Theists, tell me, an atheist, why your God has neglected to show himself to me?

[Neo-Scholastic]

I of course was being snarky, but seriously: God doesn't chase after every person until the moment they die. It can happen, as we see with the thief on the cross, but in general, God gives people over to their sin at some point in their life and that's that. Read Romans 1:18-32. We've brought this up before.

But He is always reaching out and ready to forgive the contrite, wouldn't you agree?

[Ravenshire]

Maybe because you're an asshole? 

Exactly right. It's like calling a woman a bitch and wondering why she won't go out you.

That doesn't explain the utter lack of answer given to those who did seek, did ask and in some cases downright begged for a sign and never got one.

[John V]

But He is always reaching out and ready to forgive the contrite, wouldn't you agree?

Always ready to forgive the contrite? Absolutely. Always reaching out? No, I think there's plenty of Scripture showing that he stops reaching out to some people at some point, i.e. they've rejected what truth they've been shown and he knows they'll never be contrite. ETA: Note though that we don't know the status of any particular person. Maybe God has given them over to their sin. Maybe God is going to save them on their death bed. There's no way for us to know.

---

Exactly right. It's like calling a woman a bitch and wondering why she won't go out you.

That doesn't explain the utter lack of answer given to those who did seek, did ask and in some cases downright begged for a sign and never got one.

Considering that Jesus said "A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign," why were they begging for a sign?

[Minimalist]

Is it worth asking for a citation for these declarative statements about what "God" does and doesn't respond to?

Silly me.

I'm sure they all have some book of holy horseshit to interpret to say whatever they want it to say.  That's how religion works, man.

[Neo-Scholastic]

Exactly right. It's like calling a woman a bitch and wondering why she won't go out you.

That doesn't explain the utter lack of answer given to those who did seek, did ask and in some cases downright begged for a sign and never got one.

"Even the demons in hell believe and tremble" - (James 2:19) It's not just about intellectual belief it's primarily about from the heart recognition of one's own sin, true repentance, and earnestly seeking deliverance. Besides, doe you seriously believe the OP has or is willing to do any of that. Maybe, he has, but from all outward appearances it's highly unlikely.

[Simon Moon]

That doesn't explain the utter lack of answer given to those who did seek, did ask and in some cases downright begged for a sign and never got one.

"Even the demons in hell believe and tremble" - (James 2:19) It's not just about intellectual belief it's primarily about from the heart recognition of one's own sin, true repentance, and earnestly seeking deliverance. Besides, doe you seriously believe the OP has or is willing to do any of that. Maybe, he has, but from all outward appearances it's highly unlikely.

Do you believe that everyone that sincerely seeked, asked and begged for a sign, received a sign?

If so, you might want to take that up with the 770 members of The Clergy Project and enormous number of former theists.

How would someone, me for example, go about achieving this 'heart recognition of one's own sin, true repentance, and earnestly seeking deliverance' without first believing that there is a god or gods that can respond to these? Or even believing that I need to repent and be delivered from 'sin'?

You seem to be putting the cart before the horse. First, the case for the existence of a god has to meet its burden of proof. Once I am convinced that some god exists, then you can make your case that is the god with the specific attributes of the god you believe exists.

[Neo-Scholastic]

Do you believe that everyone that sincerely seeked, asked and begged for a sign, received a sign?

Yes, I do. It's called the Bible.

[The Valkyrie]

Maybe because you're an asshole? 

Exactly right. It's like calling a woman a bitch and wondering why she won't go out you.

So, god's playing hard to get?

[zebo-the-fat]

Do you believe that everyone that sincerely seeked, asked and begged for a sign, received a sign?

Yes, I do. It's called the Bible.

Please provide some testable evidence of this god, the bible is the claim not the evidence, and I wouldn't trust an iron age book of myths anyway.

[Simon Moon]

Do you believe that everyone that sincerely seeked, asked and begged for a sign, received a sign?

Yes, I do. It's called the Bible.

Your circular logic has me reaching for a dramamine.

Yeah, and there's a 1.5 billion Muslims that claim the same about the Quran. And here I am, outside both of your belief systems with no way to tell who is right.