Prove it! (atheism, agnostic, bible, worship)

[mythunderstood]

Originally Posted by raison_d'etre

Atheists on here always say that the theists have to have proof that what we believe is true. People who believe in the alternative and holistic approach with spirituality are forced to prove their beliefs.

I now turn the tables on the atheists and say prove to me that there is no God, Soul, and that things like Reiki, gemstones, and all things spiritual do not work

First of all, as an atheist, I do not hold the believe that gods do not exist. How should I know? For all I know, there could be hundreds of gods out there! I just have not been provided with any convincing evidence to believe in any god in the first place. That is not the same as holding the active belief that gods do not exist.

As for all of the other "spritual" things you mentioned, atheists are not precluded from believing in such things. The only thing that you can know about atheists by definition, is that we have no belief in gods.

[Rafius]

Originally Posted by Mr5150

For example, the atheist cannot prove that the universe came to be on its own-just happened.

It's not atheists or science that is saying that...and even if they were, why would you have a problem with it, after all, theists are more than happy to accept that their god(s) created the universe out of nothing-just happened.

[progmac]

Originally Posted by Mr5150

... view a positive assertion.

But as predicted it came to pass that no atheist will address the OP. IMO the atheist bases his or her beliefs about the spiritual on nothing (pun intended).

To answer the OP....

[Rafius]

Originally Posted by progmac

Makes ya think doesn't it??

[detmi7mile]

And to the OP, can you please provide proof that the thousands of other gods/demons/unicorns/fairy tale/insertrandommakebelievething don't exist? k, thanks.

[TheEarthBeneathMe]

Prove spirits don't exist? Okay....

Can you guys define first exactly what a spirit is for us?

[raison_d'etre]

Originally Posted by Rafius

It's not atheists or science that is saying that...and even if they were, why would you have a problem with it, after all, theists are more than happy to accept that their god(s) created the universe out of nothing-just happened.

Actually, theists are quite clear about the universe's creation. They don't claim it came from nothing. They claim that it came from their god(s). Science claims it started with a big bang. What caused the big bang? Something to the effect that a form or matter erupted and spewed forth the universe and all is wonder.

How is sciences explanation any different? It simply has another name to it. Science explains it in the how, religion in the why and gives it a spiritual side.

Sciences: Matter or something exploded causing a chain reaction that spewed forth the stars and planets. It created life with star dust, and over time life evolved because of the conditions of the environment it lived it.

Religion same as above, it just gives it a creator. God or the Source caused a big bang that caused a chain reaction and by creating laws of nature it formed life, that life adapted through it environment because the God or source has set laws in action to cause life to do so.

This is at least what I believe. I believe that there is a source of energy that we are all connected to, the earth, plants, and animals are all connected to this source energy. Science, in a way, backs me up. Science has proven that everything is energy. Energy that is connected in fact. Don't believe me? Ok, what do trees do? They provide fruit, fire, shelter, and one more thing essential to life, oxygen. So, we consume everything the tree has to offer, it becomes a part of us in a number of ways. Eventually we return this through breathing CO2, we also fertilize the earth through death, completing the cycle.

[boogieman]

Personally , I dont know how the universe was created or if it was created or just existed or whatever. Odds are that we are all wrong and full of s***.

Relgion creation stories are primitive man trying to make sense of it. I doubt even if we were told by a super ultra advanced race of aliens how it happened that we would even understand it, considering time may have not existed at one point or the other infinite possibilities.

For example my dog cant do or understand algebra , its quite impossible for him.

So for someone to "know" seems kind of ridiculous.

The universe seems to go from less complex to more complex. Its more likely that less complex things always existed than a highly complex being such as a god.

[ABQConvict]

I think the burden is on the Christians and the Wiccans is to prove that Odin doesn't exist.

[Francois]

Actually, I believe that the only scientific path is to be Agnostic--you admit that you really cannot know what's "up there". Both theists and athiests are saying "I KNOW the answer", and I say that either side should "prove it". Meanwhile, I remain unconvinced by anyone who knows "beyond a doubt" that some sort of "G/god" either does or does not exist. We simply cannot know either. I will be happy to consider concrete evidence in either direction.

And BTW, saying that there is some kind of "god" who created the universe does not mean it is the "Judeo-Christian God" who reads our thoughts and keeps a ledger on whether we are "good" or "bad" every time we do something lazy or have "impure thoughts" (however you define that). It's entirely possible that there is some kind of supreme being who did create the world, but who, like a scientist in a lab, is sitting back and letting things play out as they will, without judgment either way. I actually am much, much more inclined to believe in this sort of "god" than in one who talks to people from burning bushes and tells them they will spend eternity in agony just because they had too many lustful thoughts, or whatever, since lust is created within us in the first place. I refuse to believe any kind of "God" would create us with a condition and then condemn us for that same condition. Precisely what would be the "point" of that?

So, theists AND athiests--PROVE IT!