Why Believe (or Disbelieve) in God?

I gather, from our research team’s pre-interview with Walter, that he is a die-hard atheist. He thinks that there is ample reason to doubt God’s existence and no good reason to affirm god’s existence — at least if one means the all powerful, all loving, all knowing god, existing outside of space and time. Since it’s a season of religious, and quasi-religious holidays, we thought it might be fun to actually reflect on the rationality, or lack thereof, of the religious beliefs that lie behind the celebration of such holidays.

Today’s show is about the existence, or non-existence, of God.     Our guest will be Walter Sinnot-Armstrong.  This is Walter’s second appearance on Philosophy Talk.  He did a great job on our episode about moral dilemmas.   And we’re pleased to have him back.

I gather, from our research team’s pre-interview with Walter, that he  is a die-hard atheist.   He thinks that there is ample reason to doubt God’s existence and no good reason to affirm god’s existence — at least if one means the all powerful, all loving, all knowing god, existing outside of space and time.   Since it’s a season of religious, and quasi-religious holidays,  we thought it might be fun to actually reflect on the rationality, or lack thereof, of the religious beliefs that lie behind the celebration of such holidays. 

I’m going to post a long thread about today’s topic after the show  It’s a topic I’ve thought a great deal about for a long time.  I grew up in an intensely religous family and  in my youth,  I myself was a pretty intense and sincere believer.  When I was in my midteens,   though, something happened and I began to have serious  doubts.  I went on to Notre Dame where I met lots of very reflective and caring Catholics, whose religious belief played a major role in what sometimes seemed to me incredibly exemplary lives of service and compassion.  With my then girlfriend,  I would often go to high Mass.  That was a moving experience.    For a brief period,  I even contemplated converting to Catholicism.   That now seems like a distant past and another self to me.

But enough about me.  I opened this thread to find out what some of you think.   I invite you to weigh in with your own reaons for belief  or disbeilef.    If your  comments are succint and well argued,  we may have a chance to get to them on the air today.

So have at it, folks!  But be warned,  we will delete comments that violate the spirit of reasoned and cooperative inquiry and will also ban those who violate from posting any further.