The Burden of Proof: Theists of SW, do you believe that an atheist has a burden of proof when it comes to their lack of belief in a god [Spirituality & Religion]
or their rejection of the claim that a god exists?
If you say no, then i agree. If you say yes, then let's discuss.
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Because an atheist is not necessarily making a claim about the existence of god. A theist, on the other hand, asserts that there is a god. The default position is that you do not accept a claim as true until such time as that claim has been substantiated. That goes for god and bigfoot and loch ness monsters.
An atheist simply is not convinced by the claim that a god exists. So why should they have a burden of proof? Why should they need to prove that a god does not exist in order to be unconvinced by the claim that one does?
@Pikachu I do not believe they should have to prove God exist . I think if they are going to challenge God doesn't exist they should prove it doesn't. It's just like Bigfoot. Prove he doesn't exist.
Do you believe that the person making a claim should prove that claim to be true or do you believe that everyone else has to prove that claim is wrong before they are justified in not believing it?
Here, maybe it would help to think of it in terms of a court trial.
The burden of proof is on the prosecution to show beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused is guilty. It is not the defense's task to prove that their client is innocent but to show that the prosecution has not met their burden of proof. That is to say, a court does not show that a defendant is innocent, they only show whether or not the prosecution has proved that the defendant is guilty.
In the same way, the atheist does not have to prove that a god doesn't exist, or if you like, that a god is innocent of existing. The theist must prove that a god does exist (or is guilty of existing).
@Easygoing1 Going for the insults early? Sweet. Now, in a real debate, the burden of proof lies on the person making a positive claim, i.e. "God is real."
