Can atheists please explain why they do not believe in God, without condescension, sarcasm, or anger? It is precisely because belief in God is often assumed to be the default position that so many find it necessary to question it meticulously. No one asks atheists why they do not believe in faeries. The question is, why does belief in a divine being persist amidst the lack of sufficient evidence?

Why Do I Need to Explain My Beliefs?

Atheism is not something that requires justification, especially not in the same fashion as belief in the supernatural. Yet, we are often asked to provide explanations, while believers are rarely subjected to such scrutiny. This begs the question: why do believers feel the need to assert their beliefs with such fervor and certainty when faced with the vast majority of people who do not share their convictions?

Belief Systems and Evidence

Belief in a divine being is no less a matter of faith than believing in faeries, unicorns, or flying spaghetti monsters. The absence of concrete evidence for any god, much less a specific one, should be enough to challenge the presumption of belief. But this does not stop many from asserting their faith with conviction. This section delves into why such evidence is lacking and how this impacts belief systems.

Why Do Believers Feel the Need to Be Defensive?

The response often defaults to defensiveness, fueled by condescension, sarcasm, and anger. These are not merely negative emotions but reasonable reactions to the absurdity of some theistic arguments. For instance, the claim that the Bible's prophecies about Israel's future have come true is a prime example of a selective reading of historical events. Prophecies, Bible or otherwise, are often cherry-picked to fit current events while ignoring overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

Challenging Theistic Arguments

No substantial evidence supports the existence of any gods, and this includes the many other deities that humans have worshipped over the ages. Attempting to prove the existence of a divine being through scripture or other means is akin to trying to prove the existence of faeries through fairytales. The same standards of evidence and scrutiny should apply to all belief systems.

Consider, for instance, the biblical predictions about Israel. The fact that a nation came into existence in 1948 and the current geopolitical trends foreshadow a conflict centered around Israel does not necessarily mean that these events are divine signs. History has shown that nations rise and fall, and conflicts are far from divine acts. The seemingly accurate predictions can be explained by the adaptability of scripture to real-world events.

Other Deities and Belief Systems

The list of deities humans have worshipped is vast, ranging from Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva in Hinduism to Allah in Islam, to name just a few. The assertion that belief in Jesus is the only path to eternal life is a dogmatic claim that disregards the diverse understandings of divinity across different cultures and belief systems. This exclusivity is not supported by any objective evidence and is often seen as a form of cultural imperialism.

Conclusion

Belief in God is a personal choice rooted in faith and cultural upbringing, and it is valid for individuals to hold such beliefs. However, the assertion that atheism needs explaining, especially without condescension, sarcasm, or anger, is misplaced. Arguments for belief in God should be held to the same standards as any other claim—rational, evidence-based, and logically consistent. It is a fair and reasonable approach to examine belief systems, whether faith-based or not, with the same rigor and scrutiny.