Or is it that they just don't have any good reason to believe in any gods?
2007-08-08 06:37:15 · 33 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Proverbs31, I tried for 15 years. During that time never once have I gotten a word from god that didn't come from some other person or I didn't make up myself.
2007-08-08 06:50:49 · update #1
WDGA (Delfuego), what if you've never heard of this "God" fella?
I see your reasoning and it makes sense as long as the person knows what god is supposed to be. But is it still a choice for those that weren't exposed to the idea of this particular god?
2007-08-08 07:03:24 · update #2
It's not really a choice.
After a certain point, I found I could not believe in gods anymore, no matter if I wanted to or not.
Being an atheist is not easy when your whole family is strongly theist, but it's something I can't just quit. I can pretend to follow a religion, but it would take a lot--a LOT--of effort and brainwashing to convince myself to believe in gods again.
Edit (to the Leprechaun guy): If you *wanted* to believe in leprechauns, could you start? Wouldn't you know that you're just fooling yourself?
2007-08-08 06:39:39 · answer #1 · answered by Minh 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I use to believe in god, even attended 12 years of catholic school, at some point I never felt comfortable about worshiping something that I could not see, nor did the idea of worship settle well with me. However, at that time I never knew that there were people who were Atheists, until I got older and wiser. The more I questioned the more I knew that there was no need to believe in something that can not be proven
2007-08-08 06:45:50 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Regardless of what anyone says, it always boils down to a choice - you can either beleive or not.
Many people claim that they didnt have a choice to beleive - some event occurred that made them believe in God. NOT TRUE. They simply chose to beleive that it was God, rather than any other choice. Others might say that, after looking at the evidence and studying religion, they had no choice whether or not they beleived. Again NOT TRUE. The choice was made - to not beleive, based upon lack of evidence.
2+2=4. Is that something that we choose to beleive? Yes - its either true or not, but most of us CHOOSE to accept it as fact.
2007-08-08 06:50:32 · answer #3 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I choose not to believe in Leprechauns, because there isn't any good reason to believe in them.
The same applies to Gods.
For thousands of years religious people have been talking about the benefits of belief and faith, but it always ends in division and violence.
If people taught that Leprechauns were real and that humans would be better off following their teachings, but then the belief caused families to separate, and countries to wage war, I wouldn't believe them and wouldn't seek Leprechaun will, especially considering there is no tangible evidence for thier existence in the first place.
2007-08-08 06:39:44 · answer #4 · answered by ɹɐǝɟsuɐs Blessed Cheese Maker 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I believe the answer to both questions is the same... there is no good reason to believe so I choose not to believe. Obviously, religious folks find some reason to believe (they need support, they desire everlasting life, they don't want to never see their loved ones again, etc.) and therefore, they choose to believe.
I prefer to believe in things that are factual and verifiable.
2007-08-08 06:43:23 · answer #5 · answered by Rogue Scrapbooker 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You are not born an atheist, people use intelligence to determine whether or not God exists. Any person with a decent education has no problem seeing the absurdity of the Bible.
2007-08-08 06:42:24 · answer #6 · answered by johnandeileen2000 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No
I don't think you can make yourself believe anything. If so I think lots of people would like to believe in a god. It has a nice spin for the most part. You aren't an outcast and stuff like that. But you just cant' MAKE yourself believe. I can't believe in certain things no matter how much I want to. Example I think tarot cards are neat. I think the concept is cool. I can't believe in it. I just can't! And I'm PAGAN!
I judge no one for their beliefs. I think its better to be who you are and be true to yourself then to lie to make OTHER people feel better about who you are.
2007-08-08 06:41:32 · answer #7 · answered by ~Heathen Princess~ 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
OK, everyone has heard of God. Christians choose to believe that the Bible is true, so we believe God exists. (From what I've gathered on Y!A) Atheists choose not to believe the Bible, so they don't have any (other) good reason (i.e., proof) to believe in God/gods.
2007-08-08 07:26:47 · answer #8 · answered by kaz716 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
They don't have any good reason too believe in a god. They have very good reasons not to believe in specific gods.
2007-08-08 06:40:55 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Both, they choose because there is no good reason to believe in god
2007-08-08 06:39:42 · answer #10 · answered by M G 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋