What makes atheists choose atheism?

[Calvinist4Him]

Apologist4Him, did you have a bad day? I think you were really rude to Sea.

Superbug,

This is the apologetics forum, and is probably not suited for the weak minded. I seriously doubt I have used stronger language than LGM. Isn't it funny how we choose sides? If it had been LGM responding to me, you probably would have at least laughed.

Now, please point out exactly where you thought I was rude.

[JamesD]

Indeed this seems very compelling. It hasn't shaken my faith, but I will definitely contemplate answers to those questions rather than ignore them.

My answer wasn't intended to shake your faith. Simply answer your question about my non-religion. wrh987 I simply have no beliefs in ANY supernatural forces or beings. I don't even believe in luck. To believe in one superstition you must believe in them all. Oh and Apologist4Him this wasn't a debate and ridicule thread. It was a question ask by wrh987 to ATHEISTS.

[Calvinist4Him]

Oh and Apologist4Him this wasn't a debate and ridicule thread. It was a question ask by wrh987 to ATHEISTS.

So! Your point is? That I'm not supposed to be responding to the answers atheists give? This is rich...

[Superbug]

If you don't think that the parts where you said she "sounded pathetic" and you doubted that she was telling the truth about being a Christian were rude, I quit. And no, I don't think it's funny when LGM is rude. His behavior is not an excuse for your rudeness.

[sandlewood]

I invite atheists here to give a succinct list or description of what makes you not believe in God.

Lack of evidence.

I assume that what you meant by "believe in" God was "believe that he exists".

[AtheistArchon]

- Why did I become an atheist? You get this cool mind control satellite uplink! Also in the welcome package:

1. One EAC T-shirt. Only detectable by fellow atheists.
2. One vial of 'sexy atheist' potion. All atheists are sexy... now you know why.
3. One two-way wrist communicator. (Also calls the EAC black helicopter.)
4. Your very own pope-bot, just like the one in Rome!
5. A lifetime supply of condoms, birth control pills, and a cupon for ten free abortions.
6. One blessed healing stone of the IPU. Good for warts, calluses, acne, and bad breath.
7. The secret keycode to the Atheist Freeway, to be used when stuck in traffic.
8. A lightsaber.
9. A handy guide to fooling people about evolution, titled: Evolution! (We sure fooled em, didn't we?!)

- Not to mention, the benefits are awesome.

[Rationalist]

Thought it was A-Theist. Was too embarassed to recant once I figured it out.

[Calvinist4Him]

If you don't think that the parts where you said she "sounded pathetic" and you doubted that she was telling the truth about being a Christian were rude, I quit. And no, I don't think it's funny when LGM is rude. His behavior is not an excuse for your rudeness.

I suppose you missed the sarcasim? I may have went a little "over the top" with the "pathetic" comment, but my doubting she was ever a Christian has a basis. I do not doubt that she thought she was a Christian, but it's possible for a person to deceive theirself. You see Superbug, I do not believe people become "saved" and then "unsaved" and "saved" and so on. Either she was saved, and will come back around one of these days, or she will get saved one of these days, or sadly she was never saved and will not be saved.

I just expressed my doubt about the truth of the matter, not her sincerity. People can be sincerely wrong...don't you agree?

[HRG_new]

Do you believe there is any valid evidence against the existence of a transcendent, personal Creator of the universe?

No - but in the sense that there is no valid evidence against the creation of the universe by may cat, last Thursday; or against everything, including your post, being a figment of my imagination. All three scenarios are sufficiently vague so that any observation would be compatible with them. The primary question with such extraordinary claims is always: "Is there any reason to assume that they are true" ?

However, there is evidence contra, if we add some of the usual specifications of "God" (e.g. "omnipotent + omniscient + benevolent", or "non-deceptive + literal interpretation of Genesis").

[HRG_new]

You have free will (God's gift to humanity--the ability to believe in Him or reject Him--from a Christian perspective), so what makes you decide that way?

I cannot reject or not reject your God; in order to do this, I would first to believe that he exists. Belief, however, is a consequence of being convinced by evidence. It is not a voluntary choice.

If there were sufficient evidence for your God, I'd be a Christian.
If there were sufficient evidence for Allah, I'd be a Muslim.
Since there isn't sufficient evidence for either, I'm a (weak) atheist.

BTW, the claim that free will is your God's gift is begging the question.

[Roy]

I invite atheists here to give a succinct list or description of what makes you not believe in God.

Which one?

Evn though you've narrowed it down to Christianity, the question still applies - there are plenty of mutually inconsistent descriptions of the Christian god.

(Does he turn wine into blood or not? Is he one entity or three? Or two? Did his prophet visit America? Does he make his worshippers immune to snakebites? Is poverty encouraged or discouraged? Did his prophet return to earth in 1975? 2000? 1925? 34? Did he flood all the earth or just part of it? Did he dictate, edit, approve, inspire or merely be the basis for the bible? etc etc etc)

Roy

[Superbug]

I just expressed my doubt about the truth of the matter, not her sincerity. People can be sincerely wrong...don't you agree?

Then you should be clearer next time. Your overall rudeness made it sound like an attack.

[Bible Defender]

Hey there, I would like to offer a reason. Though I am no longer an atheist I found the really deep reason for me was simple. S I N. You see, I think that people want to run their own lives, to be "free". But they also know deep down they probably know that they are doing things in their lives that God would not approve of. So, instead of changing themselves to conform to God's will, they simply dismiss God's existence. They have no proof that God doesn't exist. I have been in quite a few debates with atheists since I accepted Christ and I have always asked the same question with no answer so far.

What is your positive evidence that God doesn't exist. You see it is not enough to just sit there and take pot shots at theists and try to tear down their arguments, one has to provide positive evidence for their position as well, so far though, in my experience, non is forthcoming.

[steamer]

I suppose you missed the sarcasim? I may have went a little "over the top" with the "pathetic" comment, but my doubting she was ever a Christian has a basis. I do not doubt that she thought she was a Christian, but it's possible for a person to deceive theirself. You see Superbug, I do not believe people become "saved" and then "unsaved" and "saved" and so on. Either she was saved, and will come back around one of these days, or she will get saved one of these days, or sadly she was never saved and will not be saved.

I just expressed my doubt about the truth of the matter, not her sincerity. People can be sincerely wrong...don't you agree?

I don't believe you are a Christian A4H. I don't believe you ever were.

[steamer]

Hey there, I would like to offer a reason. Though I am no longer an atheist I found the really deep reason for me was simple. S I N. You see, I think that people want to run their own lives, to be "free". But they also know deep down they probably know that they are doing things in their lives that God would not approve of. So, instead of changing themselves to conform to God's will, they simply dismiss God's existence. They have no proof that God doesn't exist. I have been in quite a few debates with atheists since I accepted Christ and I have always asked the same question with no answer so far.

What is your positive evidence that God doesn't exist. You see it is not enough to just sit there and take pot shots at theists and try to tear down their arguments, one has to provide positive evidence for their position as well, so far though, in my experience, non is forthcoming.

Ok, what is your positive evidence for your disbelief in the objective reality of unicorns? I know deep down you must secretly believe they exist and are actually doing things that you know unicorns would not approve of. I await your reasons for holding this irrational non-belief.