I’m an atheist. So why can’t I shake God?

[Nay_Sayer]

Because FSM is trying to reach your cold heart, let him in won't you?

[Edwardo Piet]

Tempted to create a parody thread "I'm a theist. So why can't I bring myself to believe in that religious horseshit?".

[scoobysnack]

This information does not come from science, or religion or commonly held belief systems. They are the conclusions from studying hundreds of people that have claimed to have died and come back with a message, whether you want to believe it or not. Really doesn't matter what you believe at least to me. Your disbelief is not enough to change years of research. Humanity as a whole is not meant to know the ultimate truth, since we are still in the physical. This is info from where we came from, not where we are.

And have you researched hundreds of NDE claims from countries/regions that are not predominantly christian?

Yes I have, but I would be foolish to claim I'm wise because that would require knowledge, information and experience. I've never had an NDE or OBE. I researched many collectively from Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, atheists, gay people, Native Americans, and from that research have come to high level conclusions. Almost like seeing things from a birds eye view of a battlefield rather than the eyes of one soldier. If you are interested you can read my thread where I posted more about the afterlife here:

http://atheistforums.org/thread-41204-page-34.html

[Athene]

Turns out it's pretty hard to believe in nothing when your psyche is wired for faith.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/postevery...age%2Fcard

After reading the article, my questions are:

Why on God's green earth is the human brain wired for faith when our development is the result of purely evolutionary processes with no supreme being involved at all?

Is it possible that God gave us brains that are pre-wired for receptivity to His existence to make it easier for us to believe in Him?

The article only suggested that our brains are wired for belief. That would also include superstitious beliefs, as well as paranoid beliefs; which were without a doubt, essential to our primitive ancestors' survival.

You and others may prefer to view this as evidence of your god pre-wiring our brains towards faith. It could just as readily be viewed as evidence that the personal relationship theists claim to have with their "God" is simply the result of brain circuitry, correct? 

There's no denying it now, Athrock. It's all in your head!

[Nay_Sayer]

Tempted to create a parody thread "I'm a theist. So why can't I bring myself to believe in that religious horseshit?".

I support this idea and turtles, but mostly this idea.

[robvalue]

If God tried to make us so we would believe in him, then guess what? He failed. If it was so damn important to him, he should have given us proper sensory equipment so we could actually detect him and/or stop hiding like a little bitch.

Even then, I'm not looking for things to worship. I'm not looking to be told how to live my life by commandment. I'll happily have a sensible conversation with him. His feeble attempts to communicate so far through ancient texts coupled with contradictory, unconvincing accounts from theists is how a dribbling maniac would communicate. Or perhaps, someone with very little power who makes a last desperate attempt to get someone to notice them. Like a message in a bottle.

[Jenny A]

Yes you would say that,  and probably believe it too, but on what evidence?

This information does not come from science, or religion or commonly held belief systems. They are the conclusions from studying hundreds of people that have claimed to have died and come back with a message, whether you want to believe it or not. Really doesn't matter what you believe at least to me. Your disbelief is not enough to change years of research. Humanity as a whole is not meant to know the ultimate truth, since we are still in the physical. This is info from where we came from, not where we are.

Sorry but there is no reason to believe NDE's involve messages from beyond and everything to suggest that they involve oxygen starved brains.

[Thumpalumpacus]

If God tried to make us so we would believe in him, then guess what? He failed. If it was so damn important to him, he should have given us proper sensory equipment so we could actually detect him and/or stop hiding like a little bitch.

Even then, I'm not looking for things to worship. I'm not looking to be told how to live my life by commandment. I'll happily have a sensible conversation with him. His feeble attempts to communicate so far through ancient texts coupled with contradictory, unconvincing accounts from theists is how a dribbling maniac would communicate. Or perhaps, someone with very little power who makes a last desperate attempt to get someone to notice them. Like a message in a bottle.

Shades of Hume there -- might not this god be a toddler assaying his first attempt? Might not the god who created this Universe be senile, and we are left to suffer his dotage?

Might not this allegedly perfect god suffer some malignancy, that this world is as imperfect as it is?

A Perfect Carpenter doesn't build a crooked cabinet.

[robvalue]

Indeed

He's a very bored God on work experience, creating stuff while not paying much attention. Probably totally obvlivious to the fact we've become self aware.

Why does everyone always assume it knows we're self aware? Would we know if characters in our computer programs became self aware?

[DarkHorse]

Turns out it's pretty hard to believe in nothing when your psyche is wired for faith.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/postevery...age%2Fcard

After reading the article, my questions are:

Why on God's green earth is the human brain wired for faith when our development is the result of purely evolutionary processes with no supreme being involved at all?

Is it possible that God gave us brains that are pre-wired for receptivity to His existence to make it easier for us to believe in Him?

Is it possible that you're reading too much into every little thing, hoping it's proof that he exists? It seems that's what religion is about these days.