(October 3, 2024 at 11:24 am)Lord Andreasson Wrote: Are you a theist or an atheist?
Welcome to the forum!
I am a one time theist, now atheist.
Even when I was a theist, I was a very skeptical person. I was very good at evaluating supernatural claims (other than my theistic beliefs), using valid and sound logic, and critical thinking.
When I reached my early 20's, it hit me. I never thought to evaluate my own theistic beliefs with the same level of skepticism and critical thinking I used for all those other supernatural claims. I had unknowingly compartmentalized them.
As soon as I did in earnest, it didn't take too long for them to fail to meet their burden of proof, just like all the rest.
My atheism, unlike my theistic beliefs, are not dogmatic, they are provisional. As long as the theists fail to meet their burden of proof to support their god claims, my atheism will continue.
You'd believe if you just opened your heart" is a terrible argument for religion. It's basically saying, "If you bias yourself enough, you can convince yourself that this is true." If religion were true, people wouldn't need faith to believe it -- it would be supported by good evidence.
