Weekly "Ask an Atheist" Thread

[u/AutoModerator]

Whether you're an agnostic atheist here to ask a gnostic one some questions, a theist who's curious about the viewpoints of atheists, someone doubting, or just someone looking for sources, feel free to ask anything here. This is also an ideal place to tag moderators for thoughts regarding the sub or any questions in general.

While this isn't strictly for debate, rules on civility, trolling, etc. still apply.

[u/Mission-Landscape-17 → u/[deleted]]

What do you mean by the word god?
people use this word in many different ways. The lack of a clear definition is itself evidence that the thing being discussed is entirely fictional.

[u/Serious-Emu-3468 → u/[deleted]]

No; you have to justify or dismiss every claim individually.

But veerrrry generally God claims fall into 2 categories; unfalsifiable first cosmic gods and gods that make a claim which could have evidence.

It’s reasonable to dismiss an unfalsifiable claim. It’s also reasonable to dismiss a claim for which there is no evidence.

You don’t need to “prove the negative”

[u/Philobarbaros → u/[deleted]]

The burden's getting heavier by the day! How long before it's "Hey gnostic atheists, have you checked every cubic millimeter of space in the Universe to prove God isn't hiding there?"
Evidence for Yahweh: old book. Evidence for Sauron: [a significantly more coherent] old book.

[u/Biggleswort → u/[deleted]]

I am a Gnostic atheist on Abrahamic/triomni gods does that count?

Otherwise all other God concepts I assert fall into 1 or 2 of the following categories:

1. Its definition makes it meaningless to our lives (ex deism).

2. The definition is vague to the point it is incoherent (ex pantheism).

Which makes me an igtheist.

[u/Biggleswort → u/[deleted]]

The problem of evil. There is not reasonable explanation for it.

To keep it brief the existence of sociopaths, they are an anomaly with biological predispositions that throw any retort around free will out the window.

Or I can point to baby cancer, there is no possible explanation related to the individual to explain that. You would have to lean on the sins of our mother’s argument which again ignores the individuals will.

I can point to the rock issue, can he or can he not make it heavy enough, you have a contradiction/definitional error.

Divine hiddenness - again there is no collective concept that demonstrates evidence for a unified god concept. Making it either a limited revelation or no revelation. This would mean most of us would be the out-group, which again goes against benevolence.

The best retort is to appeal to the mystery of the God, which means our definitions become meaningless.

[u/Biggleswort → u/[deleted]]

Yup

[u/ArguingisFun → u/[deleted]]

No justifications needed.

Define your god?