"I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours." ~Stephen Roberts
We all disbelieve in some things. Whether you believe strongly that something is false, or doubt it, or simply defer belief in it for when and if good evidence is found to substantiate the claim, there must be some things in which you lack faith. The following is one possible example of such a thing:
The Invisible Pink Unicorn is a supernatural being (who can, of course, manifest Herself in physical form if She wants). From another thread:
"The Invisible Pink Unicorn wants us to brush her long, flowing mane and tail. But she wants us to brush her hair because we want to, not because we've been forced to. Her holiness the Invisible Pink Unicorn let's us choose whether we want to live in bliss brushing her hair or suffer eternal damnation shoveling her manure in the afterlife. It's up to us to choose. People who choose not to believe in the existence of the Invisible Pink Unicorn have made their choice, and with a heavy heart, she will respect their decision."
The above is, in my opinion, a bunch of horse dung.
I have little doubt that most of you feel the same way.
But
why do you not believe in it? Why don't you believe in a million other stories, myths, legends, and gods, for that matter? What causes a person to doubt--or at least defer acceptance of--a claim?
I would argue that two main factors cause people to not believe in a claim:
1) The claim is not psychologically/emotionally attractive in some way. Here, "attractive" means the claim promises rewards for belief and/or punishment for disbelief, or that a person has already decided the claim is true and the psychological phenomenon known as "confirmation bias" keeps them from genuinely considering the possibility that it is false.
2) The claim does not fit with or is not/cannot be supported by observation (only imagination).
I would argue that only #2 is a valid reason for rejecting/deferring belief in a claim, in terms of how likely it is that the resulting disbelief corresponds to reality.
Think of some things you don't believe in (like the IPU, for exmaple). Why don't you beleive? Don't you have enough faith? Do you WANT to shovel manure for eternity?!
