Questions for Atheists

[Hope]

I have some questions for atheists.

Atheists say one of the main reasons they don't believe in a God is because there is no evidence to support His existence. I am very curious. Suspending your disbelief for a moment and supposing there is indeed a God, what kind of evidence would lead you to believe in this God? What clues would you look for? How would this God behave, operate, and let His existence be known to you?

I am genuinely curious and would like to hear some opinions on this.

 

[Ceridwen018]

This is a really good question! Atheists differ in ways of thinking, but I can give you my take.

What evidence would I accept? I would accept a god which could be perceived. Right now, it's a bit of an oxymoron--"we can't percieve him, but he is there". If we could see, smell, hear him--anything, really--that would certainly be something. If god were to directly interact and talk to his creations, that would also be convincing...heck, he could just say to me "Snap out of it, I exist!".

A religion that was less contradictory (with a less contradictory bible) would also make a stronger case. Right now, the indiscrepencies are so numerous it's hard to take things seriously.

God could perform miracles--and by miracles I don't mean statues crying chicken fat or whatever. Most of those cases, it seems, have been explained away as hoaxes by science. As for the ones that haven't, they still don't make any sense to me. Why would god make a statue cry chicken fat? It's an absolutely pointless miracle. Instead of having his face vaguely appear in someone's soup, he should solve some big world problem--do something useful that will get people's attention and that people can actually take seriously.

Ok, that's about all I can think of for now.

 

[Lightkeeper]

I have another question for atheists. It seems that some atheists have an Old Testament idea of God and dwell on that version of God. Did some atheists get that idea and stop there?

 

[Pah]

I have some questions for atheists.

Atheists say one of the main reasons they don't believe in a God is because there is no evidence to support His existence. I am very curious. Suspending your disbelief for a moment and supposing there is indeed a God, what kind of evidence would lead you to believe in this God? What clues would you look for? How would this God behave, operate, and let His existence be known to you?

I am genuinely curious and would like to hear some opinions on this.

It's a common question and comes up occasionally.

A "press conference" might do the trick for me - God with Christ and The Holy Ghost administratively supported by angels answering questions from us. Live! I don't mean to be flip - it's just the idea of a phsyical manifestation responsive to questions pertainent to today. Or a removal of all evil in the world to demonstrate his power. Or an establishment of a true body of Christ. Of course, I would like to see a wider scope than just Christianity - I'd like to see the harmonization of the world's faith (not just the near impossible association with other faiths) if he is to be consider the only god.

I have another question for atheists. It seems that some atheists have an Old Testament idea of God and dwell on that version of God. Did some atheists get that idea and stop there?

The Old and the New Testaments are intrically tied together. Without the creation story and failure of the flood redemption there is not reason to even have the New Testament. The contrasts in character of God (also through Christ's example) is remarkable and easily highlighted - a God of vengence and a God of love. But the New Testament also contains elements of the fear and punishment prevelant in the Old. I think that is a consensous amongst atheists

-pah-

 

[Mr Spinkles]

what kind of evidence would lead you to believe in this God?

The same kind of evidence that leads me to believe in dogs, trees, and insects. Evidence that can be perceived by the senses so there is no question that it is simply imagined, and evidence that is easily confirmed by everyone else who experiences the exact same things.

For example, God could make the Sun explode into letters across the sky one day that say "I AM GOD, AN INTELLIGENT, ALL POWERFUL BEING WHO CREATED THE UNIVERSE" along with a booming voice that EVERYONE on the entire planet hears. God would speak directly to everyone at the same time perfectly clearly.

I think an even more interesting question is this: theists, suspend your belief for one moment. Imagine that there is no God. What kind of evidence would you expect to see that would suggest to you that there is no God, just a universe? Think about it.

It seems that some atheists have an Old Testament idea of God and dwell on that version of God. Did some atheists get that idea and stop there?

Definitely not. I never thought of God as some vengeful tribal God. My idea of God gradually progressed from loving creator, to intelligent watchmaker, to nature itself/something unknowable, to an idea. Once I realized God was just an idea, I realized I was an atheist. Oh dear!

 

[EventHorizon997]

Suspending your disbelief for a moment and supposing there is indeed a God, what kind of evidence would lead you to believe in this God? What clues would you look for? How would this God behave, operate, and let His existence be known to you?

I agree with Mr_Sprinkles, in order to beleive in a God or gods I would need to be able to recognize him/her/it and his/hers/its existence in reality. Without some readily identifiable characteristics or attributes to ascribe to God, what differentiates God from nothingness??? The answer: nothing at all. It is because of God's fundamental lack of recognizability that I fail to beleive in his/her/its existence.

 

[Ronald]

Ceri, Pah, and Sprinkles;

I had no intentions of responding to an Atheist thread, as most are judgemental, this one sounds authentic, a sincere desire to know something about the persons.

Each of you expressed a facet of how I was! I was atheistic, a non believer. I had no use for a crutch, I was selfsufficient, only the outside world needed lots of work. Just leave me alone and I am fine, you, don't muck up the water!

BUT, one day as I demonstrated my awesome power, I was given a picture of a Ronald, lower than a snakes belly. From the mountan top to the valley(need I name it for you?). This was several years before I had my "Elightenment". The one I told you about, Pah, on another thread in which you expressed the way you learned computors.
My valley experience took the self out of me, without self, I was rudderless, I needed something.
I was enrolled in ALA-NON, and the Higher Power(whatever/however) was an aid. Through working the Steps, I began to read the scripture in the little odat book. That lead me to the NT, searching for Jesus, the one you hear of so often.
The strange thing was when he spoke words of wisdom, I thought, Christians don't do that! He said don't and Christians, Do! What a paraddox! Well, it took an act of God to enlighten me from my disbelief. Anyway, like I said I was the same as you three, but now I believe in Y-H-V-H/Elohim, His Salvation/Yeshua and His Power or God, His Word and His strength. I will buy a description like that.
Convince you. proably not! The Good Lord Willing, the three of you will get your tap on the shoulder, press conference and voice from heaven/Pentecost, It happened before and it will happen again.
Shalom and Love in HaShem
Your Chaver/Friend,
Ronald

 

[EventHorizon997]

Ronald,
Your story is compelling... what is it specifically that caused you to assume belief in God?

 

[Pah]

Ronald,
Your story is compelling... what is it specifically that caused you to assume belief in God?

Moderator response.

Indeed it is compeling but the question is off- topic. Perhaps you or Ronald can start another thread around his comment and your question.

-pah-

 

[flamethrower]

In regards to the original question...

If a one true God exists who is omnipotent and wants to make Himself known, He would make it known to each and every person on the planet in whatever method He chooses, and we would all know beyond a shadow of a doubt that He exists.

... no evidence of God is needed.

 

[EventHorizon997]

Indeed it is compeling but the question is off- topic.

I don't think its off topic at all!!! If anything its right on topic! Don't you think hearing as to why Ronald started to beleive in God might have something to do with why atheists should beleive in God in general?

 

[Zorbu]

For what it's worth, I've always thought of it this way. The new testament teaches us that the only thing required for salvation is a belief or faith. If God were to interact with us directly we would lose the ability to choose. If he stood in front of us we could not deny his existence and would essentially be forced to at least believe in if not follow him.

I don't understand why it is this way, there are a lot of things in the bible that I can't understand or explain. I believe because I have chosen to believe. I don't feel a need for others to believe as I do but I do wish everyone the best. I hope for them what I believe I have through my faith. I can't prove anything but I feel God in me and that is sufficient for me. Good luck in your searching, I wish you well.

 

[skills101]

For me, it'd have to be scientific proof. Otherwise, Jesus would have to be walking on water in front of my face, nothing more. Excellent question, by the way!

 

[Mister Emu]

I think an even more interesting question is this: theists, suspend your belief for one moment. Imagine that there is no God. What kind of evidence would you expect to see that would suggest to you that there is no God, just a universe? Think about it.

Evidence for no God hmm,

Science would have to explain every "unexplainable" thing, for as long as there are things like the study that showed people who were prayed for were more likely to get well than those who weren't

I saw a thing they did on a house where you could ask questions and answers would appear on polaroids when you took a picture. When asked "who are you" on the picture were the words a hand of God, or something like that it had "of God" in it for sure.(this was done with non-tampered with film, and a photo expert said that it had not been tampered with after the picture was taken.)

When science can acurately explain all such mysteries, as well as have a time machine to go back and disprove the bible.

 

[thomasedison]

Otherwise, Jesus would have to be walking on water in front of my face, nothing more. Excellent question, by the way!

A species of lizard can walk on water by splashing their feet real hard in water and creating large impulse. I don't know if man could use a similar way but why do you think science cannot make man walk on water?

 

[retrorich]

I have some questions for atheists.

Atheists say one of the main reasons they don't believe in a God is because there is no evidence to support His existence. I am very curious. Suspending your disbelief for a moment and supposing there is indeed a God, what kind of evidence would lead you to believe in this God? What clues would you look for? How would this God behave, operate, and let His existence be known to you?

I am genuinely curious and would like to hear some opinions on this.

In order to answer that question, I must establish a definition of "God." My definition is: An omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent being that controls (or has the power to control) all aspects of the universe.

Like many of those who have already replied, I would need some tangible proof that God exists. I would need to see and hear Him--and have Him demonstrate to me personally that He controls the universe.

I call myself an atheist, but I do not say that it is IMPOSSIBLE that God exists; rather, I say that I DO NOT BELIEVE that God exists.

Furthermore, If God does exist, I would find it difficult to love or respect Him, because He allows so many bad things to happen (e.g. "large scale" events such as 9/11 and the recent Russian school massacre--and "small scale" events such as a babies being born with serious deformities and diseases).

I don't accept the excuse that "God works in mysterious ways." I believe that God (if He exists) is ultimately responsible for EVERYTHING that happens. If God gave man "free will," then He is responsible for the ways in which man uses that free will.

I can't accept God's condemning "sinners" to eternal punishment because His creations are imperfect. If God indeed created the universe, I think He did a very poor job.

 

[thomasedison]

I think the concept of proof concerning the existence or non-existence of God is meaningless. Proof is useful when one is referring to a rational concept or object i.e. something explainable with reason. But theism has put God above proof and reason by the excuse like "God works in mysterious ways" or "Man cannot understand God" or "God can do anything". Therefore I think it is useless to argue about the existence or non-existence of God. As far as I see, many of the concepts if not all are explainable by science and it is my belief and one day everything will be explainable by science. Therefore I do not believe in God. But a theist might as well say "You do not/cannot understand God or God has mysterious way of doing things". But I accept reason as man's ultimate guide not faith therefore it is impossible for me to believe in such arguments.


As a side note, even if God exists and punishes people for not believing in him, then God is himself committing a major sin by regarding the atheists are sinners. Couldn't they be making an honest mistake?