If I were an Atheist

[Brian37]

Well, I was once an atheist...and the beautiful atheists I've met along my journey in faith, is an experience I'd never trade. Not everyone can emotionally handle atheism. I was one such person. No one can prove that a deity exists, but it brings me some sense of comfort to know one just might exist. Deism resonates with me now, more than theism.

Everyone has to find their own way.

I thought Thomas Jefferson was blasphemous for his time. Lots of people credit Madison for the First Amendment, but Madison modeled it after Jefferson's Virginia Religious Freedom act. Jefferson was a deist too. But I would tell him if he were alive today he is as full of it as any standard old myth. Jefferson above all else would have rather someone tell him honestly what they think than silence any criticism.

"Question with boldness even the existence of a god, for if there be one, surely he would pay more homage to reason than to that of blindfolded fear." Thomas Jefferson.

Having said that, a generic god still suffers the same problems as a God from a holy book. It suffers both a problem of morality and infinite regress.

If you rightfully accept the rejection, for example, Thor filling in as the explanation for lightening, and you rightfully reject the idea that an ocean god named Poseidon is needed to fill in as an explanation for hurricanes, what makes you think any type of caring or uncaring generic god is needed to start all this?

"Stephen Hawking" A god is not required.

Ocham's razor is a huge principle that still applies in modern science. The principle is out of many postulated attempts to fill in gaps of knowledge, the one with the least or no extra baggage is going to be your most likely answer.

So which would seem to explain nature more simply?

1. A god or God exists?

Or

2. Humans make them up because they like the idea?

I don't doubt you if you say you once did not believe. I do doubt that you had all the understanding of science or human psychology that would arm you with the knowledge of how easily humans can have false perceptions. You need to consider that even a generic idea of a god is still your own reflection of you and your desire to be immortal.

I find the natural world much more inspiring. Like the atoms in me being of stardust, and even the stars themselves and all the material in the universe all starting in the same dense spot. But I see nothing "designed" in all this. It certainly is not comforting to humans, but it is reality.

I don't lose my sense of awe knowing I am a mere blip. I still find life worth living. I still value human rights as much as I value my family and friends. I simply don't fill in the gap with invisible characters generic or specific.