Let me clarify:  How much proof is necessary to believe in a God one cannot see, taste, touch or hear (even if one can see, taste, touch and hear the results of that something).  If you are an aithiest, do you not believe in God because you cannot see, touch, taste, etc.  If you believe in God, do you just base your faith in thin air and believe despite evidence to the contrary?  (If so, why?)
132456
First of all: I consider it really important to base your faith upon something that is reasonable, because if you do not do so, when faith is replaced by doubt, it would be really difficult to sustain. according to this, I consider that God is evident because: if we, the world we live in, and the whole universe surrounding us exist, then we could say that "Emptiness" (understand this as the lack of everything  doesn't exist), therefore Everything (understand this as the total lack of Emptiness) exists, therefore God (or something that could be considered to be infinite and eternal exists.=)
343233
I have been on both sides of this issue. I was raised to believe, but rationally I could not except the idea that God was the judgmental insecure fruitcake my religion portrayed him as.\n\nSo I stopped believing.  Then this happened to me.\n\nSeveral years ago I had an unusual experience concerning an uncle, a distant relative who lived over a thousand miles away. \n\nWhile driving my car I suddenly felt the unmistakable presence of this relative that I hardly even knew. He was more like someone I had heard about than someone I knew. It was very strange; it felt as though I was momentarily lifted right out of my physical body. I seemed to be suspended somehow beyond space and time, bathed in a love so intense It felt like I could have just disappear into it at any moment if It would have let me. It only lasted for a few seconds, but it seemed to last forever at the same time. I realize how crazy this must sound. The experience was so strong that at first I was afraid I was loosing my grip on reality. I finally managed to chalk it up to an over active imagination.\n\nThree days later I got a call from my aunt telling me that this uncle we are talking about had gone into a coma and died the day I had the experience. It felt like ice water had been poured down my back when she told me this. I had lost any real ideas of God or faith and had become somewhat of an atheist. Needless to say this experience caused me to rethink some of the conclusions I had come to. \n\nI feel blessed to now understand that even in our darkest confusion something loves us so much that it went out of its way to assist me and bring me back to a state of absolute certainty about Gods love for us.\nDuring the experience it seemed like there was a vast amount of information that I was somehow allowed access to. One thing that I came away from this experience understanding beyond any shadow of a doubt was that any Idea that God is unhappy with us or would judge or allow us to be punished for any reason is simply impossible. \n\nI can’t explain the love I felt with words. They simply don’t make words big enough or complete enough to do this. The only way I can begin to convey this love to you is to say that there was simply nothing else there. Nothing but love. No hint of judgment, no displeasure of any sort. It is as though God sees us as being as perfect as we were the day we were created. It is only in our confused idea of ourselves that we seem to have changed.\n\n I hope this is of some help to you. Good luck. Love and blessings. \n\nYour brother don
61944
Pardon my intrusion, but I do believe in God, 100%.  Not any god or idol of worship, but Jesus Christ, the one true God.  As a believer, my opinion is that "those" who don't believe in God ARE missing out on something (many things), including friendship (if you're alone in this world), fellowship (with other believers, not persecutors), and spiritual satisfaction (always knowing that if God brings you "to it", then God will bring you "through it".)  Good question,  probably no right or wrong answers though...
538951
You don't need to believe in a god to believe in an afterlife, nor do you need to believe in a god to believe you have a soul.  The beauty of atheism/agnosticism is that everyone thinks for themselves and has their own ideas about things.  It doesn't matter if it's the "Truth" or not.
665172
How much faith do you need to not believe there's an invisible unicorn in your backyard? You can't prove that there isn't. You can only believe that there isn't. An atheists disbelieves in God as much as you disbelieve in magical gnomes in your dresser. They can't be disproved, they're magical, but as a rational person you decide that there are no gnomes in your dresser, but there is a possibility that there are because you cannot monitor your dresser every day all the time. A religious person definitely has more faith than an atheist.
32493
To answer this question, you have to ask yourself: is there an inherent need in humans to beleive in God or a deity?  I beleive in God because I acknowledge that something, whatever it may be exists beyond what we know & understand.  That is to say, i beleive that God isn't what the majority of the world would lead us to beleive.  God is there, but we can't possibly understand it.  To understand God is to be God.  This raises another question: are humans their own individual God, just on a different level?  So if you answer yes to the previous question, I think one might be able to take comfort in their own 'Godness,' and the 'Godness' around you.
280980
Dear musical_k,\n\nRegarding miracles...\n\n1. It is rational to believe that God exists (e.g., see http://www.godsci.org/gs/godsci/evidence.htm for scientific and intellectual evidence for the existence of God).\n\n2. If God exits, he can perform miracles.\n\n3. Given that it is rational to believe that God exists, it is therefore rational to believe that miracles are possible.\n\n4. I choose to be consistent and rational in my world-view and in my beliefs. Therefore I believe that miracles are possible.\n\nCordially,\nJohn
401743
"I am sorry but I had to answer in response to the "believing in things you cannot see is called hallucinating" comment. I was always taught that "hallucinating" was seeing things that aren't really there. Which is not necessarily brought on by mental illness. Sometimes it is something as simple as a fever, or drugs.\nNot believing in thing that you can not see. I believe in the wind... something I can not see. By this logic most people alive have a mental illness."\n\nBefore I answer the question I want to address this post.  If hallucinating is seeing something that is not there? Than can you explain a belief in something you've never seen?  Don't give me the canned answer of " I see God in the beautiful sky" or "God has helped me" those answers are in no way proving to you that there is a God. They are just reassuring you that you have faith in God. Faith and Reality are not the same thing.  You say that sometimes you can't see the wind but you know it's there. How?   perhaps it is because it is a part of reality. You can feel it on you face. You can see it when it blows trees around. You can harness it to make energy. \n\n\nAs far as the site goes.  The point of the sight is that faith in God is pointless. They prove it by using science.  There is no way to compare science and faith. All you can do is test faith like you do science, and when you do don't make up lame reasons for why your faith failed. ie..... "God is mysterious" or "you don't really believe"  there is no way to prove how much someone believes, just like there is no way to prove that god is there.\n\n\nOne more thing\n\n"You would do better to go to Christian message boards\nDon't go to unbelievers\nThis is a good site and will teach you about all the things you need to know about others that don't believe and cults and false religion"\n\nThat is the point. Christin's are so unsure of themselves that they refuse to test their God.  Don't challenge your faith, but instead surround yourself with only those that think like you. \n\nWant to find out the real truth about religion and God? \n\nThan ask someone who has thought it out rationally and logically.\n\nNot someone who will disconnect themselves from common sense in order to appease there inner need for a father/mother figure.
85767
I'm the type of person that needs absolutely everything proved to her.  Everything.  But I've found there are two exceptions...god and love.  Sure I can dissect the reasons why I believe in both, but what it comes down to is I simply *feel* them both.  I'm not talking about blind faith here.  It's sort of...instinct.  A gut feeling, if you will.
59949
what real proof do we have of anything? Really, how do we know for sure about the bible or anything else without actually seeing it for ourselves? That's what faith is for in my opinion.
145227
It is very easy to believe in something you witness for yourself. However, I do believe there are some real basis for believing some individuals have this type of ability. I believe it is rare, but definitely could be a possibility. I do not like to just dismiss something out of hand, because I have yet to be around somebody who demonstrated this ability to me. However, I have heard from others that they have seen people who can do this. I do think it is a very rare gift, but look at all God can do, if you believe in God. I do. I find anything is possible if you open your mind to the possibilities in this world, the solor system around us, and the one even further out we can't see yet.
78867
Imagine how scary it must be to not believe in God, or in an afterlife.  Imagine how scary it is...if you are wrong.  I would imagine that many people that claim not to believe in God must have a nagging doubt, some underlying suspicion that they may not even be aware of.  If you live your life in whatever way you choose, claiming not to believe in an afterlife, in heaven or in hell, then what happens if you are wrong?  I would think that must be terrifying...and what do many people do when they are afraid of something..they attack.  They attempt to fight, to disprove, to make themselves feel better, to feel safer, in any way that they can.  That is just my opinion.
515165
This is a good question.  \n\nSimple answer:  All religions are based on faith.  Once you accept that religion, on faith, it is truth to you, but not necessarily truth to other people.\n\nThe same is true of each and every one of your perceptions, they are real and true to you, but, other people may not accept your perceptions.  \n\nThus to find truth, you need to look for it.  Let's say you never have prayed or meditated, and thus do not believe in spiritual experiences.  However, some else has prayed or meditated and has had some spiritual experience.  Then you have 2 different and independent truths, don't you.  \n\nHowever, in a court of law with jury, which truth would have the greatest defense?  You cannot disprove spirituality if you have never experienced it.  However, if you have experienced it then it is true for you, and others like you.  A court and jury would have to rule that spirituality appears to exist.  All a skeptic has to understand, that in their reality, their mind, they are not looking for spirituality, in fact they are actively against it at times, thus they will never see it, and that is ok, it is their choice. \n\nThus, truth in religion is "faith that becomes truth" only for those who believe in the religion.
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.
57928
Faith is not something that can be easily explained, it is just something you know. The Bible says that faith is the belief in things not seen. I believe in air, I can't see it but sometimes I feel it. It is faith that makes me believe the air is still there even when the wind isn't blowing. God is like that. You can't see Him, but if you pay close attention you can feel Him sometimes.  It is faith that lets you believe that He is there even when you don't feel Him.
320330
GREAT question!\nfirst of all, to say 'blind faith' is redundant. thats like saying 'liquid water'.    :o)\n\nthe point:\nfaith is believing something without justification. simple.\nlets not confuse reason with justification.\ni could have a thousand reasons to believe that im rich. this belief would only be justified if i have money in my bank account.\n\nim also sorry youre having trouble for asking a very intelligent question... makes me sad.
492133
I'm not an Athiest, I'm Agnostic. And I won't tell you that there is no God, because I do believe there is one. It sounds like what you have is Faith, not religion. Which is good, it's something I never had. \n\nAnd, as a side note, it's not a religion, it's a relationship. So it matters not that you don't follow the practices. You pray and you have faith and a walk with God, then that is all you need. Well, that and the Bible. It does have some really good things that it has to say if you dig deep.