Most atheists answer "for lack of evidence to the contrary" but that's not why I'm an atheist... which I can only explain by way of a parable.
If I was walking through the forest and saw a tree lieing on the ground and wondered why. I might think that lighting hit it. Or I might think that termites ate away at the roots and it fell. Or I might think it died and gravity pulled it down. Or I might think a meteor hit it (like the forest in Russia). Or I might think that a passing mudslide made it fall. Or I might think that a large animal accidently hit up against it causing it to topple. Or I might think that the owner of the land cut it down - hoping to make a log cabin out of it one day - and gave up. Or I might think some other natural cause made the tree fall but I can't think what it might be. But not for a moment would it ever cross my mind to think it is on the ground because an invisible, all powerful, diety laid it there... and the same goes for every event in history.
2007-11-12 08:19:03 · 13 answers · asked by I'm an Atheist 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
wow, now I give an AMEN to that brother...lol
2007-11-12 08:23:06 · answer #1 · answered by dirtrockgrind 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
This is still a 'lack of evidence to the contrary' argument.
If the gods regularly wandered through the forests zapping trees hither and yon, then when you saw that log, "God Did It" would be one of your possible explanations because there was evidence that this was an option.
It is the same reason as why you do not consider that a dragon uprooted it, or that mermen cut it down so that they could dam the river and make a lake to live in.
2007-11-12 08:26:52 · answer #2 · answered by Simon T 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Morality, although important, is not the main focus of Christianity. Most likely the majority of people are moral by society's standards regardless of their religious beliefs or lack thereof, out of respect for their fellow creatures. Christianity is about accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior and living eternally with God. "For God So Loved The World That He Gave His Only Begotten Son That Whosoever Believeth In Him Should Not Perish But Have Everlasting Life". John 3:16. If you believe in Jesus in this sense then you believe that God sacrificed His Son to shed His blood on the cross so that your sins could be absolved.
2016-04-03 21:19:08 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that's very valid logic.
I don't see it as a "lack of evidence" argument here at all... what i see is a person saying that it is not their natural inclination to believe in a god. And there are a lot of people like that out there. They can't believe in God because their mind just doesn't work that way... plain and simple. It would take more effort for him/her TO believe in a god than NOT to believe in a god. And if her/his society had never even introduced the concept of "god" or "gods" s/he would have never even considered their existence. For example, even IF a god was walking through the forest pushing over trees... his/her first inclination would be to classify it as "animal" and not "divine."
At least that's how I interpreted the logic in this parable.
2007-11-12 08:27:55 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'm a Christian and my thoughts would run along the same lines as yours. Just because I believe in a Surpreme Being does not mean I see an uprooted tree and automatically think it did something to offend. I consider myself mildly intelligent at the least, and after giving careful consideration to your parable, still do not see the reason in it for being an atheist. But now that you mention it, I am pretty curious since it's not for the obvious reasons. E-mail me, and lay it out there. Perhaps I need you to be more direct.
2007-11-12 08:26:24 · answer #5 · answered by lifeilluminate 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You don't believe in everything hapens for its reason. The rest of what you think might happened sounds like a white persons thinking. They think too much out of reality stuff and most of them regardless of atheism or not wouldn't think that the creator has everything the way it is for a reason. So your not that far off from being similar to the rest of your tribe.
2007-11-12 08:29:48 · answer #6 · answered by littleblanket 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you have a good argument. But there are more important things in life than a tree falling.
you can ask, for example, what is the source if human motivation? and what is the "maker" of hope? where does the phenomenon of hope come from, inspite the fact that all things in life end in death and disease?
2007-11-12 08:30:56 · answer #7 · answered by the good guy 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Thanks for sharing. So, you're an Atheist because you need to see the all powerful Deity, okay. Well, I'm a Christian because I have faith that the all powerful Deity exists, and lives today. That's what separates Atheists from any believer: we have faith, and with faith, the impossible is possible, that is our reality. Your tree example was interesting....
2007-11-12 08:27:39 · answer #8 · answered by Mookie 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Awww, of course I do!
Don't go all sensitive on us now!
(Good point btw.)
2007-11-12 08:28:53 · answer #9 · answered by The Bassline Libertine 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't care why. The why is not necessary. Everyone should honor their beliefs. Period.
2007-11-12 08:25:38 · answer #10 · answered by MyPreshus 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋