Why atheism?

[LastPoet]

The OP is probably a poe.

[The Valkyrie]

The OP is probably a poe.

This is also my suspicion.

[TheRocketSurgeon]

im sorry if you got offended i did not mean to offend and i wasnt directing my comments to you personally or to anyone else personally i just believe that to remain openminded to the idea that God could exist is the only way to eventually connect with God after proof is given to you and no proof can even be acknowledged if any have a closed mind to the idea.

Didn't think you were attacking us personally. But you should know that it's irritating to the point of anger, sometimes, to be constantly told that we are only nonbelievers because our mind is closed.

There's a critical difference between considering the stories of humans about gods to be mistaken delusions, or outright lies (e.g. Joseph Smith's story about how he got the Book of Mormon), and then be told that we are the ones who are closed-minded.

Yet each believer who tells us that atheists are closed-minded will happily stand there and tell us why the beliefs of others are silly.

Southern Baptists (my religious upbringing) taught that Catholics, Orthodox Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Taoists, Shintoists, Hindus, Baha'i, Animists, Wotan/Aesirists, Wiccan/Pagans, Jehovah's Witnesses, and so on and so on, were all ridiculously mistaken, but then would look you straight in the face after half an hour of making fun of the stupid beliefs of others and say, "But we know the true nature of God because we have His Word." 

[Simon Moon]

im sorry if you got offended i did not mean to offend and i wasnt directing my comments to you personally or to anyone else personally i just believe that to remain openminded to the idea that God could exist is the only way to eventually connect with God after proof is given to you and no proof can even be acknowledged if any have a closed mind to the idea.

The majority  of atheists are open to the possibility to the existence of a god or gods. 

Speaking for myself, but I'm sure many here agree, all I need to accept that a god or gods exist, is be presented with demonstrable evidence and reasoned argument to support the claim. 

Until then, what should my justification be to believe a god exists?

[JesusHChrist]

How would you go about proving your God?

Also, many things have been debunked, astrology/acupuncture/etc. Do we need to continue to keep an open mind or can we consign ludicrous ideas to the garbage heap and move on?

can you just remain openminded to the concept that a reality can exist beyond your current ability to perceive it . neither believe or disbelieve ?

Absolutely. I think our senses only give us a portion of what "reality" might be.

Nonetheless, we can only use the senses we have and make determinations from that. 

The problem is, the woo-believers will then leap from what you described, to an entire set of speculations that are no different than thinking lizard people are controlling our minds.

If something is forever outside our ability to perceive it, why should I give it much consideration?

[jenny1972]

To put it another way, you think the same thing I do about all of these people:







But when it comes to YOUR religious ideas, you ask why I cannot open my mind??

even if i did have some kind of doctrine , which i dont , like these people all do i would still only advocate for keeping an open mind to the idea that complete reality is beyond our ability to perceive it . actually science has proved this to be true just be as open minded as a scientist is  (not speaking specifically to you i dont know how openminded you are speaking about ppl in general)

[Neo-Scholastic]

Do you hope to be spot on with the Swedenborg version of the christian god?

Yes I do.

[TheRocketSurgeon]

I iz "as a scientist is".

I iz a scientist. (And engaged to be married to one.)

Also am retired from that field, though she is not.

[Neo-Scholastic]

I iz "as a scientist is".

I iz a scientist. (And engaged to be married to one.)

Also am retired from that field, though she is not.

And yet you look so young! You must work-out.

[Simon Moon]

even if i did have some kind of doctrine , which i dont , like these people all do  i would still only advocate for keeping an open mind to the idea that complete reality is beyond our ability to perceive it . actually science has proved this to be true just be as open minded as a scientist is  (not speaking specifically to you i dont know how openminded you are speaking about ppl in general)

You don't seem to be getting it. 

Atheism is not a dogmatic position. It is a provisional one. 

The vast majority of atheists disbelieve because there has never been a convincing case to support the existence of a god. Our minds are open to evidence and reasoned argument. 

I would start believing in a god as soon as I was presented with demonstrable evidence and reasoned argument to support the claim. This is the opposite to having a closed mind.

Please don't confuse being open minded with being gullible.