If I were an Atheist

[*Deidre*]

Well, I was once an atheist...and the beautiful atheists I've met along my journey in faith, is an experience I'd never trade. Not everyone can emotionally handle atheism. I was one such person. No one can prove that a deity exists, but it brings me some sense of comfort to know one just might exist. Deism resonates with me now, more than theism.

Everyone has to find their own way.

Haven't seen you in a while. Hello! I used to go back and forth between some notion of an omnipresent Eye and atheism because I thought it offered solace somehow... like a heavenly father or Santa Clause figure... until I couldn't figure how it offered me anything except a weak justification to hold onto wishful thinking while denying the evidence of reality. I'm glad you're doing well Deidre but could you perhaps elaborate on what difference deism makes in your life and why you feel that wasn't available as an atheist? Maybe make a new post about it? I genuinely don't get it.

Well, my grandmother died a few months ago. She was a very powerful source in my life. She became ill about a year ago, and that's when I began wrestling with 'my atheism.' Not from a logical view, but emotionally. My grandmother was a staunch Catholic and had hoped me to 'find God' again, after she died. But, it wasn't so much her religious influence, but rather I was religious for far longer than I ever identified as an atheist. It's hard to shake that theistic residue, in terms of a world view, if you will. But, be it as it may, I don't believe in any 'holy book' anymore, although there are sacred traditions of Christianity that I sometimes miss. The sense of belonging and so forth. Having said that, I find Deism to be more about reason, than mere feelings. It doesn't require a lot from me, other than to stay open to the possibility of a Creator existing. I think I've always felt this way, as an atheist. There was always this part of me that couldn't fully commit to atheism, even though I do think atheism is a natural conclusion one comes to, and not so much a choice.

Over the past few months, I've realized that a lot of my inner struggles came from my grandmother's death. I see that. I know it plays a huge part in why I didn't feel comforted for lack of a better word, as an atheist.

Religion and faith...and spirituality and all of it, really is about emotions. I never felt good about trying to ''prove'' that a God exists, as a Christian, for there is no objective proof. But, there is comfort, if you wish to seek it. No one knows if a deity exists or not for certain, but I can hope in one. That is what Deism offers to me and it offers a strange bit of comfort during my grieving process right now.

How will I feel 6 months from now? Hard to say. But, for now...this is where I am. Hope that helps.

[Crossless2.0]

Yes, and there are some important factor one shouldn't neglect - how many people know what being atheist means, what is the public perception of the label (would you want to identofy as such even if the shoe fits) and what is our definition of atheist we are using to make the statistic?

I can guarantee the average person will be shocked to discover that some people who call themselves atheists don't have the opinion that God doesn't exist, they merely lack belief in the existence of God.

I can guarantee my total lack of concern over what the average person (I assume you meant average theist) thinks atheism entails. You seem to have a problem with the so-called weak atheist position because it isn't a positive claim in the form of 'God does not exist'. But there is a hidden positive claim in the weak atheist position. It is: Theists have consistently failed to adequately present good evidence in support of their case that God exists; therefore, I do not accept their claims.

This has been explained to you, and I don't believe for a moment that you don't understand the position. Stop being disingenuous.

[Thumpalumpacus]

Well, my grandmother died a few months ago. She was a very powerful source in my life.

My sympathies on your loss, ma'am.

[Drew_2013]

I do not remember which religion the OP said that they followed but I am most familiar with American Christianity so I will use that as a reference. Christianity is an evangelical faith. It's adherents believe and tell other faiths that their way of doing things is wrong and the deities they worship are false. That is considered a loving actions by Christians. Perhaps other faiths also practice this type of evangelism. Yet, some Christians express anger or say they are persecuted when atheists do the same thing back to them. Non Christians are supposed to have a very high acceptance of which behaviors by Christians are considered rude and yet Christians set a very low bar as to what is considered rude behavior toward them by nonChristians.

For the record I'm a philosophical theist. I believe we owe our existence to a Creator. I agree many religious people are very obnoxious. But that wouldn't be reason to believe God doesn't exist. That would only provide a reason not to like obnoxious religious people.

The reason that atheists use Santa Claus as an analogy is that theists often don't seem to understand that atheists do not accept their god as real. Theists have become so used to being the ones in power for so long that they honestly can not put themselves in a nonbelievers place.

They use it because it attempts to make an intellectual equivalency between belief in absurd things (that few do believe in) and claim its the same as belief in God. Its really just an insult same as the claim there isn't any evidence in favor of the existence of God.

You can try to argue a god into existence all you like, but you have absolutely zero evidence. If there was evidence it would be on constant display; the fact that it isn't is telling.

I have made a case on this very board citing several lines of evidence. Evidence is simply facts the comport with a belief. The reason atheists claim there is no evidence is because they can say belief in theism is just an irrational belief. Its BS.

[*Deidre*]

Well, my grandmother died a few months ago. She was a very powerful source in my life.

My sympathies on your loss, ma'am.

Thanks

[Thumpalumpacus]

I have made a case on this very board citing several lines of evidence.

Why aren’t they expressing their viewpoint in a way that actually persuades people?

[The Valkyrie]

Because the preponderance of evidence favors the theistic hypothesis.

Laughably incorrect.

In absolutely no way does evidence support religious claims.

The reason the theists put so much importance on faith is because they need to override the need for evidence because they have none.

[Cato]

I have made a case on this very board citing several lines of evidence. Evidence is simply facts the comport with a belief. The reason atheists claim there is no evidence is because they can say belief in theism is just an irrational belief. Its BS.

You're right, theism is BS.

(Ambiguous pronouns can be a bitch.)

[Nope]

Well, my grandmother died a few months ago. She was a very powerful source in my life.

My sympathies on your loss, ma'am.

Mine too. My grandmother was more like my mother and I still miss her

[*Deidre*]

My sympathies on your loss, ma'am.

Mine too. My grandmother was more like my mother and I still miss her

and she was a mentor and friend. just so much all in one person.

so, may I ask, how do you manage your emotions as an atheist, when it comes to something as traumatic as that?