I believe that every person believes in God. I know I did even when I had convinced myself that I was an atheist. Atheists like to debate because they feel like if they can win a debate, their stance HAS to be true (that there is no God) and in the end, they are just trying to convince themselves of what they, deep down, know is untrue.
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You can believe that if you like...but you'd be wrong. When I went through the motions of christianity, THAT was what I knew, deep down, was untrue.
Nope, sorry, I don't believe in God in the same way I don't believe in unicorns, fairies, big foot or the Loch Ness monster.
I believe that no person believes in God. I know I didn't even when I had convinced myself that I was a Christian. Theists like to debate because they feel like if they can win a debate, their stance HAS to be true (that there is a God) and in the end, they are just trying to convince themselves of what they, deep down, know is untrue.
How does that sound, German-TV-Detective Hood?
I was kind of just atheist by default? I mean, my parents are lapsed Baha'i, but I was never made aware of that until my late 20s. Very few of the people I have ever known have directly mentioned religion at all. Some younger kid told me once that "God made the world" but I figured it was some thing people lie to kids about like Santa bringing presents or the Tooth Fairy exchanging teeth for a quarter. I mean, like, which God? Is that Jupiter or Osiris or Iza-whatever-his-name-was¹ or someone else? I was legitimately unaware that Christianity existed until high school history lessons, and even longer to be aware that there are still people who take it seriously. Which, looking back, seems kind of weird. I knew of buildings called "churches" and "temples" but never asked what they were, just kind of assumed they were decorative or something.
You'd think that if everyone "just knew deep down" I'd have figured things out on my own.
OK, Derrick;
I'm going to ask you a very, very simple question. Are you ready?
Do you believe in Zoroaster?
Consider your answer carefully, Derrick.
" their stance HAS to be true (that there is no God)"
But that's not my stance. My stance is that I, personally, see no compelling reason to believe in any of the gods offered by man. I don't see much of a distinction between Zeus, Wotan or Jehovah, at least as far as 'Oh, look, that can only be explained by the hand of fill in the blank!'
You believe whatever you want, honey. That's the good thing about belief; each person is free to do it as they see fit.
Most atheists are agnostic atheists. We simply live our lives as if there are no gods, goddesses or other deities, until any evidence of their existence emerges.
I didn't convince myself that I am an atheist. Religion just made less and less sense, the more I learned about it, until there was simply nothing left. It was a little bereavement to me, realizing that there probably is no heaven where we can meet our loved ones. I used to like going to church at weddings, christenings and confirmations. Last time, I just felt empty; even singing the hymn made me almost cry. So no, it's not about what HAS to be true, or WINNING, or to CONVINCE ourselves. It's just a lack of belief in gods, goddesses and other deities.
I like to say I became an atheist by laziness. It became harder and harder for me to maintain faith in a god, until finally I just gave up and went on with my life.
This post is part of a widespread belief that atheists believe in a god, we just don't like him. See the movie "God's Not Dead" for a perfect encapsulation of this fundie belief.
This is not a compelling argument. If you have to convince yourself that you believe in a god, you don't really believe. You're simply trying to trick yourself into liking the cage that you've chosen to enter, Derrick. That's all there is to it, & all there is to you.
Confused?
So were we! You can find all of this, and more, on Fundies Say the Darndest Things!
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