God is a hypothesis, a model which purports to answer many questions (the birth of the universe, the origins of life, the purpose of existence, human morality, etc.) Treated scientifically, this god hypothesis would make testable, falsifiable predictions, which might lead to a greater understanding of reality. These tests would be weighed against null and alternative hypotheses, the results scrutinized from various perspectives, and, if warranted, new tests would be devised, hypotheses modified or discarded, etc.
But sadly, this is not the case.
Theists don’t follow objective evidence, altering their beliefs based upon empirical data; rather, theists fixate upon predetermined, unshakable, untestable conclusions. They scream, “scientism!” anytime someone suggests their hypothesis be impartially scrutinized or tested. And while the existence or non-existence of a deity is binary, the conviction of our beliefs in any such being is often more probabilistic, based upon an individual’s subjective reasons for drawing the conclusions that they do. It is for this reason that many atheists express a “lack of belief” in any god hypothesis (and there have been thousands of such divine assertions across the ages) because, should the empirical evidence ever point to an actual deity really existing, these atheists would indeed alter their worldview to adjust to the new data. Therefore, “lack of belief” becomes shorthand for, “I currently find no compelling empirical evidence to support any particular god hypothesis, but I’m open to new data and willing to adjust my beliefs accordingly.” Until such convincing new evidence is brought to light, I, like many others, will continue to feel justified expressing our “lack of belief.”
But sadly, this is not the case.
Theists don’t follow objective evidence, altering their beliefs based upon empirical data; rather, theists fixate upon predetermined, unshakable, untestable conclusions. They scream, “scientism!” anytime someone suggests their hypothesis be impartially scrutinized or tested. And while the existence or non-existence of a deity is binary, the conviction of our beliefs in any such being is often more probabilistic, based upon an individual’s subjective reasons for drawing the conclusions that they do. It is for this reason that many atheists express a “lack of belief” in any god hypothesis (and there have been thousands of such divine assertions across the ages) because, should the empirical evidence ever point to an actual deity really existing, these atheists would indeed alter their worldview to adjust to the new data. Therefore, “lack of belief” becomes shorthand for, “I currently find no compelling empirical evidence to support any particular god hypothesis, but I’m open to new data and willing to adjust my beliefs accordingly.” Until such convincing new evidence is brought to light, I, like many others, will continue to feel justified expressing our “lack of belief.”
