Atheism

Originally Posted by Noble

I agree that there isn't a single shred of evidence to prove the existence of a god as defined by most religions. Keep in mind that I'm not saying there is a god or coming from a theist's perspective. I am not saying that someone who says "I haven't seen any evidence or proof of god" or "I don't believe or accept the so-called proofs of god as evidence" has the burden of proof. I am saying someone who says conclusively that "THERE IS NO GOD" does have the burden of proving that claim because it is an absolute statement on reality.
It is perfectly sane and reasonable to doubt something when you have been presented no credible evidence of its existence.
If you told me there's a million dollars worth of gold under your bed and you present me with no evidence, I, not having made any declarations but merely doubting due to your lack of proof am under no burden of proving anything. However, if I said "there ISN'T a million dollars worth of gold under your bed," that statement warrants proving. And for me to say there isn't a million dollars worth of gold solely because of your lack of proof to the contrary could be foolish. Unless I've went and searched underneath your bed myself or otherwise collected information that positively disproves the existence of the million dollars worth of gold, I am within my rights to doubt but I am not in a (tenable) position to say there absolutely isn't a million dollars in gold.
Lastly, I agree with you about people acting like their religion is fact. Religion, especially without clear conclusive evidence, is belief, not fact. However, I feel the same way about certain forms of atheism. I see it as a belief that there is no god, which without any proof or evidence, isn't any more factual than the religions they speak against.

Most educated Atheists will tell you, no we can't prove there is no god. However it's extremely unlikely that there is a god and therefore we don't believe there is. I can't prove Fairies don't exist, but I don't believe there is because it's very unlikely.

So no, I cannot definitely 100% say there isn't a god, but I believe in a god as much as I believe in the Bogeyman, Fairies, Mermaids and Unicorns. I hope that irons it out.

Originally Posted by Noble

I agree that there isn't a single shred of evidence to prove the existence of a god as defined by most religions. Keep in mind that I'm not saying there is a god or coming from a theist's perspective. I am not saying that someone who says "I haven't seen any evidence or proof of god" or "I don't believe or accept the so-called proofs of god as evidence" has the burden of proof. I am saying someone who says conclusively that "THERE IS NO GOD" does have the burden of proving that claim because it is an absolute statement on reality.
It is perfectly sane and reasonable to doubt something when you have been presented no credible evidence of its existence.
If you told me there's a million dollars worth of gold under your bed and you present me with no evidence, I, not having made any declarations but merely doubting due to your lack of proof am under no burden of proving anything. However, if I said "there ISN'T a million dollars worth of gold under your bed," that statement warrants proving. And for me to say there isn't a million dollars worth of gold solely because of your lack of proof to the contrary could be foolish. Unless I've went and searched underneath your bed myself or otherwise collected information that positively disproves the existence of the million dollars worth of gold, I am within my rights to doubt but I am not in a (tenable) position to say there absolutely isn't a million dollars in gold.
Lastly, I agree with you about people acting like their religion is fact. Religion, especially without clear conclusive evidence, is belief, not fact. However, I feel the same way about certain forms of atheism. I see it as a belief that there is no god, which without any proof or evidence, isn't any more factual than the religions they speak against.

Most educated Atheists will tell you, no we can't prove there is no god. However it's extremely unlikely that there is a god and therefore we don't believe there is. I can't prove Fairies don't exist, but I don't believe there is because it's very unlikely.

So no, I cannot definitely 100% say there isn't a god, but I believe in a god as much as I believe in the Bogeyman, Fairies, Mermaids and Unicorns. I hope that irons it out.