# Why don't people believe in God? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 21, 2013, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-people-believe-in-god/666766 "2013-08-21T00:49:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2013, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-people-believe-in-god/666766/81 "2013-08-21T03:32:40Z")
Someday I am going to start a Great Debate about Clancy the Great Undead Unicorn that lives in my closet and cite as evidence my revelations transcribed directly from him. It’ll be lively, but in the end all detractors are wrong and at least I did the horned ones work seeding his equine message. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2013, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-people-believe-in-god/666766/82 "2013-08-21T03:34:07Z")
> [@Timo](#): > > That’s actually how Satan fell, from his pride. Try to find something in your bible about the fall of Satan. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2013, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-people-believe-in-god/666766/83 "2013-08-21T03:34:34Z")
God wants people to freely, of their own will, choose to love him\* or else burn for infinity in tortured, endless agony. \* And people worship this thing? Sounds more like a comic book super villain than a merciful father. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2013, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-people-believe-in-god/666766/84 "2013-08-21T03:35:39Z")
Guys, if Timo was going to answer a question directly painting him into a debate corner he’d answer it already. He’s learning though, answering less and less as he realizes he’s in over his head. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2013, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-people-believe-in-god/666766/85 "2013-08-21T03:42:00Z")
> [@Timo](#): > > I don’t know, I feel like this is a bit too personal to share, but whatever. I’ll just click submit reply. > . Thanks for sharing. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2013, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-people-believe-in-god/666766/86 "2013-08-21T03:44:54Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > you’re new at this “Logic” thing, aren’t you? Where did you learn to argue like this? Clearly he’s not a Jesuit. They give their students better training before setting them loose. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2013, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-people-believe-in-god/666766/87 "2013-08-21T03:49:51Z")
If god has the power to stop suffering yet chooses not to for some stupid and pathetic reason like he wants us to choose him, then god is evil. I’m better than god because I would help someone consumed by evil and rid that out of him so that we’re both happier. Nothing about free will is better than eternal torture, NOTHING. If god doesn’t stop that and he has the power to, that makes him the most evil thing imaginable But I digress. This topic is about why don’t people _ **believe** _ in god, not follow him. I don’t believe him because he doesn’t exist ---
**Author:** ![Timo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c4cdca/32.png) [@Timo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Timo)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2013, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-people-believe-in-god/666766/88 "2013-08-21T03:53:15Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > Just for your information, evolution doesn’t disprove god. The wide majority of Christians around the world aknowledge evolution and believe in god. Only strict literalists (who are almost all Americans) believe that evolution is incompatible with Christian beliefs. > Oh haha, good to know, thanks for telling me. > > No loving parent could torture his children. If he does, it proves he isn’t loving. Since you probably know what love is, you certainly know that. > > When you said that, “Since you probably know what love is”, my first instinct was pride in myself… but then I realized that God loves more than all of us whether we believe it or not. Even if you do criticize him, he’ll still love you. Even if you call him a monster or a sadist, he’ll still love you. I actually swore at Him once because I was so mad at him concerning topics like these, like how could parent torture his children eternally? But here I am with his mercy and forgiveness, haha. And while I honestly don’t know why eternal torment and not like… just failure of existence after death for not believing… (I don’t believe that we’ll have the answers to everything, because there’s just so much to know), or then loving him would be easier, but maybe someone else who knows that answer can respond. > > Maybe this website can help: > > Therefore, we must cast ourselves on God’s mercy. Even though we are guilty and deserve to die, God still loves us. Sometimes people get the idea that God is a sort of cosmic tyrant up there, out to get us. But this isn’t the Christian understanding of God. Listen to what the Bible says, “‘Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked?,’ says the Lord God, ‘And not rather that he should turn from his way and live? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone,’ says the Lord God. ‘So turn and live! Say to them, “As I live,” says the Lord God, “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways. For why will you die?”’” (Ez. 18.23,32; 33.11). > > “The Lord is not willing that any should perish but that all should reach repentance” (2Pet. 3.9). “He desires all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1Tim. 2.4). > > Read more: [Can a Loving God Send People to Hell? The Craig-Bradley Debate | Reasonable Faith](http://www.reasonablefaith.org/can-a-loving-god-send-people-to-hell-the-craig-bradley-debate#ixzz2cZVEjlwp) > > I’m going to be reading it haha, maybe tomorrow though because it’s 11:45 and I have to sleep or I"ll look terrible in the morning- part of my many downfalls. > > In the end though, I think it all comes down to, whether we like it or not, when we die and when future generations come, God will still be discussed, he will still be debated. His word will live on. In a way, after all the years of humanity to prove once and for all that God isn’t real, there are still so many people out there who love God just like hundreds or years ago. Some people like Hillsong United (A Christian Band) and this song which I’m listening to right now “We Won’t Be Shaken” Building 429. There’s just so much confidence in the song. > Besides, according to your religion, plenty of people who haven’t commited any serious crime, or even who have been exceptionnally good on earth will be in hell, while many murderers will be in Heavens. depending on whether they chose to worship your god, not depending on whether they have been good or evil. I still fail to see any justice in that. - Anyone would like to respond to this one? Again, I honestly don’t know, but I will do homework on it tomorrow. Good night for now. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2013, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-people-believe-in-god/666766/89 "2013-08-21T03:54:40Z")
I cannot believe in a god who has [such a low opinion of dogs](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=165552&highlight=canine). ---
**Author:** ![Timo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c4cdca/32.png) [@Timo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Timo)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2013, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-people-believe-in-god/666766/90 "2013-08-21T03:57:13Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > Clearly he’s not a Jesuit. They give their students better training before setting them loose. > > Stranger Last one before I sleep. Well I’m just saying, if you’re going to ask me to prove God, then you’re going to have to do your part and disprove him. Because if you disprove him somehow, then I wouldn’t have to prove that God exists. That was my reasoning. It works one way. Disprove one, and the other is true. Prove one, and the other is false. If you can’t prove that God doesn’t exist, that means there’s a possibility that he does exist. Therefore, you would be answering the problem. ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2013, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-people-believe-in-god/666766/91 "2013-08-21T04:00:50Z")
it’s great that Christianity has helped you out when you needed it. know however, that it is not the only way. people cope with a myriad variety of life’s obstacles in their own different way, everyday, all around the world. it is what makes the world beautiful. what’s important is that you focus on how Christianity has helped you and how you could also help others in turn. what you want to do is extend a helping hand and not preach. you do not want to question why other people do not follow your way. you do not want other people to abandon what works for them just to join you, for what works for you might not work for them. you do not need to demonise others to justify your position. people do not believe in Christianity because it is just someone else’s imaginary god. people do not need a religion, what they need is a helping hand. You can be that helping hand, just don’t slap people with it by preaching instead of reaching out. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2013, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-people-believe-in-god/666766/92 "2013-08-21T04:02:31Z")
> [@Timo](#): > > Last one before I sleep. > > Well I’m just saying, if you’re going to ask me to prove God, then you’re going to have to do your part and disprove him. > > Because if you disprove him somehow, then I wouldn’t have to prove that God exists. > That was my reasoning. > > It works one way. Disprove one, and the other is true. Prove one, and the other is false. If you can’t prove that God doesn’t exist, that means there’s a possibility that he does exist. Therefore, you would be answering the problem. No, that is not reasoning. You are the one making the claim that god exists. The burden is on you to prove it. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2013, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-people-believe-in-god/666766/93 "2013-08-21T04:02:44Z")
> [@Timo](#): > > Last one before I sleep. > > Well I’m just saying, if you’re going to ask me to prove God, then you’re going to have to do your part and disprove him. > > Because if you disprove him somehow, then I wouldn’t have to prove that God exists. > That was my reasoning. > > It works one way. Disprove one, and the other is true. Prove one, and the other is false. If you can’t prove that God doesn’t exist, that means there’s a possibility that he does exist. Therefore, you would be answering the problem. Which god? Can you disprove Zeus? Can you disprove my dog is god? Then STFU. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2013, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-people-believe-in-god/666766/94 "2013-08-21T04:07:41Z")
> [@Timo](#): > > Well I’m just saying, if you’re going to ask me to prove God, then you’re going to have to do your part and disprove him. > > Because if you disprove him somehow, then I wouldn’t have to prove that God exists. > That was my reasoning. No, sorry, that isn’t the way logic works. You don’t get to postulate any wackadoodle notion–say, that the Universe was created by some omnipotent being with a flowing beard and a bad case of narcissistic personality disorder–and then demand that everyone else disprove your claim, especially when said claim lacks any hint of observable objective evidence. This is a lesson which is generally learned by children around the age of five. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Timo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c4cdca/32.png) [@Timo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Timo)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2013, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-people-believe-in-god/666766/95 "2013-08-21T04:09:35Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > Try to find something in your bible about the fall of Satan. Good luck. Okay, this is the last. Haha, this is a literal version of Him falling from Heaven. Luke 10:18 And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. But that’s most likely not what you mean. Isaiah 14:12-15 How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! 13 You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon.[a] 14 I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” 15 But you are brought down to the realm of the dead, to the depths of the pit. Notice the “I will” statements of pride, but you’re right I think, there isn’t a verse that states directly that Satan fell because of pride, but from the verse above, we can infer that he did. I don’t know all the versus so there might be one, there might not be one. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2013, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-people-believe-in-god/666766/96 "2013-08-21T04:11:06Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Which god? Can you disprove Zeus? Can you disprove my dog is god? Then STFU. Don’t talk to other posters this way unless you’re in the Pit. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2013, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-people-believe-in-god/666766/97 "2013-08-21T04:11:54Z")
> [@Timo](#): > > . . . if you’re going to ask me to prove God, then you’re going to have to do your part and disprove him. . . . I did that. The “infinite” attributes which are granted to God by (some) modern Christians are logically self-contradictory. There can be no such thing as “infinite power.” The term doesn’t even have meaning. There can be no such thing as “infinite knowledge.” This is easily demonstrated, since such knowledge would have to have full knowledge of itself, while, at the same time, being infinite, is beyond any limit, and thus can never be known “fully.” Again, the very term “infinite knowledge” has no defined (or definable) meaning. The God that reverend Joe, down at the All-Nite Shrine and Tabernacula, preaches absolutely cannot exist. ---
**Author:** ![sisu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2013, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-people-believe-in-god/666766/98 "2013-08-21T04:12:51Z")
> [@Timo](#): > > I’m not knowledgeable in like… evolution and ideas like that which supposedly disprove God. However I do think that you should provide some insight in the statements that do such. This is what I think. God made this blue-ish liquidy thing on earth, and people called it water. God made the fluffy, white stuff in the sky, and people called those clouds. God made tiny things in our body, and people called those atoms. (I’m not well versed in science either) . OK so you have only seen one side of the argument, how can you dismiss science when even in your own words you don’t know much about it? It seems that people who bother to learn science steer away from magic sky people making the world. Evolution does not disprove god at all, that’s a fairly ignorant statement. What it does disprove is the view of creationists who are fairly low on the totem pole of Christians worldwide. Water is colorless. ---
**Author:** ![Glazer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a88e57/32.png) [@Glazer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glazer)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2013, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-people-believe-in-god/666766/99 "2013-08-21T04:14:25Z")
> [@Timo](#): > > I think God made science, or at least what we call science. Let’s see here. God demands unquestioning believe without evidence. (faith) Science demands questioning everything including the evidence. Independent verification of results. Proof and not just once, but every single time. Then do everything you can to disprove your results. Science doesn’t disprove god. Because there is nothing there to disprove. ---
**Author:** ![sisu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2013, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-people-believe-in-god/666766/100 "2013-08-21T04:16:14Z")
> [@Timo](#): > > Last one before I sleep. > > Well I’m just saying, if you’re going to ask me to prove God, then you’re going to have to do your part and disprove him. > > Because if you disprove him somehow, then I wouldn’t have to prove that God exists. > That was my reasoning. > > It works one way. Disprove one, and the other is true. Prove one, and the other is false. If you can’t prove that God doesn’t exist, that means there’s a possibility that he does exist. Therefore, you would be answering the problem. Really? OK I say that the Flying Spaghetti Monster explains all. Go on disprove it! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-people-believe-in-god/666766.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-people-believe-in-god/666766.md?page=6)