Do You Know Why You Don't Believe? (beliefs, experience, atheist)

[Super Universe]

What is the reason you don't believe in God? Or the reason you're not absolutely positively sure God exists?

I'd guess the number one reason is because people see bad things happening all around them and can't understand why God would allow it to happen.

How would you rate the other reasons not to believe?

Now the key question, where would you rate your own ego as a reason and do you realize it's the main reason?

[Willamena]

Originally Posted by Super Universe

What is the reason you don't believe in God? Or the reason you're not absolutely positively sure God exists?

I don't believe in God because God is an idea I have. That's also, incidentally, the reason I do believe in God.

Originally Posted by Super Universe

I'd guess the number one reason is because people see bad things happening all around them and can't understand why God would allow it to happen.

How would you rate the other reasons not to believe?

People believe what they believe.

Originally Posted by Super Universe

Now the key question, where would you rate your own ego as a reason and do you realize it's the main reason?

Depends on what you mean by "ego". If you mean "me" then it's is indeed behind my reasons for believing and disbelieving in everything that I believe and disbelieve.

[Buttercup]

Originally Posted by Super Universe

What is the reason you don't believe in God? Or the reason you're not absolutely positively sure God exists?

I'm not sure God exists because he's never been over to visit. Simple as that. Why would I think otherwise?

How would you rate the other reasons not to believe?

Could you clarify a bit more what you're looking for with this question please?

Now the key question, where would you rate your own ego as a reason and do you realize it's the main reason?

My ego has absolutely nothing to do with the question so I'd rate it at a zero.

[Super Universe]

Originally Posted by Buttercup

I'm not sure God exists because he's never been over to visit. Simple as that. Why would I think otherwise?[/size]
Could you clarify a bit more what you're looking for with this question please?
My ego has absolutely nothing to do with the question so I'd rate it at a zero.

There is a person who lost a dear relative and they are angry at God and refuse to believe because they feel that God should have helped the relative live on. Another person wants to be rich but is not. Still another wants fame and an easy life. There are many reasons to believe and just as many not to believe.

The question is whether you understand yourself, whether you've examined your own personality and know what drives your moods and what is behind your beliefs. Do you even know why you believe in something?

Your ego has absolutely nothing to do with believing in God? Hmm, then why does God HAVE to visit you in order for you to believe? Why are YOU so important that almighty God has to come over?

[Inky]

Originally Posted by Super Universe

Hmm, then why does God HAVE to visit you in order for you to believe? Why are YOU so important that almighty God has to come over?

Why believe in something without having any experience which suggests that it's true?

It's just as important to turn the question around and ask why you (or other theists) do believe. For me it's because thoughts and feelings kind of float into my head that I'm quite certain don't come from me, and what they contain suggests to me they come from a very old and important being I'd call God. If I didn't have those thoughts and feelings, I wouldn't believe, so it seems perfectly natural if some people don't share that experience that they would be atheist or agnostic.

[Buttercup]

Originally Posted by Super Universe

The question is whether you understand yourself, whether you've examined your own personality and know what drives your moods and what is behind your beliefs. Do you even know why you believe in something?

Of course I know why I believe in something....because I have proof or reasonable proof. My husband says he loves me and he shows me he loves me. Therefore I can conclude with relative certainty he does indeed love me. Does god do this? If so, how?

Your ego has absolutely nothing to do with believing in God? Hmm, then why does God HAVE to visit you in order for you to believe? Why are YOU so important that almighty God has to come over?

Let me spin the question the other way.....what evidence is there of God in our plane of existence? And, if God wants me to believe in him, shouldn't he make himself known to me? Otherwise I assume he doesn't really care if I believe in him or not.

[Sunstone]

Originally Posted by Super Universe

Why are YOU so important that almighty God has to come over?

Ridiculous! There is nothing in Buttercup's thoughtful requirement to see evidence of deity before believing in deity that is egotistical. Otherwise it would be egotistical to need to see shoes before believing in such things as shoes.

[Super Universe]

Originally Posted by Buttercup

Of course I know why I believe in something....because I have proof or reasonable proof. My husband says he loves me and he shows me he loves me. Therefore I can conclude with relative certainty he does indeed love me. Does god do this? If so, how?[/size]

[size=2]Let me spin the question the other way.....what evidence is there of God in our plane of existence? And, if God wants me to believe in him, shouldn't he make himself known to me? Otherwise I assume he doesn't really care if I believe in him or not.

You need reasonable proof? Sure, that's it. But you set your standard of what you consider reasonable proof. Your standard may be very different from another's standard, certainly, your statement of requiring God to come over and introduce Himself is quite strict.

Does God prove Himself? Uh, how about the universe? How about life? How about the earth? Those aren't enough I guess.