To have no answer is weak. Something had to start everything. That's God. See...you do believe. You just call it something else. You might not believe in the religious stories that are passed on, but you DO believe. You just call it something else. Aliens, big bang...whatever. It's God.
126857
just because people son't believe in god, it doesn't mean they don't believe in something.
70688
I agree and this is one of the most difficult issues that I have been struggling with lately.  Our ancestors of 2000 years ago did not have the science nor the technology to explain everyday events.  "Oh my gosh!  That glowing ball is back!  It must be a god!"  So, they named him Helios.  I'm just so confused as to why the Bible is still the end all, be all authority.  We've obviously made leaps and bounds in our understanding of the earth, our solar system, our galaxy and our universe.  Ugh!  I'm just so confused and find it VERY hard to follow with blind faith.
675301
I wrote an article on this. Paste below is a small excerpt:\n\nConsider these next few statements of rational logic. First, there has to be a cause for every effect. The universe had to come from something. There is no natural explanation for how the sun, moon, and stars could come from nothing! Therefore, for every effect, there has to be a cause! This Cause has to come from outside the universe; outside of nature. In other words;...supernatural. When I state "supernatural" I mean; a limitless being outside of time and space. Think about it! The only religion that ever stated otherwise was the biblical concept of Genesis! God always existed, but the universe did not!\n\nSecond, the Cause must be independent of it's effect. It can not be required to depend it's existence upon the universe. For nothing can change from a state of nothingness.\n\nThird, the Cause must be infinitely powerful! If it were limited, it would have to be confined by some other thing. It can not be limited by nothing and if it were limited, it would not be independent any longer. The effect can not be greater than the cause. The Cause has to be greater than the effect! It has to be greater than all the forces of the universe combined!\n\nFourth, the first Cause must be eternal. The creator must exist outside of time. The God of the Bible stated this in Exodus 3:14 and John 8:58. All the other religions honored harvest gods, war gods, moon gods, sun gods, animal-headed gods, fertility gods and goddesses. In fact, most of these gods were restricted to time as well as location. (1)\n\nFifth, the first Cause must be spiritual. Only an entity outside the universe could have created it. It must be beyond the physical elements. John 4:24 states that God is Spirit.\n\nSixth, the first Cause must be all-knowing. The creator created the universe. Albert Einstein wrote, "The harmony of natural law... reveals and intelligence of such superiority that compared with it, all the systematic thinking and acting of human beings is an insignificant reflection." (2)\n\nLast, the first Cause must be a Person. There is design in the universe. For it is balanced by the four fundamental nuclear forces. If altered by the slightest one millionth of a degree, all the stars would cease to exist. The Person would have to be a creator with desires, because the creator did not need the creation in order to exist. Rather, the universe was created out of pleasure! It is not unreasonable to suggest that the Bible is the best explanation.
472649
The key words are faith and belief. that is why I get so on my high horse when religions try to invoke science to try and prove thier god exists, or even worse use their god to prove science doesn't.
669445
No, once you start believing in a god, you stop being an atheist. Knowing that god doesn't exist is the definition of atheism. An atheist could still have a religion, though. Buddhists, for example. An atheist might believe in other supernatural things, besides god. Usually not, though. Atheists don't think that religion doesn't exist, if that's what you mean. That would be stupid. I'm perfectly aware of the existance of religion, I just find it pointless.
175567
If you're going to believe in God it has to come about from your own experiences. It has to be based in your own faith and trust. Im at the point where I think there is a spirit world but not necassarily a higher power, but sometimes I go back to thinking there is a higher power but not necessarily the conventional god. I think hes probably a sarcastic bastard if hes up there.
658702
I have to agree with you. I have argued with my mother in law on countless occasions about this. Everyone believes in something. I do believe there is a superior existence , I do not, however follow any specific religion. In any religion there is always some kind higher existence. There is no TRUE fact proven (in any religion) on what and or who is right. I find people tend to quote things from the bible but don't actually know what they're talking about. And to those who believe that everyone should have a faith, I do. I believe there is something, or someone who will show us our true religion, everyone, as a whole. I apologize if I have offended anyone. That was not my intention.
658721
You're right, there is NO scientific basis for god. If you keep thinking the way you are, you might end up being agnostic or atheist, so be careful!\n\n"I believe that until there is solid proof there never will be a true interpretaion of something you can't even prove."\n\nExactly, without proof (or evidence based on facts), there is nothing but interpretation. And since everyone interprets things differently, no one can be right or wrong, therefore no one can be right or wrong about god. Because of this, no one can say anything is true or false about god, because everyone sees it differently.
317448
Something has to be eternal, perhaps! Some say it is God, some say it is the energy-matter stuff or nature. I know that I don't know the answer. I would like to leave it that way. \n\nSome people believe in God or a supernatural power. Such people are in the modern educated populations of Christian, Islam and other religions as well as many tribal populations. There are also atheists in different pockets of the world. But in today's context, it would be perhaps ignorant, and even dangerous, to think whatever  'I'  believe is the only truth and hence everyone should believe the same (sorry to stray, but have seen this tendency in many questions/answers here). \n\nMany of us believe in exploring the truth in our own limited way, some of us don't care how it all started and many find answer in God-concept. So be it. We should try to understand each other's thinking and hence it is a valid question. But I don't think there should be any conflict.\n\n---\nWhen I started writing, Emmiboo didn't post .. I should perhaps learn to type faster..!
299686
It just is.\n\nThat is a great mystery of science.  The universe just is.  It didn't come from anywhere, it just always was.  In order to get a better answer you need to start steering towards religion.
215297
How is it rational to say with certainty that something does exist when the possibility will always remain that it does not?\n\nNOT believing is what atheism means.
43216
As an atheist, I have tried to grasp how believers in a god can actually believe. Many religious people have deemed this annoying and respond with hostility because their faith comes under question. And contrary to what people above me have said, we DO have beliefs. Just different (which to some people means none at all). I believe in science and proven fact. I have discussed my beliefs, and come under attack, because if people of faith can understand where I stand, they can further help me understand where THEY stand.
616389
Sometimes to see you have to believe first and at other times you have to see to believe.  I think just like everything else, both have their place in life.  I also think that's it's up to each individual when these principals are applicable.  Why do many believe who don't have proof, but depend on heresay?  Well, I believe (as I see it in people over and over again, including myself) that each of us are born with the spirit to know and understand God/Jesus and divine purpose.  When this proclivity is not correctly harvested and harnessed, we go with what "sounds" right or makes "sense".  I read somewhere, "if you don't believe in something, you'll fall for anything."  This is probably what you're referring to.  I don't know......
630900
well i believe that the creater is apart from the creation. Popular new age philosophy likes to think that everything is God. Yet, this goes against the Bible's teachings. Trust the Bible. peace.
481092
I guess there isn't any way to know for sure that we know everything is there?\n\nYou could take the perspective of some people and "just have faith".   No need to use reason or logic, no need to ask, no need to doubt.....JUST HAVE FAITH!
256051
well, faith is all about being able to believe in something without physical proof of it existing. logically, that doesnt make sense. but, thats what faith is about. anyone can have faith in something when its right in front of you with the answers spelled out. but to be realistic, the bible doesnt explain everything. and it contradicts what we know is scientifically proven. but thats just it, you've independantly thought about this, and questioned it, you obviously werent brainwashed into anything. and if you want to believe in it, it sounds like you're ready. if you decide not to, thats cool too. i can understand that.\n\nto me, faith is about saying "i believe theres more to existence than what we understand right now".
391616
You shouldn't worry.  If there is no god, you shouldn't worry.  If there is and he's a truly just god, he wouldn't condemn anyone to eternal damnation just for using the brains he gave them and refusing to believe unbelievable things.  And if there is a god but he's not a just god, we're all screwed.