Shout in the air, "Dear Lord, if you're real, please show me by striking me down with lightning this very instance!"

*wait for an awkward moment*

"Well, there's your proof."

Haha yeah. I love doing that. I did it in one of my videos. Some people just need a visual demonstration.

I remember when we were young, there was some stupid rumour going around about standing in front of a mirror and saying some phrase or other three times. Something scary was meant to happen. When I heard about it, I said "Well I'll do it right now". The friends I were with were actually scared, like something was really going to happen. But I did it, and of course nothing happened. I don't buy into bullshitz.

(February 8, 2016 at 8:50 pm)Brian37 Wrote:

(February 8, 2016 at 8:27 pm)Gawdzilla Wrote: With the mountain of evidence extant there's no reason to try to find more. They've rejected everything so far, giving us no reason to believe they'd accept any new information. So basically the questioner is saying "Make me feel good about my beliefs by presenting evidence I can dismiss without consideration."

Short answer: Don't piss into the wind.

Why is it "pissing in the wind"?

See that is the problem. You only think about them, but it isn't just about them. It does work otherwise we wouldn't have former believer now atheists on this website. Nobody would ever leave any religion if we never questioned it.

And don't assume we simply argue to convince theists they are wrong. We also do it to show other doubters, fence sitters, and closet atheists that it is ok to question.

If our species never questioned social norms our species never would have left the caves. Just the issue of atheists having a voice is important. I know where the online atheist community was and how small it was back in 01 and how big it has become since then. We really are increasingly growing a bigger voice.

The problem is that you focused on one single aspect of the problem. I'm glad you defeated the dragon you spawned. 

I spawned a dragon? For what, saying it is not pointless to challenge religion? Ok.

I never make the assertion that a god doesn't exist, I simply ask them how they know.

Atheism isn't the assertion that a god doesn't exist, it's a disbelief one does.

(February 10, 2016 at 2:06 pm)DanTheOutlaw Wrote: I never make the assertion that a god doesn't exist, I simply ask them how they know.

Atheism isn't the assertion that a god doesn't exist, it's a disbelief one does.

"I hate the "ism" part, we are not a religion or a club and even atheists vary on even how to view god claims.

I do say god does not exist. 

I not only hold the "off" position, I do say that all current and past claims of god/s are bullshit. Now the only part I am "agnostic" about is the future, but even then it is so fleetingly and infinitely unlikely to me that remote possibility is not worth considering. 

Science is running away from the god of the gaps as an answer. 

So the only rational explanation for people making claims of gods is that they gap fill because our species perceptions of reality are notoriously flawed. Humans make them up. That is a much more reasonable explanation as to why god claims exist.

I am an "agnostic atheist". The "agnostic" part is strictly semantic, "technically agnostic", but currently my switch is in the off position on all current and past claims and an am very certain about that.

"Technically" I cant say in the future a giant invisible unicorn will be discovered because I have not lived the future, but how much time should I waste considering that?

Humans make up all god claims so that explains why, no need to cling to the past with what we know now.

(February 10, 2016 at 2:06 pm)DanTheOutlaw Wrote: I never make the assertion that a god doesn't exist, I simply ask them how they know.

Atheism isn't the assertion that a god doesn't exist, it's a disbelief one does.

The only problem with asking them how they know is that you have to listen to all of the inane answers.  
"I have a personal relationship with god!"  
"I can feel him in my heart!"
"God speaks to me, I can feel him when I pray."
"God exists, the Bible says so!"
"How can you look around at this beautiful world and not know that god exists?"
"I had an experience (healing, revelation, vision, saved from disaster, NDE, having the leaves blown out of my yard, etc.,) that convinced me that god exists."
"Every time I'm around my sainted ______ I see god in them."
"When I pray (for rain, to find my car keys, to get a job) it usually happens."
- - - And a dozen other equally ridiculous, un-provable gobs of woo.

(February 10, 2016 at 3:19 pm)drfuzzy Wrote: The only problem with asking them how they know is that you have to listen to all of the inane answers.  
"I have a personal relationship with god!" 

The proper atheist reply:

If female: "Oh god, you're pregnant, aren't you?"
If male: "Oh god, you're pregnant, aren't you!?"

The way I testify other gods aren't gods is the same way I testify to the true God.

MK. Do you see a pattern.
In 300 years we'll have a bunch of other trendier Gods to believe in.
The current batch will be put in the attic with Zeus, Ra, Vishnu, etc, and be considered relics of a bygone era.

But of all the thousands of Gods, you just happen to worship the one that is actually true!
Wow, man, you are so lucky! What are the odds, eh?