Why do theists find it so hard to accept that atheists really, genuinely, honestly don't believe in their god?
814362
Hard to accept? Nonsense. I'm a believer with quite a few atheist friends. I believe; they don't. Simple as that.
197885
I can see your point. Indeed, most agnostics should admit that, ultimately, they are atheists.\n\nIf there is some agnostic around who doesn't agree on this, please explain us why you define yourself agnostic about God but not about Santa Claus.\n\nThe same goes for all the infinite things that you don't believe but cannot disprove ("right now there is a bottle of tequila orbiting around Pluto", "there must be an unicorn somewhere on Earth", "the person who is writing this (Flavio) is an intelligent computer", etc.)
711247
I think they're referring to agnostic theists, those who think there is no way to know absolutely if there is a god, but believe in one anyway.\n\nAccording to Theism, the opinion that gods or deities exist, and Agnosticism is that existence unknown or inherently unknowable. Belief is defined as a conviction of the truth of a proposition without its verification. Agnosticism does not violate this, and this definition of theism does not violate agnosticism.\n\nThey can act upon their belief as though it is true but again, without verification.  They believe while admitting that it cannot be absolutely PROVEN that what they believe in is true.  Hey, I never said it was logical.\n\nBelief: to have confidence in the truth, the existence, or the reliability of something, although without absolute proof that one is right in doing so.  I pulled that directly from the dictionary.  So you're right in that they might as well be called theists since theists would possess the same belief... but to get unnecessarily technical, most theists would insist that they DO have "absolute proof", so those who admit to being without "absolute proof" or at least incapable of attaining such would be "agnostic" in that regard.
1033165
An atheist doesn't believe in a deity. An agnostic doubts the existence of a deity. A deist, on the other hand, believes them both to be wrong. It's beginning to sound like a 'shell game' doesn't it?
597105
In my experience it is far more likely that a religious organisation will try to persuade an atheist that they should believe in God than vice versa.\n\nAs an atheist myself I have no problem with you believing in your God. I cannot prove that your God does not exist so I have no right to deny you your right to believe.
405061
What I find mind-boggling is how Christians can so easily dismiss the existence of fairies and such, but won't even entertain the possibility that their god is not real. Their god, who has absolutely nothing to differentiate him from the rest.
1179925
Atheists don't hate God; they don't believe such an entity exists, so hating it would be an absurdity.\n\nWhat they have a problem with, in my view ("hate" is too strong a word), is the attitude of theists who preach at them, calling them fools, or blind, or spiritually dead, and threaten them with dire consequences if said atheists don't exchange their axiom set for the theist's own. (Worse are those theists for whom proverbial justice can't come soon enough, and threaten dire consequences upon people in *this* life.)\n\nIf all theists were content to follow whatever beliefs they may have and not attempt to proselytize to non-believers, atheists would merely consider theism an idle curiosity. As it is, however, theism is seen by some atheists as a dark, sinister, divisive and ultimately destructive force in society. (c.f. Sam Harris and Richard Dawkins.)\n\nA question back at you. Why should atheists respect a monotheist's belief-system, when their belief system *by definition* does not respect atheism?
728377
it may get depressing when u come to the fact that an atheist has no one to rely on for something like eventual salvation. a belief is a powerful thing even if its based on something false. it can give that reason to go on thinking u have a purpose. an atheist hasn't got that.
408303
Because people who DO believe in god try to force their opinions down our throats.\n\nIn the UK we are often woken on Sunday mornings by god-botherers knocking our front door. "Have you heard the good news? God is alive and he loves you!"\n\nIt's not like we have to hear atheists knocking our front door and saying "Have you heard the bad news..?"\n\nWhilst small-minded, arrogant god-botherers and bible-bashers insist on trying to make me believe their twaddle, I reserve the right to poke fun at their beliefs. Believing in god, Jesus, Mary and the holy ghost is - to me - like believing in the Loch Ness monster and the bogeyman. It's all rubbish and not worth my time hearing, so don't hassle me and I won't hassle you.
366034
Or you could doubt Gods existence all of the time. I am always surprised at how little people know about their own religions. They ask for no facts, no accountability, and never question what they are told. I think they fear that their belief won't hold up and they will find out that they have wasted all of this time on nothing. I say if you are going to believe in God then at least know why. Don't be afraid to ask the hard questions, and don't let them get away with answers that don't make sense. Also, don't let them make you feel bad asking. If you are asking, and they don't have a good answer, maybe something is wrong.
1016192
Interesting question.\n\nI guess the answer may vary. \n\nI, as a believer, will think it's much harder to prove that God doesnt exist. But to those who dont believe in God, they'll just say the other way around: it's easy to prove he doesnt exist. They will start to argue: I cannot see Him, I cannot hear Him, touch Him, feel Him. these argumentation, however, are difficult to be accepted by the believers.\n\nIf refering to standard scientific research characteristics, these people's argumentation indeed make sense. it's easy to say He doesnt exist. But we should remember knwoledge is very progressive. 1000 years ago we may find it difficult to believe that we can go to the moon. And we should be aware that not all things in this world should be standard-scientifically proven.\n\nNow, those stupid profesors, researchers, etc, may find it difficult to believe that God exists. But someday they'll realize how stupid they are.
809217
Actually, very few atheists exist anyway, or if they do it is in complete inconsistency. A true atheist would also be an anarchist. Thus robbing, pillaging, murdering at will should be no problem for them (i.e. the law of the jungle, eat or be eaten) An animal wouldn't think twice about stealing if it benefited the individual.\n\nMost people that claim to be atheists then, I would say, yes are uncertain that their agnostic beliefs hold real truth, and are at odds with becoming true atheists and denying all sense of morality.\n\nWhy do they hold on to morality that in its origin was derived from God? Usually when you hate something you would tend to distance yourself as far from it as possible, however the atheists, in their walk in society at least, for the most part, seem to live according to the same laws as believers.\n\nIt's a contradiction they can't escape until embracing the only thing they claim to believe....that is that we are nothing more than an animal, a part of the accident called the milky way.....earth and its nearest neighbors.\n\nVery few are willing to do this.....the rest end up on America's most wanted.
621969
maybe you dint find a real believer in God, who is to have an argument with!\n\ni mean believing in something is a symbol of emotional dependancy or some sort of confidence over the 'unknown' that it would help their .. watever! so, people should know whether they really believe or whether they think that they believe or whether they are testing their faith. a person who selflessly believes in god will argue with you better than a person who is a believer for his own reasons. so it depends on the mentality of the person you are arguing with.\n\nLastly i am not contending with your opinion and neither am i condemning it. I am also not trying to argue with you. I am not an atheist. I am not a christian either. you have your right to believe whatever you want.. and so have I. Loosing an argument doesn't prove that gods dont exist and winning an argument doesnt prove either. stop taking things personally and find people who you really want to contend with, the 'arguable' people.
132811
The ones who fight to disprove God are anti-thiests.  In my liftime, I have only met a handful of actual athiests, but an enormous amount of anti-thiests who call themselves athiests.\n\nThe operating word in the definition is belief.  If you truly believe something, you act on it accordingly.  If you truly believe the roof you are sitting under is about to fall down, then you'll move.  Genuine athiests truly don't believe that there is a God, and won't waste much time talking for or againt Him.\n\nOn the other hand, anti-thiests don't want anybody to believe in any kind of higher being, and work fervently to achieve that goal.  In my experience, most anti-thiests once believed in God, but something happened in their lives which they blame God for, and thus the fervor.\n\nto zilker: Technically, anyone who does not have a belief in God is an AGNOSTIC. An atheist believes that there is no God.\nEveryone is actually AGNOSTIC by default until they develope or reject a belief in a God. \n\nto My Big Bear Ron: Maybe there are no athiests 'knocking on doors', but I guarantee there are no Christians in court rooms trying to suppress the athiests' (or more accurately, anti-thiests') right to believe what he wants to believe.
447401
Firstly, I recon atheists don't want to face up to the fact that they can't make it without a Savior. Secondly, they prefer the idea that in the end they will not be held accountable for their actions. Thirdly, atheists practice a religion - by faith they believe in no God - a convenient way to give irresponsibility the thumbs-up.\n\nHere's a reality check for atheists: You will only be set free by the truth. You need to accept Jesus as you Savior, ask His forgiveness and repent. Then you'll know freedom! Guaranteed!
189024
Because atheists hate that others see the truth of GOD through faith.\n\nAtheists can't see that through GOD always being on their mind is proof that GOD exists,they choose to be blind.
810939
That is a good question. Why do those who do not believe that God is real, even bother arguing? Maybe because they know deep down He IS real- yet they are trying so hard to find a reason why He isn't and it makes them feel better about themselves when they argue He is not. I don't know- but that is my guess.\n\nI am glad HE IS REAL! And I am glad that I have no doubt. My Savior Jesus Christ is FOREVER! Amen!