By Jim Downard
What do you want to Ask an Atheist? Submit your questions online or fill out the form below.
Why do nonbelievers disbelieve?
Nonbelievers disbelieve in particular religions for many of the same reasons believers disbelieve in the religions they don’t believe in: the lack of convincing evidence for it. (It is, of course, what constitutes “convincing” that reveals much about how one goes about “proving” supernatural entities or forces.)
Believers are perfectly capable of explaining the reasons why they don’t follow somebody else’s religion, but bog down when they fail to apply the same standards to their own. This is especially so when the religious mention their own personal faith apart from evidence, forgetting other religions have faithful showing exactly that same commitment.
Atheists try to apply the same standards to all beliefs, exempting none.
“It is, of course, what constitutes “convincing” that reveals much about how one goes about “proving” supernatural entities or forces.” And… it also turns greatly on what one considers valid “evidence.” Many moderns reject faith perspectives because they cannot be subjected to scientific proof. But, such proof depends on the repeatability of what is to be proven. History fails here just as readily as religion, yet most scientists do not reject history. So goes the plight of those who would testify to the reality of faith.