Religious people; what proof would it take for you to accept that there is no god?

Question

If you are the proud owner of more than a single brain cell then presumably you are able to at least entertain the POSSIBILITY that god is an entirely fictional man-made creation as a hypothetical question....so; can you imagine anything happening which would make you NOT believe?
I only ask because it seems clear that most religious people on this site do not have the capacity to challenge their own views. i.e. they are so sure of themselves that they do not even bother engaging their brains in considering the options.

As a devout atheist, I can still at least admit it's possible there is a god. It's just that I've set "proofs" which I would need to see to become a believer: (NB. Proof must be first hand. I accept no second hand information as being inherently true, no matter how much I trust the person providing the information. i.e the bible ISN'T proof!)
- lets see a miracle, any miracle will do!
- receive any sort of communication not explanable through known science.
etc

Oh PLEASE!! My question was phrased as it is because I am SICK AND TIRED of people making statements such as "when go comes into your life you will see" or "because I read it in some book somewhere".
The simple fact that I have yet to see a single reasonable, rational answer to my question (except for the "if aliens existed it would be kind of difficult to continue to believe" one...very good mate). I'll keep reading though of course, as this seems to be a "popular" question!

And to the person who thinks I don't understand the word "Faith". Please read the question before you add your dash of vitriol. It actually asks what evidence it would take to DISPROVE god to you. I already have faith that there is no god, and admit freely that I cannot prove it. That doesn't mean I'm wrong...

Not wanting to pick on one response unduly, but I feel I need to answer the following comment
"A person who is strong in their beliefs and "devout" is very strong, do not waver on their stance.

This is WRONG. I am also not agnostic. The reason I said devout atheist is that I very strongly believe that there is no god or underlying force behind it all. The point I was making was that..as some multiple-celled deist have noted, it is impossible to disprove the existence of god.
Also, unlike many people (including some scientists), I realise that to say there must be a god else we wouldn't be here in all our complex glory to witness it is also WRONG. We could also be the result of entirely random events (which I believe is more amazing than any fairy tales of god etc). If they hadn't happened we wouldn't be here to wonder about it. The pitfalls of circular reasoning have clearly escaped some people!

Answer 1

I've always wondered that myself
The answers should be interesting

Answer 2

But would a miracle really convince you or would you say that there must be a natural explanation and just because you don't know what that natural explanation is doesn't mean that it was a miracle?

After all, that's what Science says when there's a gap in the evidence they are basing their theories of evolution on or if there is data that is the opposite of what the theory predicted they should find.

In answer to your question, I don't know how you would go about proving a negative, but you could force me to question my beliefs if you could demonstrate how life and the Universe came from nothing and just created themselves.

Alternatively, if you could show that science is wrong about the universe having a beginning and that it always existed then there would be no need for an eternal uncaused power or force greater than the universe and seperate from it.

It might also help if you could show why all the witnesses to Jesus' life, miracles, death and resurrection were lying or mistaken and I'd also like a credible explanation for the prophecies in the Bible that predicted Kings and Kingdoms that didn't even exist at that time.

Answer 3

A quote from your question: "they are so sure of themselves that they do not even bother engaging their brains in considering the options" - when was the last time YOU considered the options? I'm assuming that with such strong beliefs yourslef that you've taken a great deal of time to explore al the facts surrounding different religions?

If you're at all interested, I would recommend a book called "The Case for Christ" by Lee Strobel. He's a criminal journalist who set out to disprove Christianity as he was worried that his wife had turned into a religious freak. After examining evidence much in the same way as it would be used in a court of law, he became a Christian himself.

If you really are willing to "at least admit it's possible there is a god", then give it a try...

Answer 4

I am a Christian and perfectly capable of engaging my brain. I am afraid that I keep away from most questions from smug people misusing the Bible and not entering into serious discussion.

I of course have doubted there is a God. The conclusion I have come to is there is a God. I am not going into why, thats not the question.

There is nothing I could think of that could stop me believing. I have first hand experience which has convinced me of my views. I can understand why others don't believe. It is wise to question things until you have proof. I just feel comfortable in the views I reached (after a long time questioning) and can't think of anything that I believe might happen, actually changing my mind.

Having said that, when I die I will find out for sure I suppose.

Answer 5

Hi and good morning Chris....I think I'm a proud owner of one good remaining 'brain cell'...lol. I see your point, honestly I do and I'm not going to judge you for your ideals and views on this issue because in a certain aspect you are correct. I am however a Christian and believe in my faith although I do have an open-mind about certain things that are written in the Bible and I do have questions concerning the contents of the Bible. We could get in a great conversation with this issue...lol I enjoy a good argument and debate conversation...lol. You have a very good point on your question. Now I believe in my religion because of my parents and because of the teachings from my religion when I was a child, however.....now that I'm an adult, I think differently on a lot of issues concerning the Bible, it doesn't make me a disbeliever but I do have my concerns. When one reads the Bible, one needs to realize the era in which it was written. Many countries had different cultures back then not too mention different religions. For example the Egyptians believed in their Gods just like the Greeks believed in Mt. Olympia and Zeus. Whose to say these Gods weren't real? To those who believed in these particular Gods they believed. So now comes Christianity and believing in the one 'True God' that created the earth and the heavens. How do we not know that Our God wasn't the same as Zeus was to the Greeks or RA was to the Egyptians? We don't know. The Greeks believed that Zeus was the God of the earth and heavens, maybe Zeus was our God but with a different identity or name. Now I do believe that a great spirit or entity had to have created the earth and the heavens and I also believe that this same great spirit created man/woman and all living things but I also believe that evolution had a hand in this creation also. Anything is possible. I believe in my spiritual religion but I also believe that the scientific views and ideals are a possibility too. Now what puzzles me concerning the Bible is who actually wrote the 'Old Testament'? Was the writings handed down from generation to generation from the beginning of Adam and Eve? What did they do, keep a journal or diary or what? This is where I have a lot of questions concerning the Old Testament. The New Testament is more understandable in my opinion than the Old Testament. The whole concept of the Bible to me is a mystery in itself. We can't prove some of the writings or Scriptures, we have only our Faith to believe in what is written. Were the miracles that were performed created by God or were they coincidences due to 'mother nature'? Such as the "Crossing of the Reed Sea'. Or the Nile turning to blood. Were these the actions of God or a freak occurrence of 'mother nature'? Scientists are still puzzled by these incidences and trying to solve the mystery. So while these scientists are solving an issue concerning these events, we as Christians believe in our faith that God had raised His hand and performed these miracles. So in conclusion, until these scientists can convince me otherwise on these events, then I will believe in my God. Have a great day!

Answer 6

There is no 'proof' that he does exist but then again there is no proof that he doesn't. It's called faith mate. I have an open mind and am willing to investigate any new idea whether it be faith or science based; I haven't found one jot of evidence that God doesn't exist and until I do I will keep on believing. I find it hard to believe that any thinking, questioning human being could ever come to the conclusion that there is no higher being, that is arrogance at its'most extreme . I always think that people who believe in no God are so full of their own self importance that they can't cope with the idea of something greater than humans and therefore deny its existence. For me, seeeing the miracle of new life almost every day is enough proof.

Answer 7

Whoa, that makes no sense to me. You claim not to be just an atheist but a "devout" atheist, but then in your next breath you say "it's possible there is a God." A person who is strong in their beliefs and "devout" is very strong, do not waver on their stance. I believe in, have tried and tested and know that there is no other name under heaven which can save men and His name is Jesus. I have had the seal of God on me since I was a young child. I feel His presence, I hear Him through the Holy Spirit and His Word, and I see His love and provisions every day----for they are new every morning. So i will never even entertain the thought that He "is not" because I know that He lives. Jesus walked this earth performing great miracles and healings before men, and still many did not believe and asked for a greater sign. Jesus responded, "An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it; but the sign of the prophet Jonas." Jesus is saying that a greater prophet than Jonas is here, one who doesn't bring judgement, but grace and mercy. Jonah only preached to one city, Nineveh... but Jesus has come for the whole world, and that includes you. You ask for a sign, and none will be given you. You need to ask for "Jesus", for only then will no other sign be needed.

Answer 8

The mere fact that we have evolved to such degrees makes me firmly believe in the presence of god. There comes a point when coincidence alone is not enough to explain life! What i can't understand is why people are hard-pressed to believe that God and Evolution are not mutually exclusive. And you ask me, as a religious person, why I do not have the capacity to challenge my views, have you ever thought that God created us through a process of evolution, or is it difficult with only a single brain cell?

Answer 9

Can you see noise, no you can't. If I was deaf noise does not exist for me does it. Everything around you is a miracle of God.

We had and experiment in our science book blue and white balls 20 of them set in order of one blue one white. The balls are set on a tray so they can freely move around. You put them in order and then move tray around so they mix in random order there is very little possibility that they will come in the same order again.

That is just twenty balls you look at the universe and its symmetry. How can this be a coincidence no way any sound mind person cannot believe this. There is a supreme power call it what ever you may but you cannot deny it.

Answer 10

I am considering that there might not the existence of a God, you could create a miracle, ...world peace, or the sudden death of every evil creature on earth... Maybe I'd receive a strong feeling that God doesn't exist, or the appearance of the famed Spaghetti Monster.

But you see, I've already made up my mind that there is a God, so any proof that you have, I'd validate it as false or attribute it to God. It's just not possible for an Atheist and a Theist to see eye to eye on this issue because both sides are completely made up to believe and to understand truth and knowledge as we both want it to be.

I wouldn't understand, even if it was what I asked for, as evidence that God didn't exist, because I believe God DOES exist. My mind is made up, just as yours is.

Answer 11

I do believe there is a God. I do belieave that one day Jesus will return like it says in the bible. But you need to be carefull of some of these off the wall religions. But it does make you wonder which christian religion is even the closest to being correct in what it believes. There are so many variations. I grew up going to an Assembly of God church. If you ever say show me a sign or your looking for that truth, make sure you analize it, because satan does decieve.