Why I Don't Believe in God - Gene Johns
Why I Don’t Believe in God
By Gene Johns 8/10/17
Okay, you may not have the time or the desire to read a 1200 word essay as to why I (someone of no particular importance) don’t believe in a God. So let me make this quick, I don’t believe in a God because there is no credible, verifiable evidence a God exists.
That’s it; I'm done. Just eleven words, "because there is no credible, verifiable evidence a God exists," explains why I don't believe in a God. There isn't anything I can add to that reason to explain why I don’t believe in God. That reason says it all.
But, as a writer, albeit an amateur writer, my passion for writing compels me to write a hopefully entertaining, thought-provoking, and more in-depth explanation as to why I don’t believe a God exists. I invite you to set aside any bias you may have against a non-believer and read with an open mind my exercise in creative writing and exploration of why I don’t believe in God. I hope you enjoy . . .
On a warm late spring day in June of 2015, in an inflatable rubber raft manned by five other brave souls and a guide, I drifted down an ancient North Carolina river framed by beautiful green mountains and highlighted with rocks and boulders delivering an exhilarating ride through a series of white water rapids. It was an incredible, heart-pounding, and breathtaking journey upon a refreshingly cool watercourse that challenged my sensibilities and reason. It was a moment to remember and never forget, it was a great day to be alive.
That unforgettable experience was courtesy of the French Broad River, reportedly the third oldest river in the world; only younger than the oldest river in the world, the Nile, and the second oldest river in the world, the New River in West Virginia. North Carolina’s French Broad River, according to geologists, may be as old as 300 million years.
Geologists make that claim because of scientific evidence associated with the French Broad River. Christians, no doubt, will deny or ignore that evidence and claim the earth is only 6,000 to 10,000 years old because, in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth, so it says in Genesis, from the Christian’s go-to book, the Bible.
Most scientists agree the real age of the earth is approximately 4.5 billion years old based on geological evidence. The Christian claim that earth is only 6,000 to 10, 000 years old is nothing more than speculation based on calculations from a story in a book filled with mythological stories and characters.
"That which can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence." ~ Christopher Hitchens
This piece is not about the validity of the Bible, but, it is important to point out that using the Bible to support a claim, as in the claim for the age of the earth, may prove to be suspect, or, in fact, wrong. Probably the most often used authority to affirm the existence of God is the Bible. Well, I need to clarify that by saying the most often used authority to claim the existence of the Christian God is the Bible. Other religions, more than four thousand, also make claims that are more than likely wrong, unbelievable and unverifiable.
Christians claim the Bible is the “Word of God,” and therefore it validates the existence of God. There is no proof of that unless one asserts that claim because of such references in the Bible to God as in Job 37-23, which states, “The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power; in his justice and great righteousness, he does not oppress.”
In another verse from the Bible, Psalm 33:6 reads, “By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.” There are numerous examples within the Bible as in the book of Genesis that claim, either directly or indirectly, there is a God. The Bible is just a book filled with mythical stories by mostly unverified authors writing poetic verses and fantastic stories of ancient mankind's struggles and victories.
“The Bible has noble poetry in it... and some good morals and a wealth of obscenity, and upwards of a thousand lies.” ~Mark Twain
Christians claim God inspired the Bible. How do they know that? Well, the answer to that question is, they don’t. The same can be said about how do Christians know their God exists? Again, the answer is, they don't. They don't know, and that is why "faith" is a must for Christians. Faith, by definition, is believing without evidence. But not to pick on Christians, all religions of the world fail to offer any credible, verifiable proof their God exists.
“I would love to believe that when I die I will live again and that some thinking, feeling, and memories will be of me and continue in my "afterlife". But as much as I want to believe that, and despite the ancient and worldwide cultural traditions that assert there is an afterlife, I know of nothing to suggest that it is more than wishful thinking.” ~ Carl Sagan
I too would love to believe there is an afterlife complete with all my memories and feelings from this life. It would be great to believe that I will see my Sister and my Dad again. But, believing is not knowing. Because I don’t know, and neither does anyone else, I do not believe there is an afterlife.
“I do not fear death. I had been dead for billions and billions of years before I was born, and had not suffered the slightest inconvenience from it.” ~ Mark Twain
If there is an afterlife, does that mean there is a God? The short answer is no. There is nothing to suggest that a God is needed to continue life into another realm. Until proven otherwise, the idea of an afterlife and the concept of a God or Gods are nothing more than thoughts of fantasy and desire. That doesn’t make it true.
“It does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.” ~ Thomas Jefferson
At first read, the above quote seems innocent enough and right. Well, I am no one to question Mr. Jefferson's logic, but, he is wrong. Because of the belief in a God, and the religion attached to a God, people have been enslaved, fallen victim to abuse, and even murdered, all in the name of a God and religion. A prime example of that, 911.
For humanity to survive, it is important, if not necessary for mankind to accept the reality that a God or Gods do not exist. It’s time that religion, all religions be dismissed as fantasy, myth, and superstition. I don't believe God; any God exists because there is no credible, verifiable evidence a God exists. Hope, faith does not make God real, except in the mind of those blinded by the fear of death and the hope for eternal life.
Most of you reading this piece will no doubt disagree with my views and can probably find holes in my logic big enough to drive a missionary bus through. Well, that’s okay. We each have the right to believe what we want to believe. So I would like to leave you with the words of Stephen Roberts to ponder. Mr. Roberts said, “I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.”
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