RE: Debate: God Exists
March 22, 2017 at 12:29 am
(This post was last modified: March 22, 2017 at 12:32 am by masterofpuppets.)
Theists always seem compelled to shift the burden of proof in the most subtle of ways. As was pointed out earlier they will say something like "you're the one refusing to accept the evidence that God exists, which needs to be justified".
There are two problems with this line of thinking. One is that it assumes that atheists are consciously refusing to accept the evidence, and therefore the claim that God exists. This is done to make atheism appear as if it were not a neutral/the default position. The truth is that atheists are UNCONVINCED (hence lack a belief) that the claim "God exists" is true. It doesn't require an active effort to lack a belief in something, and it's certainly not a "refusal" to accept the evidence, all it is is that the evidence is unconvincing to atheists. Atheists may give their reasons for why they are unconvinced (which they definitely should), but no one is "trying" to be an atheist.
Second is that such a statement is used to distract the discussion from the real problem, which is that the evidence itself is seriously lacking in substantiating theistic claims. It's as if theists are claiming that atheists are refusing to accept the evidence as an excuse to lower the standard of evidence that they see appropriate in justifying their beliefs. Fortunately, most atheists are quick to point out the flaws in the theists' tactics.
There are two problems with this line of thinking. One is that it assumes that atheists are consciously refusing to accept the evidence, and therefore the claim that God exists. This is done to make atheism appear as if it were not a neutral/the default position. The truth is that atheists are UNCONVINCED (hence lack a belief) that the claim "God exists" is true. It doesn't require an active effort to lack a belief in something, and it's certainly not a "refusal" to accept the evidence, all it is is that the evidence is unconvincing to atheists. Atheists may give their reasons for why they are unconvinced (which they definitely should), but no one is "trying" to be an atheist.
Second is that such a statement is used to distract the discussion from the real problem, which is that the evidence itself is seriously lacking in substantiating theistic claims. It's as if theists are claiming that atheists are refusing to accept the evidence as an excuse to lower the standard of evidence that they see appropriate in justifying their beliefs. Fortunately, most atheists are quick to point out the flaws in the theists' tactics.
"Faith is the excuse people give when they have no evidence."
- Matt Dillahunty.
- Matt Dillahunty.