Reasons for belief

[Arthur123]

Good afternoon, I was genuinely curious to hear from you guys what reason(s) you have for believing in atheism or agnosticism. This is not supposed to be an exhaustive thread but rather which arguments you find effective and compelling and perhaps the circumstances that ultimately lead to your conclusion. Please don't respond (though I grant you have every right to do so) religion is dumb only dummies believe in that. Im more interested in a civil explanation of the specifics of your reasoning and foundation for your beliefs.

Kindest regards,

[Nine]

I didn't grow up believing in a god and was never convinced by anyone who said that their god was real. Pretty simple really. The only reason would be that nobody has ever given me a good reason believe them.

[Foxaèr]

It is not about having a belief in atheism. Rather, atheism is the rejection of the belief in the existence of deities on the basis that there is no evidence to support their existences.

[Chad32]

Most atheists are atheists because they haven't been presented with adequate evidence. As far as christianity goes, the bible is a mess of books that contradict each other, have parts that are demonstrably false, and other parts where people can't figure out if it's supposed to be literal or metaphorical.

I was raised christian, but the main reason I currently don't believe is that I don't accept the basic premise. I don't accept the idea that an innocent person should pay for the crimes of the guilty, to save them from infinite punishment for finite crimes, because they didn't meet a standard that's purposefully set impossibly high.

This god created a place of punishment for those who don't meet a standard that's literally impossible to meet, and wants us to beg forgiveness for not meeting that standard and save us from a place he created for those who fail something that they can't pass on their own.

This is not justice in any sense of the word. It's a rigged system. Much like the idea of throwing a "witch" into a lake. If she floats, she's a witch. If she sinks, she's not a witch but is dead because she drowned.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

As Kit and Chad said, atheism isn't generally a positive belief ('I believe that gods do not exist') although this is occasionally the case. Much more common is the position, 'I do not believe the gods exist', which is referred to as negative atheism.

For myself, I lack belief in gods because there is no evidence that they exist, and the arguments for their existence are not at all persuasive.

Boru

[Napoléon]

Good afternoon, I was genuinely curious to hear from you guys what reason(s) you have for believing in atheism or agnosticism.

Can't tell if trolling or just stupid.

[Nine]

Can't tell if trolling or just stupid.

Its better to pretend they are for real. Then you can have some fun with them even if its only interesting for a little while.

[ShaMan]

For all I know...

[Chad32]

Good afternoon, I was genuinely curious to hear from you guys what reason(s) you have for believing in atheism or agnosticism.

Can't tell if trolling or just stupid.

If he comes back and has a civil discussion with us, he's likely genuine. If he just posted this and left, he's likely trolling.

[Arthur123]

Right, most of you are weak atheists. Understood, but it is a belief nonetheless in the sense that inherent in the statement atheism is you believe in your lack of belief concerning God(s). A few questions, besides the obvious( God showing up saying he is real act.) what evidence would sway you? For example, if the universe was designed what would that look like? Secondly, where does cognitive dissonance play a role in the phenomena that is atheism. If you are an atheist because you see no reasons to think otherwise what happens when you loose a debate against someone who has stronger reasoning for an argument than you? Do you instantly switch sides? Or stubbornly continue in your belief?

Chad, it sounds like your more open to deism, than theism. Am I correct in this assessment?