Why should atheists believe in god?

No need to believe in god for atheists. God and religion both are mainly for create a person a perfect human. It really doesn’t matter you believe in god or not but it really dose matter that you r a good human.

Why should atheists believe in a fictional being, a cosmic non-event, as god? The only reason I would accept is if we were all paid to say we believe. I am more than willing to proclaim all the faith that the spineless morons of the inbred religious crowd want to hear...so long as they pay me $2,500.00 a month. Of course, they have no way of knowing the thoughts that I keep to myself. But for $2,500.00 a month, I will say whatever they want me to say... and I will even go further. I will make myself available for 1 hour of so-called "bible study" and for 1 ninety minute service. I do require, however, payment at the first of each month; and I require an initial payment for the first three months in advance.

If they are stupid enough to pay me, then I am willing to do the little dance that makes all the pointy-headed monkeys so howling happy. Otherwise, there is no acceptable reason to proclaim such stupidty. Religion is the worst, most poisonous hoax ever foisted upon humanity...and the dull oxen that so gladly accept the yoke of superstition can never truly be respected as fully competent human beings.

Perhaps they * shouldn't *. If God truly gave everyone free will, then atheists, for whatever reason, have decided not to believe.

As someone above already said, "arguing" for God's existence is relatively moot. In the end, someone will believe because the Holy Spirit finally convicted them of the truth. If one does not believe in the Holy Spirit, I don't see that happening. If an atheist decides their current life doesn't feel "right", they will seek something else.

Do Christians have a "better" life because of God? Look at Paul, he was beaten, whipped and run out of town for his beliefs.

Christians may say Christianity brings them comfort. An atheist would retort that they need no such crutch. Christians may say they sin less. Ha! Neither has a lock on morality.

You mentioned that we cannot use "the afterlife" as a support for why Christianity is better. If such a limitation is placed on the response, then we have to stick with experiences on this earth.

In that case, if we limit our response to life on earth, we may find that the atheist would * always * think their life is better as an unbeliever. It isn't until you become a believe that your perspective changes to include the afterlife.

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I noticed you said both "in the long run" and "disregarding the afterlife". To a Christian, the two are inseparable.

The only situation I can see where an atheist becomes a deist is if logical research and scientific evidence start to back up the existence of a god.

But I can see a situation where an atheist would be silent about his/her beliefs - societal pressure, intimidation, better quality of life (such as getting a job with an office full of believers or being considered for a promotion. Realistically, an atheist would have to give at least lip service to a god and go to a place of worship in order to run for office in so-called civilized most places. That's the only good I can see - someone who is agnostic or atheist would be more willing to uphold separation of church and state issues.

Believing in God can provide a feeling of certainty which enables people to put more energy into what they do. If you have conviction about the existence of God and a particular attitude towards a set of religious texts that doesn't question their validity, you may be able to do more. If you feel less certain about, for example, moral issues, it can undermine your commitment to acting on what you believe in. Then again, sufficient security of belief in another area, such as a simplistic political creed, could provide some of the same thing, though that often doesn't provide a total world view in quite the same way as some attitudes to religion do. There i go undermining my own feeling of certainty about this answer, which sort of proves my point, doesn't it?

Atheists should not believe in God. If you're an atheist in this life, there is something you need to learn that can only be learned through being an atheist. If it feels natural to believe in a God, many Gods or a Goddess, then you'll know that is the path you should take in this life.

John R,

Meditation brings about as much if not more comfort than praying. After all, who are you to doubt your god's wisdom and the plan he has for you. You pray for help to get you through the tough times. But if he's making you go thru those rough spots, that's his plan for you, right? At least that's what you believe.

I see no reason why people should believe in a divine being if they really have no need for it. If their lives are already happy and fulfilled, then why change things. If it ain't broken, don't fix it right?

I see no proof of god beyond wild claims and "miracles". If anybody provided substantial evidence for his existence, we wouldn't be atheists.

i think we as a species have our whole heads wrapped around the whole god thing a little too much. maybe instead of killing each other and starting wars and repressing women like religion does, if we worked on a cure for cancer, or stopped using fossil fuels, or maybe figure out a global food relief system instead humanity and out plant and all the other species here with us would all be a lot better off

honestly ....i believe in god but dont think anyone is "better off" either having or not having faith ...so aethiests can believe in nothing ...or anything they want either way they should only believe in what they want to ...have a good one

EDIT**what i meant by my comment is some aethiests believe there is no answers to life ,some search for them ...not that aethists are uninformed as you seem to think i said ....read what i said and understand i dont care .....to each their own is the best saying for life ....what ever faith sexual preference ,race ,etc... we all deserve the same human kindness and rights******