# To what degree do you believe in God ? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 28, 2010, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-what-degree-do-you-believe-in-god/555377 "2010-09-28T18:33:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-what-degree-do-you-believe-in-god/555377/41 "2010-09-29T11:43:39Z")
> [@raindog](#): > > So tell me…Assuming it can’t be proven that God exists, what would _that_ prove? That “God” is irrelevant since it isn’t affecting anything. > [@raindog](#): > > > [@panache45](#): > > > > . . . or in my case, “not bloody possible.” > > Of course, the fact that this is wrong only demonstrates you have the _greatest_ of faiths. No, that would be you, since that statement is a correct one. God, according to everything we know isn’t possible. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-what-degree-do-you-believe-in-god/555377/42 "2010-09-29T11:59:43Z")
I know God exists and 2+2=4 only holds because God allows it for now. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-what-degree-do-you-believe-in-god/555377/43 "2010-09-29T12:30:19Z")
> [@kanicbird](#): > > I know God exists and 2+2=4 only holds because God allows it for now. No, 2+2=4 is true regardless of what God or anyone else does. So is 2+2=1; it all depends on what mathematical system is more useful at the moment. Two clouds plus two clouds equals one cloud; but we have little use for a system where everything adds up to one so we don’t bother with it. God can make up all the alternative systems he likes, as can we, but 2+2=4 will always be true in a mathematical system defined in such a way that it is true. By definition. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-what-degree-do-you-believe-in-god/555377/44 "2010-09-29T14:11:12Z")
Sure God is possible but the possibility of something existing does not make a compelling arguement to start an entire belief system around with a complete mythology. Yeah, it’s POSSIBLE aliens created us too, but jumping from that possibility to creating an entire legend of Xenu and the Galactic Confederacy and an entire religion to go along with it is considered lunacy. Christianity is pretty much the same thing. An entire mythology and religion to back a scant possibility. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-what-degree-do-you-believe-in-god/555377/45 "2010-09-29T14:14:16Z")
There’s no God. If there were such a creature, the world would be running much better now. A third-rate clerk in a small business could run the world better than an all power Being? ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-what-degree-do-you-believe-in-god/555377/46 "2010-09-29T14:37:05Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > \ “I don’t know and neither does anyone else.” \ This part. ---
**Author:** ![fusoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@fusoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fusoya)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-what-degree-do-you-believe-in-god/555377/47 "2010-09-29T14:55:23Z")
I simply do not believe in a God. While I’m not one of those Atheists who goes around saying “it’s impossible for a god to exist, and I am 1000% sure of that”, there is plenty of earthly evidence which proves that none of the gods in any of the world’s religions exist. The fact that there are so many of them (and so many other religions which have now gone extinct) is proof enough that they’re ALL wrong, and everyone involved in them is worshiping a cloud. God was created by man, as a way to explain what couldn’t be explained with the science and knowledge that was available at the time. Everybody who still believes in the power of prayer, and eternal afterlife in the sky needs to grow up and get real. God = Santa (at least in the gift giving guy with the flying shed form) = Tooth Fairy. ---
**Author:** ![fusoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@fusoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fusoya)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-what-degree-do-you-believe-in-god/555377/48 "2010-09-29T15:02:41Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > As I found dimes under my pillow as a child, I have considerably more evidence that the Tooth Fairy exists. Oh yeah, I woke up to presents at Christmas, so Santa Claus is marginally more plausible than God. I was able to conclude 100% that the Tooth Ferry doesn’t exist when I was in 1st grade and I put a newly-pulled tooth under my pillow, without saying anything to my parents. In the morning, the tooth was still there, but no money. When I told my parents, they tried to put on this act that they needed to contact the tooth fairy to let her know that there was a tooth to collect. I wasn’t buying it. God wasn’t far behind. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-what-degree-do-you-believe-in-god/555377/49 "2010-09-29T15:05:59Z")
> [@fusoya](#): > > > [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > > > As I found dimes under my pillow as a child, I have considerably more evidence that the Tooth Fairy exists. Oh yeah, I woke up to presents at Christmas, so Santa Claus is marginally more plausible than God. > > I was able to conclude 100% that the Tooth Ferry doesn’t exist when I was in 1st grade and I put a newly-pulled tooth under my pillow, without saying anything to my parents. In the morning, the tooth was still there, but no money. When I told my parents, they tried to put on this act that they needed to contact the tooth fairy to let her know that there was a tooth to collect. I wasn’t buying it. God wasn’t far behind. Dream crusher! ---
**Author:** ![soulmurk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@soulmurk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soulmurk)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-what-degree-do-you-believe-in-god/555377/50 "2010-09-29T15:31:24Z")
I chose “I simply do not believe,” as it was the most accurate of the options, but I’m an anti-theist. It would be more accurate to say, “I’m opposed to the belief in the existence of a god or gods.” ---
**Author:** ![raindog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@raindog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raindog)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-what-degree-do-you-believe-in-god/555377/51 "2010-09-29T16:29:01Z")
> [@soulmurk](#): > > I chose “I simply do not believe,” as it was the most accurate of the options, but I’m an anti-theist. It would be more accurate to say, “I’m opposed to the belief in the existence of a god or gods.” :smack: I’m routinely amazed at the need to come up with these new and improved titles. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-what-degree-do-you-believe-in-god/555377/52 "2010-09-29T16:46:54Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > > [@kanicbird](#): > > > > I know God exists and 2+2=4 only holds because God allows it for now. > > No, 2+2=4 is true regardless of what God or anyone else does. So is 2+2=1; it all depends on what mathematical system is more useful at the moment. Two clouds plus two clouds equals one cloud; but we have little use for a system where everything adds up to one so we don’t bother with it. God can make up all the alternative systems he likes, as can we, but 2+2=4 will always be true in a mathematical system defined in such a way that it is true. By definition. Wow, I’m actually agreeing with **Der Trihs** in a thread about belief in God! ---
**Author:** ![soulmurk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@soulmurk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soulmurk)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-what-degree-do-you-believe-in-god/555377/53 "2010-09-29T17:01:50Z")
> [@raindog](#): > > > [@soulmurk](#): > > > > I chose “I simply do not believe,” as it was the most accurate of the options, but I’m an anti-theist. It would be more accurate to say, “I’m opposed to the belief in the existence of a god or gods.” > > :smack: > > I’m routinely amazed at the need to come up with these new and improved titles. It’s not really new, having been coined in the early 19th century, nor is it “improved;” it just more accurately describes my beliefs than atheist or agnostic, and this is, after all, a poll about the degree to which one does or doesn’t believe in god. I not only do not believe in god, but I believe that theism is itself ultimately harmful. ---
**Author:** ![raindog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@raindog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raindog)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-what-degree-do-you-believe-in-god/555377/54 "2010-09-29T17:42:34Z")
> [@soulmurk](#): > > > [@raindog](#): > > > > :smack: > > > > I’m routinely amazed at the need to come up with these new and improved titles. > > It’s not really new, having been coined in the early 19th century, nor is it “improved;” it just more accurately describes my beliefs than atheist or agnostic, and this is, after all, a poll about the degree to which one does or doesn’t believe in god. > > I not only do not believe in god, but I believe that theism is itself ultimately harmful. Then the poll had an adequate answer, “I simply do not believe in a God.” The addendum of theism being harmful is simply an editorial, which your post was free to add. eta: and ultimately is nothing more than describing a fervent flavor of atheism. (and the mirror opposite of the theist who believes atheism is harmful) ---
**Author:** ![Bookkeeper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bookkeeper/32/281_2.png) [@Bookkeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bookkeeper)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-what-degree-do-you-believe-in-god/555377/55 "2010-09-29T17:47:18Z")
I would point out that, as usual, the question is oblivious to the true range of beliefs in that the selection of answers ignores the possibility of belief (of whatever strength) in any deity or deities other than the Christian god. ---
**Author:** ![soulmurk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@soulmurk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soulmurk)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-what-degree-do-you-believe-in-god/555377/56 "2010-09-29T18:35:28Z")
> [@raindog](#): > > Then the poll had an adequate answer, “I simply do not believe in a God.” > > The addendum of theism being harmful is simply an editorial, which your post was free to add. > > eta: and ultimately is nothing more than describing a fervent flavor of atheism. (and the mirror opposite of the theist who believes atheism is harmful) Not true, I don’t just simply not believe in a god, I’m opposed to the belief in a god. If the option were adequate, I would have just voted and not expounded. The poll asks to what degree one believes. I don’t get your issue with someone expanding on a catch-all atheism option when there are varying degrees of disbelief as well as belief. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-what-degree-do-you-believe-in-god/555377/57 "2010-09-29T18:39:42Z")
I am an atheist. I swear to god I am. ---
**Author:** ![rhubarbarin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb9ed0/32.png) [@rhubarbarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhubarbarin)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-what-degree-do-you-believe-in-god/555377/58 "2010-09-29T20:04:27Z")
I have zero belief in any sort of god, and the concept seems silly and irrational to me. Oddly my entire extended family (all of whom are highly intelligent I might add, more so than me I expect) with the exception of my two sisters and I would probably pick the first option. I don’t know what happened to us three but spiritual belief doesn’t seem to come naturally. ---
**Author:** ![kushiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kushiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kushiel)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-what-degree-do-you-believe-in-god/555377/59 "2010-09-29T22:58:19Z")
I chose _I simply do not believe in a God_. I haven’t totally thrown away the concept that there is some sentient being that has somehow thrown a wrench into things and changed something somewhere along the line - by that, I mean an alien worm could have wriggled onto a meteorite from a distant planet knowing it would travel, crashed into Earth and got eaten by some dinosaur who got sick, infected all the other members of the species so they got wiped out and we haven’t discovered this yet. But we wouldn’t call that worm a god although he decimated a species. I do reject the idea of God as defined by Christian religion. ---
**Author:** ![sisu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2010, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-what-degree-do-you-believe-in-god/555377/60 "2010-09-30T01:45:53Z")
My problem with these is that it does depend on what we mean by a god. I believe that there is something beyond this mortal coil but what it is I just don’t know. But using christianity as a guide does help me. So a bit like a quaker I guess. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-what-degree-do-you-believe-in-god/555377.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-what-degree-do-you-believe-in-god/555377.md?page=4)