Why are you an Atheist?

[Joesavi]

No proof that there isn't a God either.

No proof that there isn't a homunculus residing within my brain.
No proof that my heart isn't a mutated radish.
No proof I'm not Samuel L. Jackson.

See why that's not a very good argument?

Then neither is "no proof that there is a god".

It works both ways.

[Streamland]

But those were hybrid religions. They didn't believe, say, Christianity and the aztec religion separately and simultaneously.

^ this, mostly.

Also, you simply can't believe in ALL gods, because there are a couple dozen gods who say: "thou shalt believe ONLY in me".

[Unchecked Expansion]

If you've ever played Portal 2, you'll remember this quote
"Science isn't about why, it's about why not." -Cave Johnson, scientist, lemon burner
So applying this to religion. Why believe in God? Why not believe in God? The argument for or against God could go either way.

Well, at the moment there's no evidence. That's a pretty good reason not to.

[Fnordgasm 5]

But those were hybrid religions. They didn't believe, say, Christianity and the aztec religion separately and simultaneously.

^ this, mostly.

Also, you simply can't believe in ALL gods, because there are a couple dozen gods who say: "thou shalt believe ONLY in me".

Hey, just because you believe in them doesn't mean you have to do what they say. For example, I don't actually believe in Eris because She doesn't believe in me but even if I did, which believe me would take a huge apology on Her part, I still wouldn't follow the rules set down in the Pentabarf.

[Joesavi]

I was never brainwashed into believing magical sky faeries exist.

If you didn't notice, or failed to read, as so many Christians do their own scriptural writings, the question wasn't addressed to you, so kindly bugger off.

What is 'God'? A shared delusion.

I used to be an atheist and talked exactly like those people above, and overall I acted like an asshole to religious people.

Good thing I ended that.

[Ashmoria]

What is 'God'? A shared delusion.

I used to be an atheist and talked exactly like those people above, and overall I acted like an asshole to religious people.

Good thing I ended that.

what caused you to believe and what did you come to believe in?

[Aglorea]

A few years ago I found myself sitting at my computer working on an essay. Out of nowhere I just sort of stopped when I realized I didn't believe in a god anymore. I had been having issues with the concept for some time but I was finally able to see that I just had no belief. I found I could not continue to believe in something that disagreed so strongly with what we know scientifically of the universe (I was a christian). By the time I had fully realized this, I had also come to the understanding that there was no real reason to believe in a god of any sort. There was no evidence for one (or many) at all.

It was very liberating, in a way, even if it has led to the loss of several relationships (romantic and otherwise).

[Joesavi]

I used to be an atheist and talked exactly like those people above, and overall I acted like an asshole to religious people.

Good thing I ended that.

what caused you to believe and what did you come to believe in?

That's some complicated shit there. You could say I'm agnostic, but it mostly came out studying Abrahamic religion a LOT but not really being sure which one made the most sense to me. Then I sort of decided that they're all likely all twisted versions of the same thing and now I don't really know where I stand.

Quickest way I can explain it if it makes any sense.

[Fnordgasm 5]

A few years ago I found myself sitting at my computer working on an essay. Out of nowhere I just sort of stopped when I realized I didn't believe in a god anymore. I had been having issues with the concept for some time but I was finally able to see that I just had no belief. I found I could not continue to believe in something that disagreed so strongly with what we know scientifically of the universe (I was a christian). By the time I had fully realized this, I had also come to the understanding that there was no real reason to believe in a god of any sort. There was no evidence for one (or many) at all.

It was very liberating, in a way, even if it has led to the loss of several relationships (romantic and otherwise).

"working on an essay"?

[Streamland]

what caused you to believe and what did you come to believe in?

That's some complicated shit there. You could say I'm agnostic, but it mostly came out studying Abrahamic religion a LOT but not really being sure which one made the most sense to me. Then I sort of decided that they're all likely all twisted versions of the same thing and now I don't really know where I stand.

Quickest way I can explain it if it makes any sense.

You're not agnostic by any stretch of the imagination.
Ever read something about Universalism? Check the Wiki article if you're interested.

[Tlaceceyaya]

No proof that there isn't a homunculus residing within my brain.
No proof that my heart isn't a mutated radish.
No proof I'm not Samuel L. Jackson.

See why that's not a very good argument?

Then neither is "no proof that there is a god".

It works both ways.

Not so. I'm a bonobo. You have no proof that I am a bonobo, so why believe my ridiculous claim that I am a bonobo?
Also, there's a china teapot in elliptical orbit between Earth and Mars. It is too small to observe with modern or future technology, but it's there. You cannot disprove it, so using flawed logic you would believe me. Using good, scientific logic you would say there is no proof of this teapot or my bonoboness, and you would not believe me.

[Unchecked Expansion]

No proof that there isn't a homunculus residing within my brain.
No proof that my heart isn't a mutated radish.
No proof I'm not Samuel L. Jackson.

See why that's not a very good argument?

Then neither is "no proof that there is a god".

It works both ways.

But there is evidence that there is no god, at least of the sorts that are written about.
And evidence that no god is necessary.

[Aglorea]

A few years ago I found myself sitting at my computer working on an essay. Out of nowhere I just sort of stopped when I realized I didn't believe in a god anymore. I had been having issues with the concept for some time but I was finally able to see that I just had no belief. I found I could not continue to believe in something that disagreed so strongly with what we know scientifically of the universe (I was a christian). By the time I had fully realized this, I had also come to the understanding that there was no real reason to believe in a god of any sort. There was no evidence for one (or many) at all.

It was very liberating, in a way, even if it has led to the loss of several relationships (romantic and otherwise).

"working on an essay"?

Ah, yes. I was going to go into some more background detail with all of that, but then I decided it was mostly useless clutter and cut it from my post, but left that bit in without thinking about it. The basic point, however, is that I wasn't even doing anything related to religion or a god or whatever. I realized I was an atheist almost as an afterthought.

[Ashmoria]

what caused you to believe and what did you come to believe in?

That's some complicated shit there. You could say I'm agnostic, but it mostly came out studying Abrahamic religion a LOT but not really being sure which one made the most sense to me. Then I sort of decided that they're all likely all twisted versions of the same thing and now I don't really know where I stand.

Quickest way I can explain it if it makes any sense.

oh ok that makes perfect sense to me.

no really it does.

[Fnordgasm 5]

That's some complicated shit there. You could say I'm agnostic, but it mostly came out studying Abrahamic religion a LOT but not really being sure which one made the most sense to me. Then I sort of decided that they're all likely all twisted versions of the same thing and now I don't really know where I stand.

Quickest way I can explain it if it makes any sense.

I'm just going to be a dick here and say what I think. At it's best agnosticism is a cop-out. At it's worst it's just an excuse for those who profess it to claim superiority over those who admit to believing or not. I can not nor will not claim to know whether God exists or not but nevertheless I don't believe. When it comes down to something as fundamental as faith I don't think it is possible to not know if you possess it or not. Whether you can truly know or not you either believe or you don't. I don't see how there can be any middle ground.

[Fnordgasm 5]

Ah, yes. I was going to go into some more background detail with all of that, but then I decided it was mostly useless clutter and cut it from my post, but left that bit in without thinking about it. The basic point, however, is that I wasn't even doing anything related to religion or a god or whatever. I realized I was an atheist almost as an afterthought.

Indeed. There is a time and a place to admit to having a balloon fetish. That time probably ain't now and it's probably a bit inappropriate to do so in a thread about God.

[Ashmoria]

That's some complicated shit there. You could say I'm agnostic, but it mostly came out studying Abrahamic religion a LOT but not really being sure which one made the most sense to me. Then I sort of decided that they're all likely all twisted versions of the same thing and now I don't really know where I stand.

Quickest way I can explain it if it makes any sense.

I'm just going to be a dick here and say what I think. At it's best agnosticism is a cop-out. At it's worst it's just an excuse for those who profess it to claim superiority over those who admit to believing or not. I can not nor will not claim to know whether God exists or not but nevertheless I don't believe. When it comes down to something as fundamental as faith I don't think it is possible to not know if you possess it or not. Whether you can truly know or not you either believe or you don't. I don't see how there can be any middle ground.

well ya but....

if there is a god, and if there is ONE god as they abrahamics claim, then ALL gods that are worshipped are that ONE god.

that one god has given different, tailored messages to different cultures. we look at the messages given to other cultures and fail to recognize the god in them. thats OUR problem.

it makes no sense to suppose a loving god hates the non-christian (or non<whatever>) portions of humanity.

but it does leave a person with the problem of what to do about this....should you go with the most nice version of the christianity (or <whatever> you are raised with) or is it silly to pretend to believe that is obviously not literally true? should you try to find a nondenominational general "god exists,yay" kind of religion? should you go with no particular religion at all?

whos to say?

[Streamland]

it makes no sense to suppose a loving god hates the non-christian (or non<whatever>) portions of humanity.

Why not?

[Fnordgasm 5]

well ya but....

if there is a god, and if there is ONE god as they abrahamics claim, then ALL gods that are worshipped are that ONE god.

that one god has given different, tailored messages to different cultures. we look at the messages given to other cultures and fail to recognize the god in them. thats OUR problem.

it makes no sense to suppose a loving god hates the non-christian (or non<whatever>) portions of humanity.

but it does leave a person with the problem of what to do about this....should you go with the most nice version of the christianity (or <whatever> you are raised with) or is it silly to pretend to believe that is obviously not literally true? should you try to find a nondenominational general "god exists,yay" kind of religion? should you go with no particular religion at all?

whos to say?

I honestly don't know. I just think that belief in any god is intrinsic to a persons very being that it's impossible to be confused about it without being dishonest with yourself. It's perfectly acceptable to be confused about issues of religion and dogma.

[Ashmoria]

it makes no sense to suppose a loving god hates the non-christian (or non<whatever>) portions of humanity.

Why not?

loving god hating people is sorta mutually exclusive.

[Ashmoria]

well ya but....

if there is a god, and if there is ONE god as they abrahamics claim, then ALL gods that are worshipped are that ONE god.

that one god has given different, tailored messages to different cultures. we look at the messages given to other cultures and fail to recognize the god in them. thats OUR problem.

it makes no sense to suppose a loving god hates the non-christian (or non<whatever>) portions of humanity.

but it does leave a person with the problem of what to do about this....should you go with the most nice version of the christianity (or <whatever> you are raised with) or is it silly to pretend to believe that is obviously not literally true? should you try to find a nondenominational general "god exists,yay" kind of religion? should you go with no particular religion at all?

whos to say?

I honestly don't know. I just think that belief in any god is intrinsic to a persons very being that it's impossible to be confused about it without being dishonest with yourself. It's perfectly acceptable to be confused about issues of religion and dogma.

i think being confused is a necessary part of being a thinking person when it comes to religion. not that you have to be confused forever but there should be things that dont make sense when you start thinking about them.

[Peoples Democratic Pony Republic]

Because going to church is boring.

[Hossaim]

No proof that there isn't a homunculus residing within my brain.
No proof that my heart isn't a mutated radish.
No proof I'm not Samuel L. Jackson.

See why that's not a very good argument?

Then neither is "no proof that there is a god".

It works both ways.

It does.

The real answer is: there is no logic in god while the alternative has fuckloads of logic, makes more sense, and isn't delusional.

[Isointania]

There is no proof. And why believe in something without proof?

No proof that there isn't a God either.

so right dude so right

[Streamland]

Why not?

loving god hating people is sorta mutually exclusive.

Why is god loving?