Why are atheists expected to prove they don't think Gods are real?

1. 90

   Kylyssaposted 9 years ago

   Why are atheists expected to prove they don't think Gods are real?
   
   There seems to be this idea that atheists have to prove that God isn't real in some concrete way using empirical evidence in order to not think God is real.  I just take a believer's word that he or she honestly thinks God is real without asking them to prove God is real in some concrete way.  Do believers carefully investigate all the Gods and Goddesses they don't believe in and prove in a concrete way that they don't exist before deciding they don't think those deities exist? If not, why is it seen as necessary for atheists to do so to be allowed to have an absence of belief?
   
   

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2. 59

   Link10103posted 9 years ago

   Who knows. Usually for the more vocal believers here, if you bring up any other gods, they just say that the christian one is the only true one and disregard the topic.
   
   I find it odd how there are people who assert their gods existence as fact, know that they cannot provide concrete evidence to prove such, and then ask non believers to prove said god doesnt exist using concrete evidence.
   
   Boggles the mind.

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3. 61

   cjhunsingerposted 9 years ago

   Kylyassa
   The Christians here tend to be very insecure in their belief and, perhaps, as who they are as individuals. They are like the child who throws a tantrum when they feel that a sibling is receiving more attention.
   Perhaps, it is a fight with masochistic tendencies or a Joan of Arc syndrome that causes the many displays of self righteous indignation. They really do not understand that an Atheist does not care if they profess a belief in one god or many or how they define a particular god. Many display characteristics of a knight riding into battle, sword in hand, on the back of a great steed ready and willing to kill the any and all who deny their merciful Lord Jesus.
   For the Christian or, for that matter, any rabid deity worshiper intellect and reason, compassion and understanding have nothing to do with doing God's work, as all things, regardless of the savagery are justified in his name.
   I, would think that they simply want that attention and their antics are a way to prove to their god that they are, somehow worthy.

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4. 68

   JessicaSidewaysposted 9 years ago

   "Do believers carefully investigate all the Gods and Goddesses they don't believe in and prove in a concrete way that they don't exist before deciding they don't think those deities exist?"
   
   Of course not.
   
   "If not, why is it seen as necessary for atheists to do so to be allowed to have an absence of belief?"
   
   Because we refuse to drink the kool-aid with them.

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5. 86

   M. T. Dremerposted 9 years ago

   Speaking specifically about belief in the United States, the burden of proof falls on the atheist because they're the 'others' encroaching on Christian territory. The status quo, for a long time, has been a theist majority where violations of church and state are ignored because of the assumption that 'everyone thinks that way'.
   
   With the slow growth of atheism (and other religious beliefs) Christians have started to feel push back they've never encountered before.  Most don't care because it doesn't effect their personal beliefs, but extremists interpret it as a hostile takeover. So, they expect the atheists to justify why they're trying to destroy everything that's good about the status quo.
   
   This burden of explanation won't really shift until theism is no longer in the majority. However, I don't see that happening anytime soon, especially considering that atheism has no unity of purpose. We aren't trying to gain followers, we're just trying not to get crushed.

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