Why am I answering this? I'm bound to get rated down by somebody just because they don't agree with me... but there we go, its too tempting a question.
So I'll start with a statement that proves my point: I'm an atheist. To me the world, my existence, the Bible and all that aren't proof. They just aren't- its a personal thing and I can't change how I feel about that- the Bible is just written word that I see no powerful argument for believing in any more than anything else. I simply can't believe something to be the word of God just because somebody tells me it is.
Anything that anyone can offer as "solid evidence" depends on their own belief in God. To a believer, the very existence of the world itself is proof enough, to a non-believer the existence of the world isn't enough to prove that God actually exists.
As far as I'm concerned the world could just as easily have been poured into existence out of a chocolate teapot by three giant monkeys, the existence itself is no solid "proof". But to one who is pre-disposed to believe in God the existence of the world and all the beauty in it is evidence enough that it was formed by some divine hand.
Likewise the Bible and other holy texts- proof enough for those who already believe, to me, a manmade creation no more convincing than Harry Potter. One can say the Bible is the word of God- and that's as may be, but how do we prove that?
Many people have said to me: "How can this beautiful and complex world world be an accident?" . My response is that on balance of probability there's that there's as much chance of the lottery numbers being 1,2,3,4,5,6 as anything else- but no-one ever believes it will happen. Try dealing out any four cards from a pack. You could deal for a million years and never get that same unique combination, which makes it quite an incredible occurence in a way- but it doesn't change the fact that you did deal that combination. Thus the beauty and complexity of the world that to one with faith acts as proof of Godly design and a divine plan, to others can't act as proof of anything other than pure natural accident.
Overall the answer is that if you feel you need solid proof, then chances are you're not going to find any. On the other hand, its also impossible to prove God doesn't exist- so you've never seen him- I've never "seen" love, or anger, or happiness- but I know they exist because I've felt them. If someone "feels" the existence of God, we can hardly argue against that on the basis of not having proof.
The problem for a natural sceptic is that there's no proof that there aren't three giant invisible monkeys sat up in the sky somewhere either!
The writer Angela Carter once said "We start from our conclusions". If you want to believe in God, go looking for the proof and you'll find it. If you don't, no proof will ever be enough.
Comments
Exactly what I am looking for
by Mr. McClister on April 18th, 2006
Nice answer, ...really really well put!
by Orange Mango on April 18th, 2006
No rating down form me! Very nice answer
by Godfather Part II on April 19th, 2006
Not bad. You got that right lady.
by Anonymous on April 22nd, 2006
This is the best answer that can be given to this question. Hats off to the lady.
by Prince Vegeta on May 1st, 2006
wrong--the Bible is God's Word and He does exist.
by Beverlyofhills on May 10th, 2006
I'm a believer, but I appreciate and respect your very well-written, enlightening POV. Candid and thoughtful, lf.
by Jodie44 on May 12th, 2006
As a Christian I have a hard time understanding this pov, but she was very eloquent and I Thank God we live in a country where we are able to state our pov's without worry. Happy 4th!!<:)))<><
by sleeppro on June 29th, 2006
My opinion you probably are a monkey. If you dont want to hear something you probably wont hear it, but if you do hear it you deny it, making your whole life void.
by GeneralPatton on July 13th, 2006
Thanks for the nice comments people. I don't understand what GeneralPatton is talking about, but there we go. Each to his own.
by Anonymous on July 16th, 2006
Can I join your chocolate teapot giant monkey religion?
by gung-ho on August 6th, 2006
if you like- makes as much sense as any of the others. I shall have to think up some commandments though!
by Anonymous on September 14th, 2006
BeverlyofHills: so what are you saying, God wrote the bible? to my knowledge, people wrote the bible, and that is not necesarilly going to be the 'word of your god' now, is it?
by anonymous on November 20th, 2006
Nice veiws for an atheist. I gave you a positive rating because I think those giant monkeys have been messing with me all week. I'm kidding. Gnostics can kid, right?
by Anonymous on November 30th, 2006
Oh, Gnostics can kid, but the question is, can they Gnost?
by Sgt Churba - Rational Response Squad on June 15th, 2007
Psalm 14:1-3 The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." This link might help:
http://www.proofthatgodexists.org/
by truthseeker7 on January 8th, 2010
I'd not seen this answer for a long time, but the above comment brought it back to my attention, and to read such a candid, charming, and unapologetic statement of the original poster's beliefs, well, it was quite refreshing, cheered me up a lot. Thanks, OP.
I'm disappointed that people were able to be so aggressive and insulting, just because you stated your views(For example, saying you think someone is a monkey, because they honestly, and without unkindness or any attempt at insult, stated their views? I mean, really? Are you so insecure in your faith that you must attack those who don't share it?) But I'm afraid that there is no accounting for some people. No matter our faith, we all suffer from the evangelical of other systems of belief attacking just because we don't agree with them.
For example, that website that Truthseeker linked to, for example, if you don't agree that absolute moral law exists, it forces you to agree, or say that you think molesting children could be fun, and then, no matter what you choose, it just railroads you to the conclusion it wants, as with all the other questions. It's not a questionnaire, it's a Choose your own adventure, but every path but the one they like ends the book. And it can't even get those right - For example, it tries to claim that the laws of science(I assume they mean laws of nature that science has discovered) or morality don't ever change - even though both morality and the laws have nature have changed hundreds of times within our lifetimes. Also, Amusingly, it fails to notice that the existence of God would absolutely and irrevocably change the laws of science forever. But I digress.
Essentially, This answer cheered me immensely, after a very hard day. Thank you sincerely for your candor, honesty and charm.
by Sgt Churba - Rational Response Squad on January 9th, 2010