Why do Athiests require 'proof' that God exists?

[Tempus]

Using atheist logic I should therefore consider all other humans to not be self aware, sentient, concious beings as they cannot 'prove' they have these qualities.

Atheism isn't a philosophy or a method, there's no "atheist logic". What you're describing here is solipsism.

[Thor]

Why do we require "proof" that "God" exists?

What if I claimed that people were created by the Keebler elves who sprinkled magical powder on people shaped cookies, and that we should pay homage to the elves (who, we all know, live in a hollow tree) by gathering in a park once a week, joining hands and singing to the largest oak. And that we should let the elves know we appreciate them by eating Keebler cookies after every meal. And what if I showed you a book that proved all this is true? Would you believe it? Or would you demand to see evidence?

[Kayenneh]

and that we should pay homage to the elves (who, we all know, live in a hollow tree)

Oh you are so wrong! The elves live in my closet. You are not a True Elvenist™!

[Welsh cake]

There are some things we cannot prove.

Like?

For example one cannot prove ones own existence

I think therefore I am?

Not sure what you're getting at here.

- I could argue that you are a figment of my imagination, like a person in a dream. You would be unable to prove that you were a self aware, autonomous human being.

You could. Know what would happen next? You'd be rightly called out as a solipsist and promptly ignored forever after.

Using atheist logic

Atheist what?

Would it not be better to accept that I can never know if other people are self aware like me? That I can never know if God exists or not?

Just prove god exists already so we can proceed to not give a shit and live out the reminder of our one-and-only-lives.

Unless you prove humans have immortal souls next of course.

[Paul the Human]

I think the more important question should be "Why do theists believe that their god exists?"

Oh, that's right. They read it in an old book and have had people telling them so all their lives. Pardon me. It must be true then.

[Thor]

and that we should pay homage to the elves (who, we all know, live in a hollow tree)

Oh you are so wrong! The elves live in my closet. You are not a True Elvenist™!

You must be an Elvenist Witness. They believe elves live in closets. Of course, we TRUE Elvenists know they live in hollow trees! If they didn't, how could they possibly bake those cookies? It's absurd to think they would be making cookies in CLOSETS! SHEESH!

[Paul the Human]

Bah! Everyone knows it's a Trinity. The Elf, The Cookie, and The Hollow Tree.

[jackman]

i've never understood is why the believers assume their beliefs are based in fact. very basically, something a layman can do to support the idea of gravity, say, is just tossing a ball into the air. even if just that isn't "proof", it does support the claim of gravity quite certainly, to that layman. however, not a single person/group i have ever read about has been able to make a snake talk or turn water into wine. so, if you believe in a god, why can't you just admit that it's solely faith that makes you feel good and that's it? if it makes you sleep well, then there's no crime in it, right?!

[JesusLover]

Thanks for your responses everyone, I appreciate the opportunity to discuss this with you.

Firstly I want to clear something up - Descartes "I think therefore I am" doesn't prove 'YOU' exist, it proves 'I' exist. How can 'I' know 'you' think therefore you are!! From my perspective you could be a person in a dream, virtual reality or just an empty headed android.

Why wouldn't I?

If I told you I had a unicorn in my garden I would expect you to ask to see it, or for 'proof'. My point is that the existence of God cannot be proven, due to the nature of what God is, and that when Atheists use the issue of there being no 'proof' for God's existence it is not a valid argument.

I do accept that I can never know if God exists or not, just as I employ the same principles with the tooth fairy, Odin, Zeus, Ghosts etc. etc. It's just that I find the complete and utter lack of any evidence, credibility and verisimilitude overwhelming.

Good point. However the tooth fairy is a little woman with wings, not an ineffable, omnipresent being. Therefore we can prove if the tooth fairy (and the other things you mentioned) exists because we can look for little women with wings. We can't look for God.

Oh, and which God are you talking about? All of them or just the one that your where indoctrinated into believing because of the geographical location of your birth and the views of those around you?

For now let's just say all/any of them

Atheism isn't a philosophy or a method, there's no "atheist logic". What you're describing here is solipsism.

Allow me to rephrase this: using the same atheist argument agaisnt the existence of God I can disprove your existence. Therefore the argument is flawed.

Thanks again for the replies everyone!

[Tiberius]

For example one cannot prove ones own existence

"I think therefore I am" - Rene Descartes, 1637