I've often been asked by theists the following question: "What would it take to convince you that God is real?"
My answer always surprises them, because the answer they expect is, "I could never believe in God, no matter what the evidence." But in fact, I could easily be convinced. If, for example, a being were to show up and wave an appendage and Earth suddenly had a second moon, one complete with an atmosphere and many types of life… I would have no choice then but to believe that a Creator could exist.
This wouldn't prove that this particular being created Earth, or that it was an eternal being. And it certainly wouldn't necessitate any sort of worship from me. None of those things are important, though. It's the idea of a Creator-being that I'm really concerned with, not so much a particular faith's idea of it.
The ironic (but predictable) part is that when I turn the tables, when I ask the theist what could convince them that their beliefs are based purely on human invention and imagination, they all respond the same way: "Nothing could convince me of that."
It makes me laugh, honestly. Because it is blindingly clear that it is the theist, not the atheist, who is the obstinate and closed-minded party. And yet, not a month goes by that I am not accused of being closed-minded, of denying the existence of God just because I don't have "proof" of his existence. (Hey, I don't need "proof." Even a scrap of evidence would be a beginning.) Not a week passes without someone accusing me of denying reality or of being duped by Satan, or EVILutionists (as if they actually see a difference).
They tell me that atheism is a faith, that I worship science, and so on. These people will go to any lengths, seemingly, to try to tear down Reason in an individual, rather than admit that faith is weak and groundless.
It's pretty sad, when you think of it. I mean, I've often said that religion is a crutch for many people. But maybe that analogy isn't accurate. People with crutches wish they could walk without them. But these religionists don't… they try to force everyone else to walk on crutches, too.
Sometimes I think I could be more easily convinced that there is a God, rather than be convinced that these theists are strong and healthy individuals. There's more evidence to the contrary for the latter.
