No, I don't have hard evidence he exists, but there isn't hard evidence that he doesn't, either. If it makes people feel good to believe in a supreme being, why persecute them? There are some over-the-top types who commit crime and acts of hate in the name of God - I'm not talking about these folks. These folks are loco. But can't we just agree to disagree without calling each other "stupid" and "ignorant"?
2007-12-12 05:20:45 · 34 answers · asked by HoyaDoc 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
it's funny that it's assumed i believe in god bc i presented both sides of the story - people have been persecuted both for believing and not believing. so again i ask, why can't we agree to disagree without resorting to name-calling?
2007-12-12 05:36:02 · update #1
I am an atheist and I do not think you are stupid or ignorant for believing in god. It is your choice. If your faith lets you sleep better at night, good for you. I don't push my atheism on anyone, just like I don't like it when people push their religion on me. I will probably get a lot of thumbs down for this comment, but I think it is wrong how a lot of atheists on YA put people down for being believers, but then they get mad when people put them down for being athiests. Anyway, my point is that athiests should stop trying to convince believers that there isn't a god, and believers should stop trying to convince athiests that there is a god. Just let people believe what they believe.
2007-12-12 05:37:41 · answer #1 · answered by add6139 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is no need for hard evidence that God doesn't exist. Just like there is no need for hard evidence that magical pixie fairies don't exist. But why tolerate the spread of misinformation and ignorance? Calling someone ignorant is not an insult. It may be meant as an insult sometimes, but it is also a factual statement. The claim could be false, but it is still a declaration of truth rather than simply being mean. And what if it makes people feel good to believe that magical pixie fairies surround their cars and protect them as they drive around town? This faith could cause them to be careless and increase traffic accidents, which result in vehicle and bodily damage as well as death. And this would be happening all because you and people like you demand that we do not hurt someone's feelings by educating them about their ignorant thinking.
2007-12-12 05:35:30 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is also no evidence that the Easter Bunny doesn't exist. How about the Tooth Fairy? No evidence that she isn't bouncing around. Bloody Mary? She's a fun one, bet she's glad there is no proof that she doesn't exist.
A rational person does not belief in things that have no proof. Research the history of religion and you'll see that all of them have basically done the same things. It doesn't make any sense that today's religions and god(s) are any better or more valid that all those god(s) that have been dismissed as mythology.
2007-12-12 05:28:40 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Do you truly believe that you're being persecuted? I hear this so often from Christians particularly in the US and it stuns me. I honestly don't think you know what persecution is.
Personally I don't care what someone believes. As long as they respect my right to not believe like them were fine.
I'm pretty sure I've never called anyone stupid for believing differently than I do but even if I had that would hardly be persecuting them.
Since coming here I've been called immoral, unethical, evil and a host of other things simply for not believing like someone else. I've even had people proclaim they know what I believe and that I don't and that all atheists really do believe in god but deny it. How arrogant is that? But even that is hardly persecution.
2007-12-12 05:25:22 · answer #4 · answered by tuyet n 7 · 7⤊ 0⤋
That would be best. If atheists and theists could agree to disagree, and in the end just co-exist. Excellent question. Persecution is never the answer.
2007-12-12 05:38:54 · answer #5 · answered by thewiserfool 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It makes people feel good to sniff petrol, too. It doesn't mean they aren't stupid for doing so. And the logical contradictions inherent in the description of God are more than sufficient evidence that he doesn't exist.
That said, there are intelligent theists. Proportionally less than atheists, but they do exist and consequently it's unfair to make generalisations about the intelligence of those who believe in gods.
2007-12-12 05:27:36 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
There are a lot of smart folks out there who believe in God. Take a look at author C.S. Lewis. He used to be an atheist back when he served in WWI. However, he came to believe in God and wrote a book about it called "Mere Christianity." He also wrote a children's book series titled "The Chronicles of Narnia."
J.R.R. Tolkien was also a Christian and wrote a fantasy book series titled "The Lord of the Rings."
My aunt and step-uncle are both Christians and college educated individuals. My aunt is a counselor with a master's degree and my uncle works as a mechanical engineer.
As for myself, I have a college degree in history and I hope to go back for my master's degree in library and informational sciences.
There are a lot of people out there who believe in God and are extremely smart. Besides, Jesus knew He was the One to atone for humanity's sins so that we wouldn't have to do it ourselves. That understanding does NOT make one stupid.
2007-12-12 05:30:23 · answer #7 · answered by chrstnwrtr 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not stupid. Lots of very intelligent people believe a lot of silly things. These people are under the delusion that god exists. The word delusion is the most accurate way to describe it, since belief in things that there is no evidence for is tantamount to being deluded.
2007-12-12 05:25:26 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
There are people who feel the need to make themselves feel superior to others. They typically use science as "proof" that there is no God, therefore anyone who believes in God is, in their mind, ignorant of Science and general not very intelligent. They quite often try to portray themselves as intellectual, but that ruse is usually easily seen through. Let's not forget the familiar tactic of quoting scripture out of context, incompletely or simply incorrectly.
It boils down to exercising our free will. Some people believe in God, some do not. Quite often people on both sides of the fence denigrate others for their beliefs. That is , in my opinion, true ignorance!
2007-12-12 05:30:16 · answer #9 · answered by Jay R 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
"No, I don't have hard evidence he exists, but there isn't hard evidence that he doesn't, either."
Worst. Argument. Ever.
With the "it makes people feel good thing" I would think that people who believe in gods are emotionally weak more than anything.
2007-12-13 02:10:57 · answer #10 · answered by Keyring 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋