Resoning for belief in God

[WWLD]

Adrian, how can I spend time challenging my atheism in regards to its opposition to God when I've got the FSM, Zeus, Russell's Teapot, the Tooth Fairy, Santa Claus, the IPU and much much much much much much MUCH more to deal with too? There's no time!

Maybe for a laugh once in a while.

EvF

lol

[g-mark]

Interesting.

Taken from context:

You believe what you believe because of social support and the circle of people you really like.

This is true. Look at this forum.

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Strange how he talks about about all beliefs, then proceeds to say 'for my god'. He seems to understand the problem with religion, but still preaches Christian beliefs.

The best part was a statement at the end:

"Maybe god wishes atheists to be atheists"

This is very good.

[Edwardo Piet]

I believe what I believe because I believe I have reason to believe those things

I.e. evidence for instance. I don't believe in God not because of 'social aspects' but because there's no fucking good reason.

Doesn't matter hot much social pressure there is it can't actual convince me to BELIEVE it. Everyone around me could be a religious nutjob - they could perhaps scare me into being a closet atheist (I'd fucking hope not though, they'd have to be pretty fucking scary) - but they cannot change my belief.

If I really 'wanted to' believe I could read the bible, sit down and pray in a church and among other things think "I do believe I do believe I do believe...I DO believe," "God exists.", etc - but none of that will do any good if I DON'T believe it.

My reason(s) for not believing in God are logical and rational: I know of no evidence.

Social pressures can't change that. And people being friendly and social SUPPORT certainly can't change that either!

I don't not believe in God because people in here don't...the reason I'm here in the first place is because I don't (besides some come here who DO believe in God too; and they've got their own reasons too).

If everyone here was really friendly to me and gave 'social support' but they were religious and this was a Christian forum instead...and for some reason I stuck around - I'd still not believe in that whole "God" bullshit. I'd either chat and debate with them and be friendly to them back - or I'd just get the fuck outta there.

Social 'pressures'. Social 'support' and social 'friendliness' - doesn't effect my non-belief. If I don't believe I don't believe - I have to be actually convinced that he exists (or most probably) - friendliness and 'support' does no good if it doesn't actually address the question: Does God exist? - !

I need valid evidence of SOME form at least.

EvF

[fr0d0]

So did you grow up, live now, have a social group with strong religious leanings then EvF? If not then you follow the model!

[Edwardo Piet]

The point is that no matter how much social 'support' you have or 'friendliness' you get...it doesn't give any reason to believe God actually EXISTS.

There are a shit load of religious people...if they SUPPORT me that doesn't in anyway CONVINCE me lol.

I need a reason to believe. It doesn't make any sense the whole social thing because it has NOTHING to do to it. EVERYONE could be on to me with all such of support/pressure or friendliness/unfriendliness it still doesn't address the questionoes God exist? To believe it does doesn't make any sense. How could it?

I could say in my head over and over again and pray;as I have said - but that wouldn't influence me at all if I DON'T believe it. It's bullshit.

The question actually has to be addressed. I actually need evidence (or at least what I CONSIDER to be evidence - lots of people believe in God, but for the wrong reasons or mistaken evidence (wrong reasons because as far as I know there aren't any RIGHT reasons - there's no evidence).

It just doesn't make any sense whatsoever. Everyone in the world could 'support' me 'socially' untill they're blue in the face - if I don't actually know of any evidence it would have no effect. They'd have to completely brainwash me and I have NO idea how the fuck they would do that without any actual evidence. I'd just laugh at them; and gladly.

EvF

[fr0d0]

Yes would have done!

[Edwardo Piet]

You mean I would have laughed at them? Or they would have succeeded in somehow brainwashing me (in your opinion)? (or both)Lol.

EvF

[Giff]

Don't think they would have suceeded to brainwash you. It depends on what type of person you are, if you are vanurble of group pressure or not.

But if it's not logic or make any sences, then normal people won't be tricked to believe in such things. Not as long as they have access to knowledge.

[g-mark]

Yes would have done!

LOL

[lilphil1989]

I agree very much with the last questioner.
When someone says that they think there is creator god, whilst I may think otherwise and disagree with their reasoning (and of course, challenge them on it), I can believe they are being, at least partially, intellectually honest.

The problem is when you go from saying I think the universe was created by something external, to saying that it must then be the god of the old testament, zeus, the FSM or whatever, this is what he/she/it thinks, this is what it wants you to do and this is how it wants you to behave. It's a total non-sequiter, and something I can have no respect for whatsoever.