You know, I really don't have a problem with the gnostic atheists. While some may believe in the deistic "clock maker" type deity, no one's made a church to it. There's no physical interaction with the universe (excepting the big bang), no miracles, no healing, no answered prayer, etc...
On the other hand, all the other gods people to profess are the types to meddle in the affairs of humans. If there were such a god and it did meddle, there would be some kind of evidence even if the god in question were completely undetectable. The evidence of it's actions would still be observable. If prayer were answered, it would be demonstrable that sick people who were prayed for got better at a higher rate. If miracles happened, we would have demonstrable occurrences of physical laws being broken. There is a large enough lack of evidence to not only dismiss, but to outright refute this type of god.
So, there's the "set it and forget it" god that cannot be proven or disproven but is irrelevant. Then there is the god that could be relevant, but can't be bothered to show up. Either way, you are effectively left with no god. While I still don't make the claim that there is no god, I do not find it unreasonable. In much the same way that I do not find the claim that there are no real elves unreasonable.
On the other hand, all the other gods people to profess are the types to meddle in the affairs of humans. If there were such a god and it did meddle, there would be some kind of evidence even if the god in question were completely undetectable. The evidence of it's actions would still be observable. If prayer were answered, it would be demonstrable that sick people who were prayed for got better at a higher rate. If miracles happened, we would have demonstrable occurrences of physical laws being broken. There is a large enough lack of evidence to not only dismiss, but to outright refute this type of god.
So, there's the "set it and forget it" god that cannot be proven or disproven but is irrelevant. Then there is the god that could be relevant, but can't be bothered to show up. Either way, you are effectively left with no god. While I still don't make the claim that there is no god, I do not find it unreasonable. In much the same way that I do not find the claim that there are no real elves unreasonable.
Thief and assassin for hire. Member in good standing of the Rogues Guild.
