Well, I was until, at a fairly young age, I learned that the default position is to reject any and all supernatural claims until such claims can be demonstrated to be true, in as far as is arguably possible.
I think you may have some idiosyncratic definitions. The criteria required for belief is quite different from disbelief, as disbelief is merely not being convinced, usually due to a lack of demonstrable evidence. There is a more militant version which is aggressively anti-belief, to which I sometimes subscribe.
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No need - an atheist disbelieves in the existence of a god because there is insufficient evidence for a god claim.
IOW there are, as yet, no good reasons to believe such a claim and faith doesn’t get us there. Faith is the point at which one stops seeking truth.
(ETA: Apologies @skriten - this fairly restates your post.)
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@Tia_Thompson Christians have that “imaginary experience”. I never had that “imaginary godly experience” you claim. That’s one of the reasons I’m an Atheist. To me Atheism is not an experience. I had people in my life claim there were deities without giving me physical evidence of the existence of one. I didn’t believe them then and I don’t believe them now.
If I say I saw big foot and swear up and down that I saw him. I claim he’s real. But you don’t believe me. It becomes my job to go out and gather evidence to meet the Burden of Proof. A corpse of big foot or DNA evidence of his existence should meet the Burden of Proof.
Like how you claim God exists. Where’s your evidence? I cant do “I’ve seen things I cant explain” and “oh I’ve had an experience”. That explains jack shit. What you’ve said is inadmissible.
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@MrDawn I’m curious now what constitutes one of those “magical” experiences for y’all.
I presented an article, while not about me–it was an “experience of divine love”, a “miracle”, for those involved from a reputable source, that documents statements from reputable sources: doctors, nurses, staff, and family members.
The young man mentioned was brain dead (the minimal brain function was legal and unchanging brain death). This is what procedures must be examined before determining someone can be taken off life support:
Brain death - NHS(also%20known%20as,is%20legally%20confirmed%20as%20dead.
The diagnosis of brain death - PMC.
I provided screenshots of the progressing situation as well as confirmation that the young man survived these things. He wasn’t just in a coma. He was legally brain dead with no improvement over a ten day duration of time.
The replies to this ranged from:
To:
To:
And beyond.
This was a situation with documentation and with sound witnesses, but no one so far has accepted it as anything other than woo. I didn’t really expect you to though. My purpose in sharing that was not to convince you of miracles. I was merely providing you with someone else’s current and direct experience of God. It wasn’t mine, but it was very current a backed by a media trail.
For these people, this was an experience with God.
Like I said, I know from my own experiences that this means nothing to you.
Such things meant very little to me either. They do now though. Even the stuff I took for granted when I did means a whole lot now.
@SodaAnt I have done something similar to this once. It was funny at the time, and of course It didn’t work.
However, when did eventually pray, not with a laugh in my throat and a smirk on my face, things were different.
How do y’all feel about Muslims?
Would it be easier to communicate from an Islamic perspective? Most of you seem really set against Christianity, itself. We don’t have to approach the concept of God from that door. I value the Quran too and I haven’t heard much about your views on the other religions.
Funny how when someone survives a near death experience they automatically conclude a God of The Gaps Fallacy. How do you 100% know that it was a deity? The answer is that you dont. You my dear are arguing from the position of a postulate
As for your question about why not Muslims. Their arguments are no different than yours. It doesn’t fucking matter what deity you’re trying to argue into existence.
I’m still waiting for objective evidence of this god thing you’re prattling on about.
@Tia_Thompson all you do is translate YOUR perceptions and those of others into god.
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@skriten Well, not trying to be boastful, but I have a sneaking suspicion Tia’s remark was aimed in my general direction. (In all fairness, though, you can be pretty witty at times. Just so you know.) Although, I admit I’m confused as to how she concluded my remarks were “witty”. Could have sworn I was shooting for “sarcastic”. Damn, I must be losing my touch. Oh, well. I’ll just blame Cog the way I always do. Anyway, moving right along…
@Tia_Thompson Hate to burst your little insulated bubble, but I honestly could not care less how you FEEL. Your “feelings” are not my concern. You are free to FEEL any way you choose. None of my damn business how you FEEL. And whether I or anybody else thinks how you FEEL is right, wrong, or otherwise does not matter in the slightest. I do not live your life and I have no investment in your life. Therefore, your FEELINGS have no bearing whatsoever on MY life. Understand? (Just trying to make that point as clear as possible, because I know you have some difficulties with reading comprehension.) So, with that in mind…
Nice TRY at deflecting away from the real problem and my actual purpose. Since it is always difficult to maintain a charade long term when it comes under diligent scrutiny, you have finally started showing your true colors more openly. (Basically, you are slipping more and more.) And since there are often many members who follow threads but prefer not to participate, there may be a few who are not as experienced at spotting charlatans such as yourself. As such, I take it upon myself as a “veteran” member to point out indicators and tactics of dishonest apologists, in an effort to enlighten those not familiar with them. So, please, continue as you have been doing. You are a most excellent source of teaching material. 
I have my own proof. I have just been waiting for yours.
As has already been stated, but I feel sometimes must be reiterated when it comes to theists who slide by certain comments without fully grasping it on a reasonable level, the burden of proof lies with the one making the positive claim, especially in the clear absence of evidence in god’s case. The only proof they have seems to be of a personal nature, which leads me to my next point.
Experiencing God is significant not only personally, but individually
Theists are very confused about the personal nature of their beliefs. Personal, after all, doesn’t mean communal or universal. What goes on in the head of an individual, personally, belongs solely to that individual and no one else. Now, when you share these thought concepts with someone else, find someone else who believes the same thing, and create a community based on that belief, then the belief system can no longer make a claim to the label of personal. Also, personal belief is just another way for theists to not provide any real evidence for god’s existence.
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Islam is radical Christianity; Christianity is radical Judaism. It’s dog shit, wrapped in cat shit, wrapped in pig shit.
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Okay. Have fun with that. You have taught me a lot as well.
We have now established that no one is interested in how I think or feel personally, most of all not you.
I have two authors I am trying to learn about, and I am more than happy to talk about them.
What is y’all’s take on Spinoza?
And here is a connecting article:
https://wreg.com/news/local/family-says-son-makes-miracle-recovery-after-heat-stroke/
it was documented by professionals that he
- Suffered a heat stroke and went into a coma
2)After days of tests, the doctors saw MINIMAL brain function - The doctors stated he recovered.
He was NOT brain dead, and nowhere in the information coming from those medical professionals did they state his recovery was attributed to a miracle or a god. His family did, and you amplified it to us.
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@Nyarlathotep All righty then
I counted at least three people immediately responding to this request and providing answers.
Here is mine: I go on evidence, a standard at least to the minimum of a court of law, and verifiable testimony.
As I previously mentioned, one does not have to hesitate or play games, their own personal story rolls off their tongues easily. Ignore my response, but will you reciprocate their effort to answer your question and now state why you believe and why?
Muslims, christians, atheists, pastafarians, all receive the same treatment. Their claims are examined and if found falling short, challenged. And if you hang around here long enough, there have been atheists who have been shredded for faulty thinking.
It is not the belief itself, it is the thought process that leads to one’s position (epistemology) that is applied and examined in here.
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@David_Killens okay. I like that.
There are a few theists who are regular visitors, who do not pretend they have good reason for their faith, and just admit they have no good reason. Because of that I respect them and we appear to have a healthy and respectful relationship.
I treat them with respect, they reciprocate, and we part company with a friendly wave.
@ Fleeing_in_Terror thinking of you and if you read this, I hope you and your loved ones are doing well. Fight the good fight.
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(Hello out there, all you non-participating viewers. Pleasure to have you with us. Welcome back to another episode of “Spotting the Signs and Tactics of Dishonest Apologetics”. Please, grab some popcorn, sit back, and enjoy the lesson.)
@Tia_Thompson Oh, bless your heart, you poor little child. 
It might do good for YOU to remember that I provided you with a beautiful example of your god’s “Divine Love”, and I asked you how you justify/excuse/condone such a thing. I did not ask how you FELT about it. And what was your answer?.. Oh, wait. That’s right. You NEVER answered it. At first, you completely ignored it. Then, when I repeated it, you sidestepped/deflected and STILL refused to answer. And you wanna know WHY you refused to answer? It is because you KNOW you cannot defend such actions committed by your “All-loving” god.
As for my “hot & cold” (whatever the hell that means), it might do good for you to ALSO remember I was being genuinely courteous and accommodating during all of our previous interactions. Truth is, I continued giving you the benefit of the doubt even after others started pointing out your inconsistencies. So if you are just now detecting some form of change in my demeanor, then maybe you are not as dense as you pretend to be. Rest assured, though, my “hot/cold” (as you call it) did not start until AFTER you became blatantly obvious with your bovine excrement evasive games. Once again, though, nice try at directing any blame away from yourself. But, sadly, your technique is getting sloppier with each post you make.
(So doth endeth today’s lesson, ladies and gentlemen. I hope it was helpful. Thank you for tuning in. I look forward to seeing you all at the next lesson whenever the opportunity presents itself. Have a great day. 
)
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