I’m an atheist. So why can’t I shake God?

[downbeatplumb]

I would say everyone in their heart knows God exists,

I have never believed in a god, not for one second and I am pretty sure that nothing exists that corrslates to what people think a god is. It seems like a silly idea to me.

 
and some are better than others at suppressing that. Some are angry at God, and some need more evidence before they accept that subconscious belief.

I am not angry at god, it would like being angry at Voldemort, its a fictional character, and a very well written one. I reject the idea on the grounds that it is obvious rubbish. 

This is why I will never give up pushing the information learned by others through near death experiences. Even if you don't agree and think they are hallucination, the lessons they learned and information they brought back is too important for humanity, and the individual to ignore.

But these NDEs are not evidence for what you think they are, we've been over this.

Came across this interesting article and interview, of how one of the world's most famous atheists Antony Flew, before Dawkins and Hitchens came on the scene came to the conclusion late in life that theism makes more sense.

How the World’s Most Notorious Atheist Changed His Mind

http://www.strangenotions.com/flew/
I find it significant that Flew converted when he was in his eighties, dementia perhaps?

[Homeless Nutter]

Since most people can't even define God using words that mean anything, I highly doubt most people "know God exists". And certainly not in their heart.

I think theists commonly confuse "to know" with "to wish". Sure, deep down we all wish there was an omnipotent, benevolent being, terribly preoccupied with our mundane existence. But wishing, hoping, praying and begging for something is not knowledge about it.

Magical thinking. Just say "no", kids...

[robvalue]

Indeed. Good point.

Like when I hear people say, "Would you prefer there is no afterlife then?", as if believing in it or wishing for it has any effect on whether it is the case or not.

Personally, I don't wish there is a powerful being that is extremely concerned with me, because that would mean it's doing a shit job.

I first met religion and "God" at the age of five, as many of you know. Even at that tender age, I thought "This is mental. These people are talking to nothing". So no, I don't and never have believed in "God".

If people have to pretend to themselves that they know me better than I know myself in order to feel secure, then go ahead.

[robvalue]

Also:

Excellent point Esquilax about "faith" being an evolutionary advantage for the young. I hadn't put two and two together there. Of course, an overly sceptical child may simply get themselves killed and so doesn't get to reproduce.

An excellent explanation for why we are indeed "hardwired for faith" to a degree. Some of us seem to grow out of it at a certain age when it is no longer useful, like you say.

It can be useful in an evolutionary sense in survival situations though. For example, if hundreds of people are all running away from something unseen, running with them might be a good plan.

[downbeatplumb]

Since most people can't even define God using words that mean anything, I highly doubt most people "know God exists". And certainly not in their heart.

Exactly this, every definition I've seen of this imaginary being has been vague in the extreme. With some people saying that everybody knows what god is when I do not. As far as I can tell god is a mesh mash of wish projection, lazy explanations and anthropomorphism of abstract concepts with a side of population control. That is all, no basis in reality.

[robvalue]

That is the most common definition I've heard. Everyone knows what it is.

Clearly, they don't. I don't.

The evidence suggests that everyone "knows what it is" because it exists only in their imagination. As soon as any actual, meaningful words are used to describe it, it contradicts with another theist's version. So either there's a God for each person, or else they don't know God well at all. Or more likely, it's all in their head.

No one has yet told me how I can distinguish between a god and an arbitrarily powerful non-God.

[downbeatplumb]

That is the most common definition I've heard. Everyone knows what it is.

Clearly, they don't. I don't.

The evidence suggests that everyone "knows what it is" because it exists only in their imagination. As soon as any actual, meaningful words are used to describe it, it contradicts with another theist's version. So either there's a God for each person, or else they don't know God well at all. Or more likely, it's all in their head.

No one has yet told me how I can distinguish between a god and an arbitrarily powerful non-God.

We know Q from Start trek isn't a god yet he displayed all the characteristics of a god. A god seems to be a thing that exists "just over there" constantly just out of reach.

[robvalue]

Haha. Yeah, the "distinguishing features" are a bunch of word salad that depends on who you are asking.

Shit like the "author of morality". If someone stopped and analysed what that's supposed to mean, they would (hopefully) realize it's a nonsense statement. It means he has a very strong opinion about what morality should be, yet created people who don't share his opinion and are free to ignore it.

[Brian37]

The only real "gods" are beer, cats, and porn, well as long as you aren't mixing the cats with porn.

[Bob Kelso]

The only real "gods" are beer, cats, and porn, well as long as you aren't mixing the cats with porn.

Hear, hear!