I don't think you can "prove" anything much about existence, it is not how we get through life is it? We go by the quality of the evidence and the balance of probability. For example I believe Iceland exists, but I've never been to Iceland to "prove" it exists. However, the evidence for Iceland existing is copious, testimony from people who live in Iceland or have visited it, aerial pictures of Iceland etc., and if I really wanted to "prove" it to myself it would be easy to book a flight to visit the place. It seems very improbable that Iceland is a fiction that people have conspired to invent for all these years (why would they?) so I believe Iceland exists despite never having been there.
The existence of a deity is much harder to "prove", especially as every deity ever invented is conveniently invisible to the naked eye, I cant hop on a plane to visit one, I cant look on Google Earth to see one. The evidence for the existence of a deity pretty much relies on ancient scripture (from a time when people were superstitious and much less well informed about ourselves and our environment) and I consider that to be poor evidence. The world is full of people from different religions who will give personal testimony about the truth of their own religion, but it seems eminently possible they are all mistaken/deceived/indoctrinated. Your religion is very much influenced by the culture you grow up in, if you are raised to be a Muslim from childhood it is pretty damn likely you will grow up to be a Muslim, the same applies to every other religion. Possible then that religion is an entirely manmade endeavour, owing nothing to the existence of a deity? Oh yes, which I why I am inclined to believe a deity or deities do not exist.
Very good use of logic and common sense. World full of religions and indoctrination, yes I couldn't agree more.
Imagine the following if you wouldn't mind:
There is a Creator that exists beyond Time and Space, who is a uncaused cause constantly creating multiverses beyond our comprehension. In our case, He does this to benefit his creation, He requires nothing from us, but is able to grant eternal life in a place of peace and tranquillity. He sends us down clear guidance on how to live a life pleasing to Him and in exchange for following this instruction manual, one is permitted to enter the peace He owns.
There have been many creations that inhabited the Earth before us and each one possessing intelligence both close to and beyond ours were sent information via Messengers. In all one report says, 124,000 Messengers have been sent.
They all taught the same thing: God is ONE. Worship Him alone. That's it. Beyond that, mankind was taught to be kind to one another, feed the poor etc, some might have been told not to eat certain foods, whilst others didn't face such restrictions; different produce in different parts of the World.
As mankind spread and migrated to different continents, over the generations they would start mixing what they had been taught by their forefathers with what they observed around them, and so truth would be mixed with falsehood. Fire is good, it has power, perhaps there's a God of fire? Look back 7-20,000 years and from the last Adam pbuh of mankind to see how people have interacted with different communities and taken onboard their beliefs, and as you say, today we can see Thousands of beliefs and many many gods.
So how is one to navigate all these beliefs and myriad of gods? Simply remember God is ONE and look for a belief system, which has a central theme of ONEness, claims to come from that Creator, has the last and uncorrupted/unchanged message.
I submit the following video to lend some evidence for the above:
Fair enough so far?
We can look at evidences and the balance of probability in due course. I'm just trying to establish how strong the firewall is around you at this point
Once upon a time I may have agreed with you that monotheism makes more sense than polytheism, but these days I would say what difference does it make? Why is it more likely or rational that there is only one god? We are talking about invisible communities of entities, that cannot be demonstrated to exist, we are just guessing at it. Holy writ? Well as I've said I consider that not to be a persuasive or authoritative source to point us in the right direction.
The reason why it's important to accept God is One for Atheists even on a logical level and nothing more as the case may be, is so they keep an ace up their sleeve for when they eventually pass away from this realm. This is a free gift from one Brit to another, requiring nothing on your part but the use of logic and common sense.
Had there been within the heavens and earth gods besides Allah, they both would have been ruined. So exalted is Allah, Lord of the Throne, above what they describe. Qur'an 21:22
Has it never occurred to you that it is a bit odd for a deity to demand or expect worship from the creatures it made? If you were god of this planet would you rather not just let the creatures get on with it and be happy? It seems to me that anything that demands worship and admiration, is wholly unworthy of worship and admiration.
Imagine YOU designed artificial intelligence and there were humanoids walking around doing wonderful things, building Cities and making technological advancements, entering Space and beyond, always working to better human development. And YET the rest of mankind doesn't not acknowledge the gift YOU gave them, no mention of your achievement anywhere, no Nobel Peace Prize. NOTHING at all <<<< Is that being just? similarly, is taking 20 mins out of 24 hrs to acknowledge the Creator unjust?
Food for thought.
Lastly children are born with a natural ability to distinguish right from wrong, as if their DNA has been programmed that way, and as we grow up, people are naturally inclined to search for existential meaning and purpose, those that don't find answers are more prone to suffering depression etc.
Consider the following verse:
And [mention] when your Lord took from the children of Adam - from their loins - their descendants and made them testify of themselves, [saying to them], "Am I not your Lord?" They said, "Yes, we have testified." [This] - lest you should say on the day of Resurrection, "Indeed, we were of this unaware." Qur'an 7:172
Peace