Atheists: Why do you not believe there is a God?

Question

Do you have proof that He does not exist? Did something happen to change your life? Did you used to believe, but move away from it?

What do you say to people who try to convert you? Does it make you mad to hear someone talk to you about God? How do you feel about death? Do you think anything will happen after life?

One last question, and this isn't related to the above. Are you happy with your life? Is there anything you would want to change about you, or the world?

And please, this isn't the time to bash God, faith, or religion. I want to know exactly how you feel, just remember to be respectful. Thanks!

Answer 1

Of course I came in here intending to give you a snarky answer, but your question seems honest enough, so I'll give you honest, friendly answers. :)

"Do you have proof that He does not exist?"

No, but not having proof that something doesn't exist is not any kind of a reason to believe that it does! For example: Do you have any proof that Zeus doesn't exist, or that he never did exist? You don't have that proof, do you? So why don't you believe in Zeus?

You don't believe in Zeus because it makes sense to you to NOT believe in something that lacks evidence. Chances are good that you only DO believe in God, even though you lack evidence to show that he exists, because you were *raised* to believe in God - it's just your family tradition to believe. If you'd been raised to believe in Zeus, you'd believe in Zeus and you'd totally disbelieve in Yahweh, because there is no evidence to support Yahweh's existence - why bother to believe?

Well, we atheists feel the same way you do about Zeus and all the other gods you think don't exist - we just *also* feel that way about your God, and for the same reason. No evidence, and having no proof that God *doesn't* exist is a really dumb reason to believe that he *does.*

" Did something happen to change your life? Did you used to believe, but move away from it?"

Yes, I was a born-again Christian and was a very strong believer in the Bible and Jesus. What happened? I had lots of questions about the nature of the universe, and I honestly sought answers to those questions. I found that the answers that made the most sense were those that came from science, not from religion, and it took very little time for me to realize that it made more sense to believe that God did not exist - that no gods existed - and that the whole concept of gods was created by early humans to help them understand the world, before they had the benefit of science. :)

"What do you say to people who try to convert you? Does it make you mad to hear someone talk to you about God?"

No, it does not make me mad to hear people talk about God - I realize that many people still need the comfort of believing that they will survive their death in some way, and God is a good means of helping these people cope with their fears. I respect a person's right to believe in God or to talk about God, so long as they do not try to insist that I also must believe, or that there is something wrong with those who do not believe.

When people try to convert me, I politely tell them that I'm an atheist, and I'm not interested in being converted. I invite them to ask me any questions they may have about atheism.

"How do you feel about death? Do you think anything will happen after life?"

No, I don't think anything will happen after I die. I'll just die - and so will you. :) I am not afraid of death at all. The time before I was born was not scary; I wasn't even aware of it! Death will be the same.

"One last question, and this isn't related to the above. Are you happy with your life? Is there anything you would want to change about you, or the world?"

I am VERY happy with my life! I feel so incredibly lucky to live in the time and place that I live - wow, I lucked out even to be born at all, and to get to experience this short, crazy adventure called life. But to get to live in a place where I'm free to believe what I will, and free to think for myself - and at a time when I can enjoy the benefits of science - dang, that is some seriously good stuff!

I'm a moral person, who gives time and money to my communtiy, because it makes me feel happy to do so. I love my husband and we share a respectful, strong relationship (he is also an atheist, but he was never religious to begin with). I have a wonderful, caring family who support me in my beliefs, even if they don't share them. I run my own successful business, and I deal with my clients fairly and evenly and honestly. I have many wonderful friends, some atheist, some not, and we all love and support one another. My life is as beautiful and meaningful and happy as I could ever hope for it to be!

When I was a Christian, the world made so little sense to me, and God seemed to contradictory and unpredictable, that I suffered very badly from anxiety and depression, for many, many years. My life improved remarkably when I let go of the idea of God and followed my logic instead! :)

There is nothing I'd really want to change about myself. I'm smart, funny, and surrounded by loving people. I'm not the most attractive female on Earth, but I'm not ugly, either! I'm perfectly content with myself.

As for the world - yes, if I could I would change religion. Although I understand why so many people need the comfort of religion - of the idea of surviving their deaths - I wish nobody was afraid of death, and that all people could enjoy themselves and each other without worrying that they were doing something wrong by God or committing some intangible sin, or damning themselves to eternal suffering. That's no way to live a life, and I think it's a sad waste of the only life a person has.

If I could change one thing about the world, I'd make people stop needing religion, so everybody could feel as free and happy as I do. :)

I hope this helps you understand atheism! Thanks for asking such a nice question.

Answer 2

Hello Meg! You ask a lot of questions relating to the subject of whether there is/isn't a God. When I was a young boy at junior school we were expected to sit and listen to stories about Jesus and his miracles and how he performed them. Religion was one of the subjects which I did enjoy because of the message that each story left. However as I got older and made my mark on the world the idea that there was such a person evaporated,due to the various wars and conflicts all started by religion. Sadly to this day in the country where Jesus was supposed to have been born, in the country where all religions originated there are wars. Innocent lives are taken needlessly because they have the wrong faith or killed because they are caught up in the bloodshed trying to negotiate peace between the various parties involved. God does not exist, it is and always has been a rumour that has spread and been embelished over the thousands of years since the so called scriptures. Churches throughout the world have hoodwinked the public for too long now and it's beginning to sink in. God is just a figment of the imagination! I do not need religion in my life as I am perfectly happy with the life that I lead. People are free to believe who or what they like thats their free will. I have discipline in my life so I know how to respect other peoples space and treat those the way that I too would like to be treated, I do not need a bible or to read the Koran to understand that. I have a question for you Meg. Why is it when someone dies necessary to have a priest present, who does it benefit? Take religion out of the equation and teach people how to love and look after themselves and respect their fellow man/woman for who or what they are irrespective of colour or creed then you might see a difference. It won't happen overnight or in my lifetime but it would make the world a better place. That is what I would like to change. Thank you!

Answer 3

Meg S , good set of Questions.

Q1) Why do you not believe there is a God?
A1) Because I am an Atheist I guess ! ( Circular Reasoning )

Q2) Do you have proof that He does not exist?
A2) What proof would you accept that SHE , God , did Not exist ? Do you have some suggestion how I might prove a Negative ?

Q3) Did something happen to change your life?
A3) At School someone asked me why I celebrated Christmas ... when I was told that Christmas celebrated the Birth of Jesus , I had no idea who this chap was and I was labelled an Atheist.

Q4) Did you used to believe ?
A4) No – see A3

Q5) But move away from it?
A5) No see A3 ( again )

Q6) What do you say to people who try to convert you?
A6) I enjoy chatting to Christians , I studied the NT and love debating the meaning of Scripture . It usually takes them about 1 year to work out that I am an atheist and they stop being my friend.

Q7) Does it make you mad to hear someone talk to you about God?
A7) When I am trying to take a Wizz , yes , there is a time and place for everything , lunch time is a good time.

Q8) How do you feel about death?
A8) No feelings , it is one of the certainties in life , inevitable. I am curious to know how I will die , but I guess it will be in a hospital bed and the last thing I will hear is BeeeeeeeeeeeP .

Q9) Do you think anything will happen after life?
A9) Yes , things always happen after someone dies , ask all the Dead people. Personally , my consciousness will cease and my body will decay.

Q10) Are you happy with your life?
A10) I was content with my life , now I sometimes get happy when answering Questions on YA.

Q11) Is there anything you would want to change about you.
A11) Yes , I would not have married my 1st and 3 wife ... they were Christians .

Q12) Or the world?
A12) Remove faith and religion , Philosophy can stay for the time being

Best Respects,


Peter Ramen .

PS R u married ? R u Seeing anyone right now ? I like intelligent wives !

Answer 4

Do you believe in unicorns? Have any proof that they do not exist?

Assuming you said "No and no, - apply the same logic to god.

If you did not answer no and no, you are either lying to yourself or need psychiatric help.


Nothing happened to change my life. I was never indoctrinated to know that god existed in the first place. I grew up and was taught to think for myself.


If people try to convert me then I ask them for the proof for what they claim is true. I point out the contradictions, falsehoods and ridiculous claims in the bible and their beliefs. I usually quite enjoy watching them going from righteous pride into an apologetic tail spin when they realize I have encountered all their arguments and can refute them.

Death is something that happens to everyone. I accept that. Death does not frighten me. How I die does worry me more. I would like that to be at a time and way of my choosing. No, nothing will happen after I die, other than my body going cold and rotting (actually it will probably go up in smoke)

I am reasonably happy. Would I like more money, etc. Yes, but I am content with what I have. Would I like to see world peace, an end to disease and hunger? Yes, but there little I can do to affect that.

Answer 5

1) No, I don't. Do you have proof that Zeus doesn't exist?
2) No...I'm one of those secular Jews who does not believe in a personal God.
3) I say thanks but no thanks.
4) No...but if they don't stop when I ask them to..that makes me angry.
5) I'm 60 years old, my parents are in their 80s. When you come closer to it, paradoxically, it doesn't frighten you as much.
6) I really have no idea what will happen after my death. I guess I'll discover it when I die.
7) I am ecstatic with my life! There isn't anything I would change at this point in my life. I think the world is full of lunatics and it's worse now than it has ever been. How do I change that?

Answer 6

Wow, that's a lot of questions in one question...
Why do you not believe there is a God? Logical reasoning.
Do you have proof that He does not exist? No, and besides the burden of proof lies in the beliver.
Did something happen to change your life? Yes. What are you specifically looking for? Everything changes your life in some way.
Did you used to believe, but move away from it? No, I did not believe even as a child.

What do you say to people who try to convert you? I try to be polite. Really I do.
Does it make you mad to hear someone talk to you about God? No, not at all. To each his own.
How do you feel about death? I feel it is enevitable. And when it happens that's it.
Do you think anything will happen after life? No.

One last question, and this isn't related to the above. Are you happy with your life? Is there anything you would want to change about you, or the world? Absolutely I am happy with my life. Sure having more stuff would be nice but if I never make more money of whatever I'll still be happy and content with my life.

Answer 7

First question: You've got it backwards. Why SHOULD I believe in god? I don't know how to illustrate this point without sounding demeaming, so please accept my word that this is not intended as demeaning: I don't believe in fairies, magic, or ghosts either. If someone came up to you with some fantastical tale about supernatural beings and magic, would you believe it? To me, god is in the same category.

Second question: At this point I just feel bored when someone tries to convert me. It always ends up in the same place: you either have faith or you don't. Every argument they use basically pre-supposes faith that the bible is the word of god. But if I don't believe in god, obviously I don't believe the bible is the word of god. But it's tiresome trying to get recruiters to understand this. Death sucks, but there's nothing I can do about it. I have no idea if something happens after life. I hope something does. But hoping is a far cry from believing.

Third Question: Some things I am happy about; other things not so much.

Answer 8

Perhaps they * shouldn't *. If God truly gave everyone free will, then atheists, for whatever reason, have decided not to believe. As someone above already said, "arguing" for God's existence is relatively moot. In the end, someone will believe because the Holy Spirit finally convicted them of the truth. If one does not believe in the Holy Spirit, I don't see that happening. If an atheist decides their current life doesn't feel "right", they will seek something else. Do Christians have a "better" life because of God? Look at Paul, he was beaten, whipped and run out of town for his beliefs. Christians may say Christianity brings them comfort. An atheist would retort that they need no such crutch. Christians may say they sin less. Ha! Neither has a lock on morality. You mentioned that we cannot use "the afterlife" as a support for why Christianity is better. If such a limitation is placed on the response, then we have to stick with experiences on this earth. In that case, if we limit our response to life on earth, we may find that the atheist would * always * think their life is better as an unbeliever. It isn't until you become a believe that your perspective changes to include the afterlife. --- added ---- I noticed you said both "in the long run" and "disregarding the afterlife". To a Christian, the two are inseparable.

Answer 9

> Why do you not believe there is a God?
Haven't seen Him around lately. No direct evidence of His existence or His actions. Not taking the word of Moses on faith.

> Do you have proof that He does not exist?
Nope. I can't prove that Santa Claus doesn't exist either. Why would I want to? I like getting presents on Christmas.

> Did something happen to change your life?
People are born atheistic. Religions arose independently in different parts of the world -- but the religion that worships the god of Abraham was initiated only once. If God is universal, you'd expect that He'd have been worshiped in Central America and Australia by the "indigenous" peoples there.

> What do you say to people who try to convert you?
"I'm Saved already."

> Does it make you mad to hear someone talk to you about God?
Only when crediting Him with things He shouldn't be credited with, or blaming Him for things he shouldn't be blamed for.

> How do you feel about death?
Bring it

> Do you think anything will happen after life?
I anticipate that the atoms in the molecules which comprise me will be recycled. Carbon is carbon. *shrug*

> Are you happy with your life?
Nope, but that has more to do with money and family, and not religion.

> there anything you would want to change about you
I'd like to look like Alec Baldwin, only younger and better looking, and have Hayden Panettiere be my girlfriend. *shrug*

> or the world?
Peace on Earth would be nice. God isn't noticeably helping with that. Did you notice that Sunnis are fighting Shi-ites, and Protestants are fighting Christians (North Ireland)?

Answer 10

The proof that god doesn't exist lies simply in the lack of evidence that he does. If god was all-powerful and omnipresent, surely there would be some form of empirical evidence -- or even a clue -- towards his existence. I was brought in a christian home, but it didn't take long before I started seeing the holes in the bible and christian theology in general.

I'm not happy when people try to convert me. I've already been there, done that, bought the t-shirt and returned it. I view death as the natural ending of life, and I don't believe that we have a "soul" or "spirit" that continues on after our body dies.

Yes, I'm happy with my life in general.

Answer 11

I have no faith that God exists. I have evidence that he is unlikely to exist, or needs to exist. This is not 'proof', but belief in something (or the absence of something). Belief doesn't need proof, any more than faith does.

I have yet to meet anyone with a convincing argument to try and convert me. I don't mind anyone talking about religion, I find it fascinating, in the same way I find history or mythology fascinating. I don't have to believe God exists to appreciate the parables any more than I have to believe, say, Sherlock Holmes existed to enjoy the stories.

The afterlife I keep an open mind on, as again it doesn't have to have anything to do with God's existence. Again, it's very hard to prove one way or the other. Without actually dying and finding out, that is.

I'm extremely happy with my life. I'm here by the slightest of tiniest of minutest of chances, and I see wonder in things all around me. The universe is a wonderful thing to behold, the absence of a god only makes it all the more remarkable to me.