Atheists don't believe because they can't understand God, his attributes don't make sense to them. They also can't find any clear physical evidence for him. Which to me doesn't make sense because its a lot harder to disprove him than to prove him. They also don't believe in God because he convicts them, he makes them feel accountable for their sins, which to them feels like intolerance.

I choose not to believe in god. I will respect your views, and hope that you will respect my views.

ShayneSL : That's not what I'm asking. I'm asking why you don't believe.

i would not class my self as an athiest but you may class me as one that is of your own accord.
but i do belive that alot of people do not belive in god down to thier being no proof, but that its not every athiests view, others belive that their is no need to belive in a higher power down to thier choice of belief that no one/ nothing can have any form of control over thier lives, another thing people belive in is god is just an excuse to those whom "may be scared of death" for those who need the self security of some one controling thier lives or just for the belief that there is life after death or something like that.

i hope me saying this does not show disrespect for your beliefs, as i do respect them and was brought up through a large religious background of christianity which i chose not to belive in down to the fact of i dont really see a point to religion as thier are so many and all the complications within it only lead to arguments or even war and the fact of having storys and rules based on how to live your life seems very unappealing.

ZG

My reason is pure and simple. I just do not believe.

ShayneSL : That's not a reason. There's perfectly good proof, and you don't believe it? Please, if you're going to have an idea, have an explanation.

Robert7 : while I agree that there is some good evidence.... most of it can either be ignored or explained away if people choose to do so.

Physical evidence for God is never going to be good enough for most people no matter how good it is. Instead you are better off actually living like a true Christian should and showing your faith by the type of person you have become.

I am an atheist and I normally don´t argue about the reason why I am an atheist and why I think others should be too, however since I have been granted permission in this thread I shall explain "why" I and many atheists are atheists.

But first, let´s looks at what an atheist is, an atheist is someone who does not believe in a god or anything supernatural, if you believe in any higher power, you are not an atheist, if you believe in any type of mythical monsters, then you are not an atheist, now let´s look at "why atheists are atheists".

For me it´s because I have never found any ground that supports the notion that any higher power or mythical monster exists, a lot of books have been written and the Bible is one of those books, I will admit it right here and now that the bible is an impressive book, but so are many other books but what they all share is that they were written by men, for men.

I´ve just learned as I´ve grown up that there is an answer to everything, I keep seeing religious statements being torn down by science replaced by logic, pure cold logic, and I can relate to logic, I can relate to the question "Why is the sky blue?" a lot better with the answer "http://www.sciencemadesimple.com/sky_blue.html" or "http://www.desy.de/user/projects/Physics/General/BlueSky/blue_sky.html" than with "Because god created it that way." And the same goes with just about everything related to Christianity, there is but one single thing that is mentioned in the bible that can not be explained yet, but when everything but one thing can be explained I look at that as an overwhelming majority in favor of science and logic.

"Ignore the stories dude! Look at the peace message Christianity and other religions bring!"

Well I do, in fact I even follow some of the values from Christianity, and the golden rule is even one of my favorite rules, to treat others like I expect to be treated (granted I don´t like the second part of it that says I should treat others as they treat me since I don´t want to hurt people that hurt me so I don´t) however Christianity also has values that are bad like that you should cut off the hand of a woman who touches a mans genitalia if he is in a fight with another man, and the rule that you should throw rock at homosexuals so when all is gone but the good values, what is left ?

I don´t believe in any supernatural beings or gods, I don´t follow the negative rules of many religions, and I can´t be called a Christian/Hindu/Islam or anything else if I only have a set of morals and that I happen to like certain morals from certain religions.

So I am an atheist, and I recommend that people look deeply at themselves and ask themselves "Do I need a religion to be a nice person ?" and "Do the facts provided with science that I can watch with my bare eyes and test seem more reasonable than magic ?"
If people are into religion for the thrills I won´t blame them, and that´s why I don´t try to enforce my point of view except on those rare occasions like this one where I am given permission to do that.

So These are my reasons for being atheist.

"Well I do, in fact I even follow some of the values from Christianity, and the golden rule is even one of my favorite rules, to treat others like I expect to be treated (granted I don´t like the second part of it that says I should treat others as they treat me since I don´t want to hurt people that hurt me so I don´t) however Christianity also has values that are bad like that you should cut off the hand of a woman who touches a mans genitalia if he is in a fight with another man, and the rule that you should throw rock at homosexuals so when all is gone but the good values, what is left ?"

That isn't Christian doctrine.

geeogree : Well I never thought it originated in Christianity, of course people treated others nice before, but it´s a fact that it is being taught as a Christian doctrine to children down to 8 years old and that´s where I first learned this, so it´s just something I found memorable about the "Christianity classes" I had in elementary school, and since it is being taught by Christians claiming it as a Christian value I decided to use it as an example of something nice you can learn from Christian values.

I´m kinda confused why you brought this up, if I´ve offended in some way (It can be taken as an insult as the Golden Rule I learned says you should extract revenge in the same manner you got treated so that´s negative)I did not realize it and I apologize.

I'm not offended I'm simply pointing out that something you said wasn't accurate. That part I quoted is not something that Christians believe.... or at least I don't and I'm a Christian

geeogree : Yeah, and I suppose the Holy Spirit just has to work within them.

Ellert : Let me ask you, if there wasn't a law in your country saying that we shouldn't kill someone, would you? I should hope not, as you and I both know that it is wrong. Romans 2:15 - "They show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts sometimes accusing them and at other times even defending them."

I also don't care if you/I offend anyone, as God never commanded anything against it. He said to explain everything in the kindest way, but this doesn't mean that it's a sin if someone feels offended. I mean, Jesus Christ offended people all of the time by telling them the truth they didn't want to hear. Jesus even told people that they were "spawn of Satan".

"Christianity also has values that are bad like that you should cut off the hand of a woman who touches a mans genitalia if he is in a fight with another man, and the rule that you should throw rock at homosexuals so when all is gone but the good values, what is left ?" Jesus Christ spoke this in a parable so that people could understand. He spoke to their mindsets by speaking about basic life, such as farming. He basically meant that it would be better to cut that hand/arm/whatever off rather than have it be damned to Hell due to sin. But God sent his son, Jesus Christ, to die for us on the cross. Matthew 22:37-39 - "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself."

Hope this helps explain some stuff.

Robert7 : Of course I would not kill anyone, you don´t need to have a religion to have morals, and I just meant that as an Atheist I´m not gonna say that every single thing is bad about Christianity so I used some of the morals (some) as an example of something good.

Uuummmm, you know the Book of Deuteronomy was supposedly written by Moses but not Jesus, and while it has the rule that states that a wife should not attack her husbands adversary in the groin unless she wants to have her hand cut off, there are also these rules in that very book.

Young men who are guilty of disobeying their parents be it through profligacy or drunkenness shall receive the death penalty.

Also if a son is stubborn or rebellious he is to be taken to the towns elders to be stoned.

If a man suspects his new wife of not being a virgin and her parents can prove that she is the man is to be fined but if not the wife is to be stoned to death.

Women are not allowed to wear clothes that men wear (jeans for example) and the same with a man wearing woman clothes (I didn´t see that there was any punishment for this besides hell though)

If a man beds with the wife of another man both are to be killed.

If a man rapes a betrothed virgin within a city and it is not found out during the act both are to be stoned to death (so if the woman does not scream for help or can´t she should be killed for being raped)

Also if a man rapes a virgin that is not betrothed then he only has to pay her father 50 shekels of silver and they shall be husband and wife (and the justice for the woman is where ?)

I won´t take more examples, but these are the things I consider bad values from Christianity, and all of this was only from one book. So even if the attacking a mans groin thing was just a parable you can´t say all the other things are parables too.

Ellert : Morals? That's not the point of Christianity. The point is to believe in God and repent your sins to Him so you can have eternal life in Heaven. The reason Christianity has all of the "good" things in this world, is because God made the world, Satan condemed it with sin, and God made rules to uphold so we could try to live a holy life. God wanted us to be perfect, but Satan wouldn't let that happen.

"Uuummmm, you know the Book of Deuteronomy was supposedly written by Moses but not Jesus." Of course I know that. That's another reason why God is amazing, because he spoke through Moses to write the truth.

"So even if the attacking a mans groin thing was just a parable you can´t say all the other things are parables too." Why not? Do you know just how awful Hell is? It is spending your life in death, with pain and suffering in darkness. All of these things were said in Deuteronomy to prevent us from sinning. These are said that it be better to die, or be hung, in faith of Christ Jesus so that you may go to Heaven, rather than keep that sin and spend eternal "death" in Hell.

And right now, without faith in Christ Jesus, you are going to Hell.

Robert7 :
"And right now, without faith in Christ Jesus, you are going to Hell."

Most certainly, assuming there is a god and that there is a hell.
Christianity promotes fear in such a way people do not dare take the risks of wondering if it´s all true or not, people don´t dare to research the world and weigh their opinions, people don´t dare think "Is is more plausible that the world is this way or that way ?"

No, people are too afraid of their kind father God to even wonder why he did it all, why did god create a hell and why did he let Lucifer become evil, why does god kill firstborn children that have done nothing wrong because of the sins of others ?

If the point is to believe in God and to repent for sins you did not commit, then I think it is a selfish and an arrogant god Christians believe in, it´s basically "Believe in me or else!" God is more like a bully if he´s supposed to be that way.

"God wanted us to be perfect, but Satan wouldn't let that happen."

God created Satan and the supposed almighty god should be able to remove Satan.

"Of course I know that. That's another reason why God is amazing, because he spoke through Moses to write the truth."

And where is the evidence that god really did write through Moses, is there any solid proof ? And if not and if you are just supposed to have faith and believe in it, is it not because of fear that you do not question it ? That you never ask "what if Moses lied ?".

"Why not? Do you know just how awful Hell is? It is spending your life in death, with pain and suffering in darkness. All of these things were said in Deuteronomy to prevent us from sinning. These are said that it be better to die, or be hung, in faith of Christ Jesus so that you may go to Heaven, rather than keep that sin and spend eternal "death" in Hell."

So it´s a sin if a woman gets raped in a city but she cannot scream because she is gagged or because she is too afraid ? The woman should burn in hell ? And need I remind you that in Christianity it was God who made hell, that it was God who made a special torture place for raped women who couldn´t scream for help.

I´m not gonna make any more posts after this, you can make another and think "hey I won the argument" but I´ve had those endless arguments that go in circles too many times, and I know I´m not gonna accomplish anything, I´ve made my point about why I am atheist and that should be enough from me for now.

Ellert : "Most certainly, assuming there is a god and that there is a hell." Yeah, the Bible says so, it's just that people are too stubborn to believe it.

"Christianity promotes fear in such a way people do not dare take the risks of wondering if it´s all true or not." Why would you want to know? The sin within us makes us strive for that knowledge.

"No, people are too afraid of their kind father God to even wonder why he did it all, why did god create a hell and why did he let Lucifer become evil, why does god kill firstborn children that have done nothing wrong because of the sins of others ?" Why do you question God? He wanted it to happen this way obviously, as he gave Satan a choice.

"God created Satan and the supposed almighty god should be able to remove Satan." Of course he can. Why doesn't He? I don't know, and I don't question.

"And where is the evidence that god really did write through Moses, is there any solid proof ?" The Bible. It seems as if people don't want to believe the given evidence, for whatever reason. That was my point of this thread.

"And if not and if you are just supposed to have faith and believe in it" You got it.

"is it not because of fear that you do not question it ?" No, it's because fear and worry are sins, although we cannot avoid them. But God is merciful, and forgives those sins.

"So it´s a sin if a woman gets raped in a city but she cannot scream because she is gagged" Heck no.

"or because she is too afraid ?" That's a sin, but God forgives.

"The woman should burn in hell ?" NO! That's why Jesus died, to prevent you from going to Hell.

"And need I remind you that in Christianity it was God who made hell, that it was God who made a special torture place for raped women who couldn´t scream for help." WTF?! Where'd you hear this, Wikipedia? God let Satan leave, as he was an angel beforehand. Hell is for everyone who doesn't believe in God, and doesn't repent of their sins.

"You can make another and think "hey I won the argument" but I´ve had those endless arguments that go in circles too many times, and I know I´m not gonna accomplish anything." Of course I won the argument, because I speak the Word of God. You are just to stubborn to believe the obvious truth, because you don't want to admit you're wrong, due to sin. I would've of given up a long time ago, but I care about you, and want you to go to Heaven.

This is supposed to be "Why don't athiests believe in God?" not "Why don't athiests believe in God? Lets hate on them/force them to convert".
This thread is becoming a whole lot of back and forth spam as well as bigotry towards athiests.

"Of course I won the argument, because I speak the Word of God."
That right there proves my point, that this isnt about asking why dont athiests believe, it's about hating on them.
Thread closed.