question for atheists: why do you ask why we believe in God?

[Metacrock]

why do you ask why we believe in God when you don't have the slightest interest and you intend to listen to what we say?

[robertb]

I assume that you believe in God for the same reason that I used to believe in God.

I am more interested in those who believe that they have interactive communications with God, though I have never actually met one that claims they do.

Well, there was this guy in Leichester Square, but I think he was a bit off his rocker...

[headheart]

why do you ask why we believe in God when you don't have the slightest interest and you intend to listen to what we say?

Crock,

You sabo'ed my title. You need to cut back on the cabbage man. I used to be an "A" , but never bothered my neighbours, as I figured it did not make any difference whether they did or didn't, as long as they did not try to evangelize me. Seeing as I never bothered them, they never bothered me, but if they had done --- I would have found the nearest exit, and used it. Well, there was this one occasion .... but the guy was so nice about it, that we became friends ... God did the rest.

Goodbye,
Eric J. Sawyer

[Oolon Colluphid]

Well, you weren't asking me - I'm not really an atheist - and I don't presume to answer for all non-believers, only myself, but here are my musings on your question.

Some may be trying to imply something by posing the question i.e. "Why do you believe in something so obviously (to them) fraudulent, unreliable, implausible, or unlikely?" Sometimes this seems like a rhetorical pose, other times it seems to me as if there really are those people who genuinely find religious beliefs to be baffling, and honestly can't understand why other people don't see things in the same way as they do. There are some people who just don't 'get' monotheism.

And I suppose there are evangelising atheists who pose the question in order simply to open up a debate and try and win some converts. They might go on to argue something like "well, that's a bad reason to believe in something. Here's a good reason..."

But I don't personally ask 'why do you believe...?' because I don't find it difficult to understand why other people believe in God, and there are many reasons why a person might believe in a God.

[Seasanctuary]

If you don't agree with me, you must not be listening.

[Metacrock]

I assume that you believe in God for the same reason that I used to believe in God.

I am more interested in those who believe that they have interactive communications with God, though I have never actually met one that claims they do.

Well, there was this guy in Leichester Square, but I think he was a bit off his rocker...

why do you assume that your experiences are like everyone's? Have you met that Mormon guy who is the most educated person in the world.You two need to meet. Everyone else go into a locked room.

[Metacrock]

Crock,

You sabo'ed my title. You need to cut back on the cabbage man. I used to be an "A" , but never bothered my neighbours, as I figured it did not make any difference whether they did or didn't, as long as they did not try to evangelize me. Seeing as I never bothered them, they never bothered me, but if they had done --- I would have found the nearest exit, and used it. Well, there was this one occasion .... but the guy was so nice about it, that we became friends ... God did the rest.

Goodbye,
Eric J. Sawyer

what in the hell is your beef with asking this?

[Metacrock]

Well, you weren't asking me - I'm not really an atheist - and I don't presume to answer for all non-believers, only myself, but here are my musings on your question.

Some may be trying to imply something by posing the question i.e. "Why do you believe in something so obviously (to them) fraudulent, unreliable, implausible, or unlikely?" Sometimes this seems like a rhetorical pose, other times it seems to me as if there really are those people who genuinely find religious beliefs to be baffling, and honestly can't understand why other people don't see things in the same way as they do. There are some people who just don't 'get' monotheism.

And I suppose there are evangelising atheists who pose the question in order simply to open up a debate and try and win some converts. They might go on to argue something like "well, that's a bad reason to believe in something. Here's a good reason..."

But I don't personally ask 'why do you believe...?' because I don't find it difficult to understand why other people believe in God, and there are many reasons why a person might believe in a God.

I thought it was a fair question. I guess you don't have to be an atheist to answer. Do you care why others believe in God?

[Oolon Colluphid]

I thought it was a fair question.

Me too!

I think your implied point was fair. There are those who ask this question of believers not because they're really interested in the answer, but because they're interested in dismantling it; kinda like those people who, in conversation, use the time when other people are talking not to listen, but rather to think of what clever things they'll say next.

But then I also think there genuinely are people who struggle to understand why anybody could believe in God because the idea seems so very strange and unlikely to them.

I guess you don't have to be an atheist to answer. Do you care why others believe in God?

I do - and I'm sure there are many reasons why someone may believe in God.

I'm often given to wonder why it's such a near universal belief, although the details often differ considerably. It almost seems like the fact that so many people have an intuition of God is a subtle form of evidence for God's existence; not that I expect a dyed-in-the-wool-atheist to accept that for a minute.

[little_monkey]

why do you ask why we believe in God when you don't have the slightest interest and you intend to listen to what we say?

If you come across a 10-year old who still believes in Santa Claus, wouldn't you ask, why do you believe in Santa? You don't expect a 10-yr old to believe in that stuff. It's fine if the kid is 5 yrs old. But at 10, you start to believe there is something wrong with the kid.


Similarly, I find that it's ok for teens and perhaps young adults to believe in God, but when I come across older people, I expect that they should have outgrown those beliefs. So yeah, I'm the kind of atheist who ask, why?

Here comes the hate posts...

[wolper]

why do you ask why we believe in God when you don't have the slightest interest and you intend to listen to what we say?

I don't think I've ever asked anyone why s/he believes in God. And when I do ask someone a question, it is because I am interested in the answer; why else bother asking them? But that doesn't mean I necessarily agree with that answer: not agreeing doesn't imply I have not listened.

[Oolon Colluphid]

LM

Well I don't think what you've posted is hateful, but it is rather patronising. You're openly comparing adults who believe in God with children who believe in Santa - which isn't just a condescension, but also an insult. So you shouldn't be too indignant if some choose to respond in kind - you started it.

I get that you find theistic belief to be baffling, but don't you get that it's you who is the unusual one - that belief is far more commonplace than non-belief - and that there are those who are just as incredulous about your lack of belief as you are about their beliefs?

We need to get past thinking of the other lot as crazy, wilful self-deceivers.

[little_monkey]

LM

Well I don't think what you've posted is hateful, but it is rather patronising. You're openly comparing adults who believe in God with children who believe in Santa - which isn't just a condescension, but also an insult. So you shouldn't be too indignant if some choose to respond in kind - you started it.

I get that you find theistic belief to be baffling, but don't you get that it's you who is the unusual one - that belief is far more commonplace than non-belief - and that there are those who are just as incredulous about your lack of belief as you are about their beliefs?

We need to get past thinking of the other lot as crazy, wilful self-deceivers.

I guess it would be considered hateful for those who think that any attack on their state of mind is offensive. I didn't say they are crazy, willful self-deceivers, perhaps some are, but what I was implying is immaturity -- the inability to outgrow what we've learned from our parents. Some will object that they came to Christianity later in their life, but for the vast majority of Christians, and similarly this is true in other religions, they got their religion from their parents. How many question what they were taught? How many doubt? How many took the trouble to learn about other religions? How many took the trouble to learn the history of their own religion, and not necessarily from Christian apolegists? From the reactions I get from this forum, it would seem very few. Is that indicative of all christians? I don't know, but the vitriol I see in the news media, and in this forum, leads me to think that many get into a defensive mode, and like an animal cornered, lash out at any criticism of their beliefs.

[Kane]

I have asked why people believe in God. Though, I asked with genuine curiosity, and sincerity. Once I received my answers, I left off.

I find it very interesting to read/hear what others have to say about their religious beliefs and experiences.

[Oolon Colluphid]

for the vast majority of Christians, and similarly this is true in other religions, they got their religion from their parents. How many question what they were taught? How many doubt? How many took the trouble to learn about other religions? How many took the trouble to learn the history of their own religion, and not necessarily from Christian apolegists? From the reactions I get from this forum, it would seem very few. Is that indicative of all christians? I don't know, but the vitriol I see in the news media, and in this forum, leads me to think that many get into a defensive mode, and like an animal cornered, lash out at any criticism of their beliefs.

Ok, I get what you're talking about here. But I'm surprised to hear you talk about "vitriol". I've found that if I'm polite then others generally respond in kind. Stay away from Tektonics though - that won't work there.

But if (if) you've ridiculed or insulted your opponent, then you can't complain.

Actually, I'd say that those people who manage to remain calm and polite despite provocation are far more persuasive and impressive than those who lose their temper. I seem to recall Alcoth being particularly effective when dealing with an atheist troll recently - it might have been Composer.

But I don't really think there are too many cornered animals lashing out.