and the spirits of the forest, and at the time people kind of ridiculed those beliefs, so I figured this Christian thing was the same way, just superstitions.

Then also, I had a bunch or relatives who called themselves Christian, I suppose they were, but liked to drink and fight and use every vile word you could imagine. So they were not very good role models. They seemed like hypocrits to me.
Whereas scientists were nicely behaved, intelligent, polite, clever, get the picture?

So I grew up not knowing God at all and knowing science really well and by the time I was in late high school and into college I was an atheist. Clearly science was the only valid way to interpret the entire universe. Nothing you would have been able to say to me would have convinced me that I was wrong and you were right. Nothing. That's why I don't bother atheists. I know where they are coming from and I know I will never convince any one of them that there is a God.

I won't go into what changed me into a Christian, because I've already taken too much space.

Answer 2

I'm an atheist. I talked to a pastor because I actually felt guilty for not believing. I'd attended church for thirty years and still didn't believe. The pastor told me, and it made sense, I am trying to reach God with my intellect and He can only be reached with your heart. I don't believe because my mind can't accept the fact there is a God. If he exists, why would he create evil? He created Lucifer as an archangel fully knowing what he'd become; so, in essence, he created evil. Who would do that? He also put The Tree right in the middle of the garden. Adam and Eve were as children, that would be like putting a fire in front of a baby who has no concept of burns, and then telling them not to touch it. Inevitably, the baby will wait until your back is turned and touch the flame. It's the way we as humans learn. Good question.

Answer 3

Caroline,
You've got it backwards. Your q. should be "why would a person believe in your UGP - God?

We have names for people who hold strange beliefs with no rational justification.

We also regard it as a mental illness when people believe they are getting messages from rain drops on the window, while you think your god can hear your thoughts.

The point is that, while you are probably not mad, the core beliefs of your religion most certainly are.

Answer 4

Imagine that you're 4 years old
And it is Christmas time
The stars are bright, the air is cold
The night is filled with rhyme

You listen with your straining ear
To hear the soud of hooves
The prancing hooves of Santa's deer
Upon the nearby rooves

On Christmas morning you arise
And hurry down the stair
And there before your wondering eyes
Are presents everywhere

But that, my dear, was long ago
You've now become more wise
You've come to see the snow as snow
No reindeer in the skies.

And yet that faith in Santa Claus
Was deep and real to you
You never doubted it because
You thought it must be true

An atheist is someone who
Does not believe in God
Just as you don't believe Santa.
Does that strike you as odd?

Answer 5

People are prevented from believing in God by the god of this world - Satan. [2 Corinthians 4:4 ... in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God].

Answer 6

I don't believe that a god described in the Bible could exist. He is mean, cruel, angry, jealous, and murderous. He demanded human sacrifice. He rather let his only son die for the sin of humans than to forgive the original sin of Adam and Eve.

Answer 7

Because many people need absolute proof before they accept something as truth.......I don't believe in religious ideas of God because if Universal Power exists I know that it can not exist in the way the religious folk believe God to exist......Its ok to have beliefs, but your beliefs should grow and evolve as your knowledge and experience increases.

Answer 8

Why would a person believe in God? Just because a person sees God that is no reason to believe? What would it take for a believer to realize what a sham the entire idea is?

Answer 9

Perhaps those who reject the idea of a God are looking in the wrong places. The world is not only stranger than we imagine, it is stranger than we can imagine.

Answer 10

I didn't make a decision to become an Atheist - I reached a conclusion based on lack of evidence.
I'm sorta big on the evidence thingy.
Evidence helps me reach all sortsa decisions.

I just don't seem to be able to MAKE myself believe in Invisible Sky Critters who don't exist - call me weird if you want but that's just the way I am.
And just cos half the earth's population believe in Imaginary Beings is no reason to believe in them.