why don't you believe in God?

Question

Why do you think there are non believers? If they don't believe in God, who do they think created them?

Answer 1

God's existence cannot be definitively answered. Why must you use the Alpha and Omega argument? Is it possible that the universe has always existed?


I have always been an atheist. OK, that is not completely true. I am not an atheist. I am not a believer. I am not an agnostic. I am none of these because the answer to god's existence is unimportant.

People ask what would convince me that god truly exists. While I am not sure, I am certainly open to any tangible evidence. I do not know what evidence would convince me because I believe it is impossible to prove the existence of god. What evidence would convince you that god does not exist? See the conumdrum: it is difficult to answer their question! See falsifiability (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falsifiability ) for an explanation of theory and the rules of evidence.

Do not quote bible passages as evidence of god's existence. This is my standard of proof, not yours. However, if proof were proffered that convinced me god exists, I would change absolutely nothing in my life or my behavior. The existence or not of god does not matter. Like many humans I live a purposeful life and god does not add more purpose.

What if evidence were produced that convinced you god does not exist with certainty (evidence according to your standards of proof)? What would you change in your life?

- Would you stop evangelizing?
- Would you start sinning more?
- Would you stop helping those less fortunate than you?
- Would you feel that life is meaningless?

Let us examine one area Christians think about atheists. Christians seem to think non-believers hope that their good deeds will get them into heaven, should heaven really exist. The Torah (Old Testament) has a word for this: mitzvah (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitzvah ). Many atheists such as myself perform mitzvahs not for the sake of getting an admission ticket into heaven, but because performing good deeds and helping those in need is the right thing to do. In other words, these are selfless acts.

Christians sometimes proffer Pascal’s Wager (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pascal%27s_wager ) suggesting to non-believers that they should accept Jesus (John 3:16) as some sort of insurance policy against hell, just in case it turns out god really exists. The fallacy with this line of reasoning is that faith in god for some reward or to avoid punishment is not faith at all. It is a selfish act to receive something in return for a belief. The point of religious belief so that one becomes a better person, not to receive a reward or please a spiritual being.

Even the Torah addresses sacrifices or any other act in an effort to please god as displeasing god.

So why do you believe in god? If it is to enter heaven, that is very selfish. If god, heaven, and hell do not exist, would you still perform mitzvahs and follow the Golden Rule or would you say what is the point? Mitzvahs are not meant to please god.

Many Christians also claim that only those who believe can live a moral life and those who do not believe in god have no moral compass. That implies that one lives a moral life, not because it is the right thing to do, but because god expects us to be moral. Again, the fallacy with this reasoning is that mitzvahs and morals should be followed because god or a holy book dictates rules to us and not for personal philosophical or spiritual reasons.

In summary, I have no stake in god's existence. I do not see existence of heaven or hell as a reward and punishment system. If the whole purpose of the Golden Rule preached by Jesus was to treat others as I would like to be treated, I can follow his philosophy without believing in god. What type of god would want me to pledge my fealty to him or her simply for the sake of believing or proving my allegiance? I would expect god is beyond pride and the need for some following.

For all those thumbs down votes, I ask you to examine your personal motivation for believing in god.

Why is the concept that one can perform selfless mitzvahs and possess moral values without belief in god so difficult for many Christians to comprehend?

Answer 2

It's a question or rationality vs irrationality.

There is no definitive proof of the existance of God. All the "evidence" we have is statements in books, many of which are thousands of years old, have been (mis-)translated many times, and were likely largely fiction in the first place.

Of course, there is no proof of the non-existance of God either. But, rationally, you don't start from the supposition that something exists and then challenge others for proof otherwise.

Doctrinal religious belief can be a great comfort to people in times of trouble: it allows them a "shoulder to cry on", and it provides an excellent mechanism for disseminating social control mechanisms (though it is not an absolute requirement that you be religious to have morals).
Further, it provides a mechanism for removing personal responsibility: if you are *told* what the rules are, you never have to think about why they are that way, or have to figure them out for yourself. This is a relief for people who don't want to have to think about these things.

I can't speak for other atheists, but I personally believe in abiogenesis followed by evolution for the "creation" of humans. Not that this makes us any less amazing than if we had been conjured from clay by a supernatural being.

Answer 3

Why doesn't god believe in me? He says I was born evil. He watches me even in the bathroom and then he wants to throw me in the fire if I don't do every little thing he says. I can't spit or gamble or over eat or do anything fun, and then when I die I STILL can't. I got to adore him and sit at his feet and sing psalms. Gees. Even if there WERE a god, I'd STILL be an atheist.

Answer 4

Why should I?
Give me ONE good reason why I should.
There are non-believers because they have realised that religion is a con-trick played upon children and ancient man.
Created me? My parents. Biology is an interesting subject. Try it?
Get real, people! All gods throughout the history of mankind, and that includes all those currently in favour globally, have been the result of mankind's imagination and need. Modern man does not need., only the deluded feel the need.
Living in a fantasy world must be very soft and cuddly. Reality is not so easy and that's why so many religious freaks prefer it. It's an easier option.

Answer 5

It's not that there has to be a explanation for how the earth was created its just the simple fact that it was. It's not that there has to be evidence to support the existence of God -- though the bible is proof enough -- It's just you have to have faith to believe in Him and the things He did. Some people have to have a logical reason for everything. In other words: knowledge as a substitution for lack of faith. Why? Because evidence is gold and seeing is believing. But that is mans' shortcoming. To see everything in front of your face but nothing beyond it. That's what we as human beings must first overcome to have a better understanding of God and His love.

Answer 6

As a Christian/Evolutionist I believe atheism at this point is silly. I believe in evolution because everything began to evolve. Everything that is created evolved. For example, a house. It starts out as a frame and ends up a house. To believe that life came from non-living material is retarded. Do I believe in a talking snake? No, because the Bible shouldn't be taken literally. You should read the Bible and accept the general message. Atheists tend to thrive on the fact that Christians take the Bible literally and use it against them. The Bible wasn't written by God, it was written by humans, capable of error. Therefore we must conclude the Bible has errors. And after all these translations and edits over the years, taking it literally is about as silly as believing a spinning protein exploded for no reason and created everything.

Answer 7

My mom and dad created me. I don't believe in fictional characters that were intended to control our lives. People can be good without any outside influence such as religion or god.....they just need to choose to be good of their own free will instead of depending on religion and god for how to live their lives.

Answer 8

A fair question, but many who do not believe in the icon of your choice do so out of a personal choice.

Remember, even if you believe in something, you are still a non-believer to someone of another religion. And, if you do not believe in Santa, then you are also a non-believer with respect to that. (It's true.)

Answer 9

There are non believer because they are in denial they have never seen any mircale happen there whole life and so they cant accept the fact that there is a spiritual prescence thats guides them in life... and the people that uses the evolution theory thats totally insane all scientist dont belive it only the people that are non religious i mean because even if it is true we came from monkeys... what created the origin of monkeys so the arguement people use on that theory is blown out your still not saying how you were created.... but if you dont belive i say you are just pretty much upset wiht something that happened to you i mean everyone i know that has a god or a gods in there life is happy with everything and the people without one they are the depressed and upset with everything... yet they convinced there self that there a non beleiver. back to the beleiver it all comes down to rather you do or you dont and if you just belive evolution.... dude, what are you thinking.

Answer 10

wow. Arrogance. I would think that a better definition of arrogance would be believing: a supreme being created you and your brothers, you are the center of the universe; the "main characters" in the holiest of books. Why are you any better than the monkeys or the cockroaches with whom you share the earth. Because a book written by one of your own species says so? That if the epitome of arrogance if you ask me. re: "They want to believe they are wiser. But the fact is: they are stranded on this tiny planet suspended in a vast blackness just the same as all the rest of us, and they cannot possibly say with a shred of honesty that they know anything to be fact. Yet, they do say so, and therefore the only explanation is arrogance."

Answer 11

For the same reason you don't believe in Santa Claus. History shows us that man created God (not the other way around) and that the concept of a God or gods is simply impossible.