Question for both Religious and Atheist’s….?

Question

How can anyone really be 100% sure that there is or isn’t a God, or an afterlife, or any of that?
Such huge arguments going on, none of them really rational or logical, over something that can’t possibly be proven. I know that scientifically, the complete lack of any evidence does point more towards there not being anything beyond this life, but still there is nothing that could possibly make either side guaranteed 100% correct. Why can’t either side just accept that other people believe something different? Why can’t they just let each other be on the subject?

Funny, both the believers and non-believers are coming out to attack me, not even knowing if I’m at one side or the other. I asked what I thought was a simple, up the middle question that wasn’t designed to slight either side of the coin, yet there are those on both side telling me that I am wrong. Since I have atheists saying I’m wrong, and Christians saying I’m wrong, and I haven’t even made a declaration of what I believe, what are those people really saying?

Most of you have had great answers! Hope – if you read this, please elaborate, I’d like to understand better. – Thanks!

Answer 1

I'm 96% sure there is no God. It's still an A.

I have no problem admitting that God is possible, the universe may exist in a marble, or we're living in the Matrix.

Answer 2

I bleieve in God and an after life. The problem is that both are intangible. Therefore I cannot prove logically that both exist. The problem is that you cannot disprove it for the same reason.

You either believe that the Universe was created or it wasn't. There are no half measures posible. Its either one or the other. If you believe that it wasn't then you are just the highest example of an animal in terms of intelligence and that you live your life span here and and then its time to nourish the plants that will feed on your body then thats it. You disappear from existance and we will cut the flowers that result and say; well, that person sure provided for nice flowers!

Alternatively you believe that the Universe was created. Therefore if the Creator, without giving Him a specific name, makes it known that it was created for a specific purpose namely that you were placed in it for testing which you would prefer to believe and given a free choice on the matter. Then if you make the correct choice, even if your physical body pushes up flowers, a part of you will continue to surive and flower elsewhere, it becomes a totally different ball game.

The question then becomes even more simple. Are you only fit for flower food, or do you think that human beings are acutally worth more than that and hence potentially have some higher destiny, even if not proveable?

Answer 3

I agree that we should just accept each other instead of going at each other's throats, but part of a Christians duty is to intoduce others to Christ, so we do have a reason for telling others about our religion.

As for lack of evidence, you're wrong. Most of the miracles in the Bible have been proven to be possible. Some say that means that God didn't do it, but I think that is bologna! Why couldn't God have done it just because science says it's possible? And you have to look at this: Nothing can come from nothing, meaning everyone and everything had to come from something, and I seriously doubt it was from some primordial soup or from monkeys (when's the last time you saw a monkey give birth to a human?). There is also no evidence that proves that God ISN'T real.

God asks us to believe in him without solid proof that he exists. And no matter how or how many times he "proves" his existance to us, humans will always find some other explination.

Answer 4

One can NEVER be certain of what's NOT there, like looking for a street address. Did you miss the address? Did you go down the wrong block? Did you go east instead of west on 7th Ave? Or was the address wrong in the first place?

But if you DO find the address, you know of an absolute certainty that it IS there.

I have met Jesus Christ (no - not physically - DUH!)

When I was growing up, I was always taught that Jesus was a liar, probably a lunatic, but above all else, definitely very dead.

When I was at a low point in my life and somebody offered to pray for me, I figured it really wouldn't matter, since talking to a dead man would have no affect.

So Bryan prayed, and God answered! And the Lord revealed Himself to me, and showed me that Jesus truly IS the Son of God.

My life has never been the same, and that was about 35 or so years ago.

So, I HAVE found the "address", so I know it's there. Those who haven't found it, well, they can't say one way OR the other. Maybe they just took a wrong turn. Or worse, maybe they aren't even looking. Or worse yet, maybe they were brainwashed by others who couldn't find the address, that the address just doesn't exist! But just remember this, self-deception is the worst kind.

It's amazing how once you've actually met Someone, you can no longer deny His existence.

Answer 5

Santa ain't real? Santa is real!!! and so is God !!! Have you heard of Saint NIck he gave presents to little poor kids! Look it up yourself! And big bang been proven never happened and evolution has been proven never happened yalls people still living in 1999 its 2007! No wonder yalls don't believe in Him Do you know what the chances for us even existing is prove enough If the earth was any closer to the sun the ocean would boil and it we was any further the oceans would freeze and if the air u breath wasn't perfect! u wouldn't be here! To believe that u want see your family your kids your friends no more is sad the devil is really at work with this generation!! REMEMBER I RESPECT everyones beliefs or none this is my opinion and this ain't to be taken as offensive hate or that im trying to convert or anything im not religious i just have a relationship with Jesus and my creator Thanks and im 100% sure there is a God!!

Answer 6

how can you be a 100% sure there aren't invisible blue fairies living at the bottom of my garden?

This question is only ever applied to the existance of a *god*. I am supposed to be open minded to the possibility that such a being exists even though there is absolutely zero evidence for it, but i can be sure that unicorns, fairies, flying spaghetti monsters and honest politicians really don't exist?

I'm more than happy for people to believe what ever the hell they like, but the problem is that many believers seem to think that their beliefs deserve special treatment.

Answer 7

I accept that people can believe whatever they want, I just dont have to agree. I have never said I am 100% correct, but until anything concrete is brought to attention I will remain atheist.
I think for the most part atheists do just let the 'other side' be unless they are pushing their beliefs on us or having a direct impact on our life.

Answer 8

For me, it's not a matter of being 100% certain there isn't a god, it's being certain that 100% of everything in existence is, by necessity of definition, part of the natural world. Everything is subject to nature's law, even if we humans haven't figured them out yet. Explain how anything could exist outside of the natural realm? For that matter, what would be the nature of a realm outside of the natural world? If you could define it's nature, it would suddenly become restricted to it's own laws and perfectly "natural." If you could understand the nature of god, he would thus become limited and no longer a god. If you can't or don't understand the nature of god, then what exactly are you worshipping?

Answer 9

Look, the whole afterlife situation......it's a part of the belief system in Christianity. I have no proof, but my belief in God telling me the truth in His word lets me know that through faith, there is an afterlife. I hope this is the rational answer you were looking for, this isn't a yes or no, but hopefully a different perspective. God bless.

Answer 10

You are correct.... no one can ever be 100% sure there is or isn't a god. So here is why I'm an atheist:

"I am an atheist, out and out. It took me a long time to say it. I've been an atheist for years and years, but somehow I felt it was intellectually unrespectable to say that one is an atheist, because it assumed knowledge that one didn't have. Somehow it was better to say one was a humanist or agnostic. I don't have the evidence to prove that God doesn't exist, but I so strongly suspect that he doesn't that I don't want to waste my time."
-- Isaac Asimov

Answer 11

Nobody can ever be 100% sure if there is or isn't a God. That is why the world is full of various religions and non-religions.

If you want to believe in God -- then good for you -- just don't shove your beliefs down my throat.

Yup, again, here is the Pagan that can coexist.