2007-10-28 16:43:33 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Because mine aren't doubts, they are the default belief of a reasonable mind. You are the one making a claim that something exists without proof...
A positive existential proclamation bears the burden of proof. This is why a prosecutor must prove a crime was committed and then who committed the crime. The logical default for the premise that a crime has been committed is not “yes” or even “maybe” but “no”. If I proclaim to have a purple unicorn in my basement, the logical default for that proposition, barring evidence, is “no”.
There is no evidence of the existence of a divine being so the default answer is "no"... There is no god.
2007-10-28 16:48:59 · answer #1 · answered by thewolfskoll 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I ask no one to doubt his certainties. I ask only that he check his references and do some research.
As an atheist I have no reason to doubt a g..d. It is not the issue. I don't believe in it - because I have taken the time to research it.
Your mind should be free to investigate and learn. I have always believed that if there is a doubt then it's an automatic negative and should be dropped or checked. Certainty is another issue. It makes the claim that you know all there is to know and need not know more.
So a doubter can drop it - or can do some investigative work. There is a flexibility in that. Certainty is all there is.
Personally if one knows all there is to know and is that certain about anything or everything what are you doing - shouldn't you be at NASA directing spaceships, and meeting up with your g..d perhaps to have some lovely tea and cookies!
2007-10-28 17:04:31 · answer #2 · answered by Tricia R 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think the doubt will always be there, until the 'proof' finally arrives.
For those of a religion - that day may never come.
For atheists - science will increasingly advance with further and further proof of life elsewhere in the universe, which will eventually disprove what religion claims... the same with knowing more about our ancient past - to clearly show what did take place back in those times?
Also the proof can be in the way of logic. That which sounds logical and reasonable - is possible. That which sounds impossible remains improbable.
2007-10-28 17:34:43 · answer #3 · answered by TruthBox 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We did have a question here about a week ago in which someone called I_am_an_atheist stated quite categorically that if you ever doubt your doubts, you aren't an atheist. I think he's rather alone in that opinion.
Edit: I just took a look at some of the other answers here. It appears I was overoptimistic. I'm afraid I'm deeply suspicious of anyone who claims to be in possession of The Absolute Truth about anything. Funny - I would've thought most atheists would agree with me on that.
2007-10-28 16:49:59 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
I constant question my beliefs. I would say that most atheists do. If you have some argument I have not heard, if you have some evidence that I have not heard then I would be very happy to hear about it and add it to the other information I have that has lead me to my decision not to believe in a deity.
Unfortunately I have had really heard so far are hackneyed arguments that do not stand up well. Dogma and personal experience varying from the sublime to the ridiculous. But nothing that can not be explained by natural causes.
2007-10-28 16:56:46 · answer #5 · answered by Simon T 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
"but why doesn't the atheist doubt his doubts?"
Who says we don't?
Ask another question and you'll see. Ask atheists and believers to say whether or not they're 100% sure of their position. You'll find that the believers are FAR more likely than the atheists to say that they're 100% sure of their beliefs. Many of the believers will actually be proud to say that they have no doubts - the surest sign of cluelessness that I know.
BTW, I'm not wildly conjecturing here - this question has already been asked several times, and that has been the result.
2007-10-28 16:48:44 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
All I ask is that Christians think about what they believe, not just accept them and then claim "faith." To me, that is irrational. I do think atheists have doubts - I personally, am always questioning what I see, what I hear, what I read, etc... That is what lead me to atheism. But until I see evidence of a god, then my doubts are relatively minor.
2007-10-28 16:53:11 · answer #7 · answered by Sal 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I doubt everything as a positive virtue. I HAVE doubted my doubts. But at the end of the day, "atheism" is the best description of my conclusions.
"I slept with Faith, and found a corpse in my arms on awaking; I drank and danced all night with Doubt, and found her a virgin in the morning." - Aleister Crowley
2007-10-28 16:52:01 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 0⤋
I don't urge anyone to do anything. I don't have any doubts. There is insufficient empirical evidence to support the hypothesis of a god or gods. Have you sufficient empirical evidence? I thought not.
2007-10-28 16:49:47 · answer #9 · answered by What? Me Worry? 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Every person has those "what if's"... it's just that they may draw either conclusion...like either a "maybe" or a "no, that's silly."
For me... deities get a gut feeling saying no, that's silly.
Ghosts, some form of continued existence, or some such thing... that gets a maybe based on select incidences... but the heaven thing gets a no.
2007-10-28 16:51:06 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋