Choosing to/not to Believe? Not Possible?

[polymath257]

Let me add, that for the vast majority of atheists, our atheism is NOT a dogmatic position. It is a provisional position.

For me, my disbelief is provisional based on the lack of demonstrable and falsifiable evidence, reasoned argument, and valid and sound logic to support the claim that a god exists.

I am completely open to the possibility that a god exists. All that it would take to convince me, would be, demonstrable and falsifiable evidence, reasoned argument, and valid and sound logic.

Without the above criteria being met, what would you recommend I use to warrant belief that a god exists?

I actually greatly respect and commend your aversion to being dogmatic. It's something I am working on in my own Christian faith.

As for what I would recommend? I... how do I do this without getting preachy? I don't wanna get all stereotypical preachy on y'all. I guess I'll just honesty share from my viewpoint and experience. I'll start of bluntly; the scientific method isn't involved at all. I am very charismatic and revivalist, which means I believe that healing, miracles, signs and wonders, speaking in tongues, up and to even the raising of the dead, can, and still do happen today. Not scientific at all. Completely and utterly supernatural. So my honest advice to anyone seeking God is, look in the mysteries and the supernatural places, not within the realm of logic and understanding.

Now I know that this is like, the absolute ANTI-THESIS of rationality and skepticism. And believe me there are many denominations of Christians that even disagree with these views, but this is honestly my worldview, and thus an honest answer to your question from the lens of my worldview.

If those healings, miracles, signs and wonders are *real*, they can be documented and studied. The method of such study is the scientific method. If nothing else, science would be able to show such events do occur and that we have no current explanation for them.

Sorry, logic and understanding are what it requires to believe something.