Let's be honest

[Gwaithmir]

OK, reaching out to my agnostic/atheist friends.  I'm very curious, genuinely interested, are there are "arguments" that theists have provided for proof of a God's existence (not even the Christian God), that you found compelling?  Or caused you to pause and perhaps say, there might be A God out there?

I found that when it's all broken down in most debates, an agnostic/atheist boils down to moral arguments/judgments against God, which in and of themselves does not disprove there being a God per se.  Just that they refuse to accept a God they find reprehensible.

I find that there are a lot of shitty arguments and unjustified confidence on both sides.  I've not met what I consider to be a necessarily valid argument against the existence of God, or a god, but what passes for arguments for the existence of God, or a god, tend to be even worse.  I don't believe, but I lean toward the spiritual.  In the past I've found solace in Taoism and Hindu belief.  I am recommitting to my Taoist beliefs these days, but I'm aligned with Hume that any book (or doctrine) which contains metaphysics should be consigned to the flames.  Reason is the only true light, and the further into the weeds we go, the more likely we are to end up lost, arguing about how many angels can dance on the head of a pin.

Those who lose their way
Are lost.

― Tao The Ching, Ch. 23

One need not devise a "valid argument" against something whose existence has never been proven in the first place. I'm an atheist because I have never heard an argument or seen evidence for God's existence which will stand up to rational scrutiny. The degree of confidence I have in this position is irrelevant.

The burden of proof lies on he who alleges. Religious people should know that I’m perfectly willing to believe in god(s), ghosts, mediums, demons, angels, spirits, channeling, miracles, horoscopes, astrology, psychics, Ouija boards, the supernatural, and anything else for that matter as long as they adhere to one proviso: Prove it! Don’t give me speculation, guesses, hopes, dreams, wishes, desires, beliefs, faith (or appeals to faith), or indoctrinations. Don’t give me one-time-only, non-repeatable, non-testable events. Don’t give me internal alterations in one’s psychology or physiology that can’t be tested observed, or demonstrated, only felt or believed. And don’t give me effects that can’t be clearly related to the supposed cause.

I have no objection to believing in a god as long as proof based upon a rational standard of knowledge is forthcoming. Is that too much to ask? But surely theists can’t expect me to adopt their beliefs on the basis of what has been presented thus far. Every “proof” I’ve heard and every piece of evidence I’ve seen for the existence of god(s) is easily countered by rational evidence and arguments to the contrary. No convincing evidence for the existence of any deity has ever emerged. But I’m more than willing to listen to theistic arguments or view theistic evidence as long as cross-examination is permitted. As conditions now stand, theology rests far more on superstition and faith than upon facts and reason.