Is it a good idea to be an atheist?

[Whateverist]

You see, the difference between a believer and an atheist is a believer believes and an atheist thinks he is right.
Thank you

Actually, if I'm reading this section correctly, both "believe" in something.
The "believer", in this case, believer of a god, believes god exists.
The atheist, believes god doesn't exist.

And some of us don't actually have sufficient grounds or a clear enough understanding of what a god is to bother forming any beliefs. For me, I just admit to being unaware of any belief in gods going on in me. Doesn't mean belief in gods can't be rampant in others. Theists claim those beliefs, I don't. But I have nothing to say about 'gods'. I just refuse to engage.

FWIW, the bible is NOT proof of any existence of god. Just because someone who believes god exists because of what's been written in the bible, does not make it so.

Spot on. No more than what is written in a comic book proves the existence of Superman.

[robvalue]

An atheist need not take even that stance, the default is to reject the claim that "God does exist". There's no obligation to also accept the seperate claim that "God doesn't exist."

It's a bit subtle, but rejecting a claim doesn't require accepting the opposite claim. More on my website

It's two seperate claims, "God exists" and "God doesn't exist". I can reject both claims if I like, in other words I don't feel I have enough grounds to rule gods in or out. Of course, many atheists would go further and say they would believe they can rule God out. But it's not a requirement.

[Joods]

None of you has answered my question.

I am still waiting.

Sorry but the burden of proof, as you call it, is on you. Otherwise, it means you would first - if no proof - assume there is no God. Which is contradictory.

How is the burden of proof on the atheist, when we aren't the ones making the claims that there is a god in the first place?

And actually, if you've paid any sort of attention here, you'll find that yeah, your question has been answered. You probably didn't get the answers you wanted to hear so you childishly comment with the typical vomitious blurb of "none of you answered my question".

[JuliaL]

The point that the burden of proof belongs to only positive claims has been beaten to death in this thread.

The failure to recognize where the burden of proof lies removes any barrier to uncritical acceptance of any claim without evidence. This is common and leads to shouting.

On the largest scale, without some evidence on which to judge, there is no reason to accept one god rather than another. On millions of lesser topics, conflict arises when competing claims are put forward without evidence with their advocates each pushing their own agendas. Generally these take the form of, "God told me that (fill in desirable good here) was mine and I should take it from anyone who currently has it."

My objection to violence between stupid theists, each with the (uncritical acceptance of the) above generic argument, is that their wars tend to spill over and affect me. This is, by definition, bad.

[Jesusislord]

Hello,

I just want to ask a little, simple question here, to all atheists?

If you ask a believer why he believes in God, his answer most likely will be "Because I believe" or something to that extent.

Not very convincing, huh? The thing is, next time a believer convinces an atheist into believing, please let me know. I would be curious.

Let us turn the question around. Let us ask an atheist why he doesn't believe.

Most likely, we will hear something like "I only believe what I see" or "Why would a God let little innocent children die in a natural disaster?"

So we ask the atheist again: "Why don't you believe?". Let us record the answer.

Then we ask the atheist, "you don't believe because of...[his answer]?"

Then we tell him, "you realize you can help humanity a great deal by sharing your answer with the rest of the world?". "The world will be so much better knowing somebody has found a definite proof God does not exist because [his answer]". "You will be rewarded with a Nobel Prize and all wars will stop thanks to your thoughtfulness."

You see, the difference between a believer and an atheist is a believer believes and an atheist thinks he is right.

If you are an atheist and you so damn think you are right to be one, then let the world hear how you came to that conclusion, because for sure, this will change the world.

Thank you

I have noticed that some of the atheist members on this forum state that some members were previously members of churches and then became atheists. My question is simply were any of these members Christians before - Here I mean, did any of these members have a personal relationship with Jesus and then became atheists? Anybody can 'belong to a church' but to have a relationship with God is something totally different....

[FatAndFaithless]

There are plenty of atheists that came from a 'personal relationship with Jesus'.

[robvalue]

The atheist Pope Matt Dillahunty was a christian for 25 years and was studying to become a minister.

Plenty of christians were dead serious about their belief but then lost it.

Why just christians? How come Muslims don't interest you? You can have a personal relationship with that other jesus guy, and Allan.

[Mister Agenda]

I have noticed that some of the atheist members on this forum state that some members were previously members of churches and then became atheists. My question is simply were any of these members Christians before - Here I mean, did any of these members have a personal relationship with Jesus and then became atheists? Anybody can 'belong to a church' but to have a relationship with God is something totally different....

Former born-again, tongue-speaking, daily Bible-reading, pray to Jesus and believing I got answers all the time Pentecostal here.

[watchamadoodle]

I have noticed that some of the atheist members on this forum state that some members were previously members of churches and then became atheists. My question is simply were any of these members Christians before - Here I mean, did any of these members have a personal relationship with Jesus and then became atheists? Anybody can 'belong to a church' but to have a relationship with God is something totally different....

God is a product of our imaginations, so the relationship is always deeply personal.

[abaris]

Here I mean, did any of these members have a personal relationship with Jesus and then became atheists? Anybody can 'belong to a church' but to have a relationship with God is something totally different....

Define relationship with Jesus. Do you mean, chilling with Jesus on the sofa, hearing voices, like so many of your brethren claim?

No, I didn't.

And as I explained in my first post in this thread, the whole OP is built upon simplistic assumptions and the demand for equally simplistic answers. But, surprise, surprise, life is anything but simple. And there are as many stories to be heard as there are atheists. This isn't about atheism 1.01 in sunday school, this is about real people having a real life with real experiences.