Why atheism over agnosticism?

[SGOS]

What would be enough proof for you? the answer to that question is different for various people

For starters, it would have to be somewhere higher than zero.

[Mike Cl]

I know that I have the burden of proof, I recognize that stating there is something greater is an extradinary claim, and i admit i lack sufficient intellectual justification.

What would be enough proof for you? the answer to that question is different for various people

CP you will never have enough reasonable, rational, intellectual justification for god--for it simply does not exist.  You will always believe in god because of faith--you don't need a 'reasoned' reason to believe--you simply believe because it makes you feel better than not believing. 

For me proof is in nature.  Nature operates on a set of principles, some of which we now understand.  Darwin articulated some foundational ones--survival of the fittest, for example.  That is an elegant yet totally neutral concept.  It is simple (and if only it was taught like that in school)--those species who fit into their environments best survive.  Those who don't eventually die out.  That is not cruel or excessive, or just, or anything else--it just is.  The human species can put emotions to it and turn it into something that it is not.  I suppose one could cling to the idea of 'first cause'--but even then god created and left--gone to other places.  If god exists he has to leave 'footprints' somewhere--there must be some observable evidence of his existence somewhere.  And if god is universal he must leave some universal evidence.  None exists.  Your god cannot even leave a coherent written message anywhere or anywhen.  There is not a shred of rational,   reasonable, logical, evidence of god anywhere--only emotional evidence which results in faith--unreasonded belief void of proof. 

[the_antithesis]

You will always believe in god because of faith--

And faith is an act of pride.

[Contemporary Protestant]

how is believing in something an act of pride?

[Munch]

It can easily be accounted that the seven deadly sins, if all Christians claim to shun anyone who commits to them, you would find how just about all christians commit there own sins on a day by day level, and if god and heaven were real, you'd all be fucked regardless.

Greed: Have you see the vatican, the gold leafed floors and structures? Not forgetting all the tax avoidance the church commits to on a daily level for its personal money laundering

Lust: God must have reworked the laws for all the boy fiddlers in the catholic church, and reality check, in order to fuck and have babies, you need to be turned on to get an erection, so any family man with kids who claims to do the lawd work has sinned, probably many times.

Sloth: So no Christians have ever laid around doing nothing, they are active all the time, never stopping for a moment to relax, eat something and chill out? I'd be glad to see that.

Envy: Lets be honest, saying envy doesn't exist if your a christian as as much chance of you claiming angels wipe your ass with clouds from heaven. Being humble all the time means you have nothing to strive towards and become better at.

Pride: "I'm proud to be a christian" Yeah there you go.

Wrath: never been angry at someone, given the fact Christians want to confront all others who don't believe in god and wish hell to open up and claim them, thats pretty wrathful in of itself, funny how hell exists in your faith making that very claim of no following wrath a convenient tick to your own 'sins'.

Gluttony: So no Christians have ever eaten to much in their life, more then what they need, and shared it with the poor and starving? Then why are their still starving people in the world?


Christians made up their own rules about how they get into their imaginary cloud palace in the sky, and claim anyone else not following them will burn in hell for it. The irony of their own fallacies just makes watching christian preachers and those following them make me realize how much further as a species we have yet to evolve.

[Contemporary Protestant]

um i have never met a Christian who claimed not to sin
the 7 deadly sins are a Catholic thing
protestants believe all sin is deadly

the point of Christianity is that everyone can be forgiven of their transgressions no matter how great

i try and be the best person i can be but i fall short of that

people often say that the wage of sin is death, which is why if forced to take a stance on the afterlife, i say that people who never asked to be forgiven cease to exist while people who tried to turn from their ways continue to exist, this idea is called annhilationism

[Mermaid]

protestants believe all sin is deadly

What is a deadly sin? I have a protestant upbringing and I actually do not have any memory of being taught about sin.

[Contemporary Protestant]

sin has been described to me as anything that strays from ideal such as not taking care of my brother would be sinful because i would be failing to fulfill my obligations. also like abusing animals would be considered a sin for the same reason, not fulfiling an obligation

i personally struggle to use my time effectivley and to take good care of myself, sin or not, i consider being out of shape a short coming

[Mermaid]

I don't mean sin, I mean "deadly" sin. What makes a sin deadly?

[Contemporary Protestant]

deadly as in has deadly consequences, if i am so lazy that family starves, that is why laziness is deadly, the consequences

[aitm]

also like abusing animals would be considered a sin for the same reason,

oh really? can you show a babble verse where abuse of any animal is a "deadly" sin? That would be a new one on me…

[Contemporary Protestant]

Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds,
Proverbs 27:23

here are some more

http://www.openbible.info/topics/animal_cruelty

a few are relevant a few are not

[Mermaid]

deadly as in has deadly consequences, if i am so lazy that family starves, that is why laziness is deadly, the consequences

I think my confusion is with your statement that protestants believe all sins are deadly sins.

[Hydra009]

I know that I have the burden of proof, I recognize that stating there is something greater is an extradinary claim, and i admit i lack sufficient intellectual justification.

What would be enough proof for you? the answer to that question is different for various people

Doubting Thomas provides an excellent example.



NIV John 20:24-27
  24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came.
  25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
  26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”
  27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

Direct personal experience in a public setting would certainly be highly convincing.  And it'd be a trifling matter for a deity.  One would think that a deity who wants to be known would jump at the chance.

It'd certainly beat the current state of affairs:

[Contemporary Protestant]

eh protestants are really divided on issues but its always been told to me that all sin is deadly