Are there really atheists? How are they Sure there is no God?

Question

To say categorically, "There is no God," is to make an absolute statement. For the statement to be true, I must know for certain that there is no God in the entire universe. No human being has all knowledge. Therefore, none of us is able to truthfully make this assertion.

If you insist upon disbelief in God, what you must say is, "Having the limited knowledge I have at present, I believe that there is no God." Owing to a lack of knowledge on your part, you don't know if God exists. So, in the strict sense of the word, you cannot be an atheist. The only true qualifier for the title is the One who has absolute knowledge, and why on earth would God want to deny His own existence?

The professing atheist is what is commonly known as an "agnostic" - one who claims he "doesn't know" if God exists. It is interesting to note that the Latin equivalent for the Greek word is "ignoramus." The Bible tells us that this ignorance is "willful" (Psalm 10:4). It's not that a person can't find God, but that he won't. It has been rightly said that the "atheist" can't find God for the same reason a thief can't find a policeman. He knows that if he admits that there is a God, he is admitting that he is ultimately responsible to Him. This is not a pleasant thought for some.

It is said that Mussolini (the Italian dictator), once stood on a pinnacle and cried, "God, if you are there, strike me dead!" When God didn't immediately bow to his dictates, Mussolini then concluded that there was no God. However, his prayer was answered some time later.

Answer 1

Most thinking non-believers know that Atheism is a logically indefensible position. It is impossible to prove the non-existence of anything without the benefit of being everywhere at the same time and knowing everything. That is why most of them (who think about it) call themselves Agnostic - which literally means one who does not know or without knowledge. They don't believe God exists, but recognize the illogic of the absolute claim that He doesn't.

Answer 2

To say categorically, "There is a God," is to make an absolute statement. For the statement to be true, I must know for certain that there is a God in the universe. No human being has all knowledge. Therefore, none of us is able to truthfully make this assertion.

If you insist upon belief in God, what you must say is, "Having the limited knowledge I have at present, I believe that there is a God." Owing to a lack of knowledge on your part, you don't know if God doesn't exist. So, in the strict sense of the word, you cannot be an theist. The only true qualifier for the title is the One who has absolute knowledge, and why on earth would God want to give us any proof or ability to tell which religion is the right one, when all hold answers to all the questions.

Answer 3

Atheism is not the belief in the absence of gods, it's the absence of belief in gods. Atheists do not necessarily make any positive statement about gods.

As for this crap about "Having the limited knowledge I have at present, I believe that there is no God", do you preface every statement you make with the same qualification? Do you say "Having the limited knowledge I have at present, I believe I'm thirsty"? Or "Having the limited knowledge I have at present, I believe my shoes exist"?

Look, we get it. One cannot truly know anything other than one's own existence. If you find a practical application for your solipsism let me know, but otherwise give it a rest.


Oh, and that stuff about atheists denying God because we don't want to be responsible to him is probably the most absurd argument I've ever heard. The idea that we're afraid of answering to God only makes sense if we believe in God, and in that case denying his existence is obviously a bad idea.

Answer 4

You could say the same for believers:

To say categorically, "There is a God," is to make an absolute statement. For the statement to be true, I must know for certain that there is a God in the entire universe. No human being has all knowledge. Therefore, none of us is able to truthfully make this assertion.

Answer 5

God can't be proven or disproven, and any scientist worth his salt will tell you anything that can't be proven or disproven is a terrible theory.

I can't speak for all atheists, but for myself and the atheists I know very well, what differentiates us from the faithful is that we don't presume to know what we can't: the origins of the universe, why we're all here...all that stuff that just has to be taken on "faith," and which suggests the devil is in anyone who ever has a question about the details.

"Belief" is not abstract, it functions in your life as a verb--it shapes your behavior and makes you see invisible boundaries defining what you can't do and what--in Christianity, anyway--you're not even allowed to THINK.

I answer to my conscience. I trust in the innate sense of human solidarity and instincts for group self-preservation that encourage us to work together. I agree with Christopher Hitchens that it is insane to suggest humans had no sense of right or wrong before Moses showed up, and that they were all happily raping, pillaging and murdering each other thinking that was all just fine until God's message instilled a sense of right and wrong.

I don't "believe" in God on a daily basis. I can say that with certitude.

Answer 6

Atheists can not prove there is no God any more than believers can prove there is one. I think most atheists arrive at this conclusion based on logic and reasoning , whereas believers decide their beliefs based on what they feel in their hearts and souls.Neither can really say they understand the opposing side's point of view. we don't. If we did we would both be more respectful of views different than our own.i am a believer, but not a Christan, and I can get furious when Christians try to save me. I can get just as upset when an atheists tries to insinuate they're more intelligent. Neither side is ever going to convert anyone, so maybe we should try to be more tolerant of different beliefs. I know I'm going to do my best.

Answer 7

When you said "With the limited knowledge I posess, I believe there is no God", you were correct. After that your "question" was revealed for what it truly is: a rant. And not a very good one at that. I know you won't take the word of a sinful atheist, but I give it to you nonetheless; we are not running from the policeman. Why don't you try thinking sometime?

Answer 8

Whatever is one's Higest Power is his God.In asense, there really are no atheists.

IMHO,I think that atheism is a greater leap of credulity than any form of theism and really excludes making any final conclusions about origins and ends(which has never stopped atheists from making such)

Atheism is literally incredible since it defies all mathematical probablities.
There certainly are concepts of the divine worth getting rid of but I do not find getting rid of the Uncause Cause and Ultimate Origin and Category beyond all Categories useful or logical.

Answer 9

I'm sure you worship the Flying Spaghetti Monster and the Invisible Pink Unicorn for the same reason. Absence of evidence is sufficient cause to not assume something exists.

Answer 10

Wonderful argument...you are truly a genius.
Now here's what I want you to do.
Take your entire statement...everywhere you see the word atheist, replace it with "Christian, believer" or something of the sorts.
Everywhere you see the word combination "no God" replace it simply with "a God"
Everywhere you see the word "disbelief" replace it with "belief"
When you have completed this exercises read the entire passage over again and get back to me...