Would you agree with this?

[hive_king]

This is a question for religious people on this board.

Do you, as a christian or other religious person, think that someone who denies the existence of a Divine Presence in the universe, commonly referred to as "God", is holding a false belief or opinion in spite of evidence of some sort to the contrary?

[Rei]

I suppose that depends on what you mean by a false belief. I think that someone who denies the existence of a divine being may truly believe there is no such being. They may even have what they feel to be sufficient evidence for their beliefs. I also believe that they are incorrect. Of course, if I did not believe that, I would not be a believer in a divine being. And I'm sure that my beliefs are seen as incorrect, despite what I feel is sufficient evidence to the contrary, by the non-theists and non-deists of these boards.

[Eaquae Legit]

Do I think athiests/agnostics are sincere in their beliefs? Yes, as a general rule. I don't think anyone's believing in the non-existence of God just to be obsintate.

Do I think they're wrong? Of course, or I wouldn't be a theist.

[zeroguy]

Don't you mean "theistic religious person"? Or does that always automatically get implied?

[anonshadow]

Buddhism doesn't have a god, and nor do many other religions. I think you mean theistic religious, as zero said.

[zeroguy]

Yeeg. I was going to say something like that, but I thought it might spark some kind of philosophy vs religion argument.

[Slim]

There was a recent comic that this remided me of.

[Andorbal]

...in spite of evidence of some sort to the contrary?

I don't know what evidence there could possibly be one way or another... What someone might consider a miracle and total proof of god could be seen as a scientific process by another. Some people view childbirth as a miracle, while others see it as the predictable result of a sperm fertilizing an egg.

That analogy may not be the best, but I think it should suffice.

I think I believe in a god, but I definitely can't fault anyone who doesn't.

But along these lines, I've always wondered why some Christians insist that I'm going to hell because I'm not their specific denomination. I don't get it because Catholicism is a form of Christianity. What's more, even if they are right, and God hates Catholics and will damn them all to hell, what's it to them? If they thought they were trying to help, that would at least be some excuse. But every time I've been told I'm going to hell, it was almost like they were giddy that they were right and I was wrong...

Anecdotal at best, I know, but still.

Andorbal.