Quote Originally Posted by Gandalf View Post
Why does an atheist have to prove anything? It is on the theist to prove that God exists. All an atheist asks is for some evidence. I can provide you with evidence for most of the things I argue. I can prove that we are born, that we live and that we die. A religious person can prove nothing beyond saying 'Ah, but it is about faith'. If you are going to talk of heaven then prove it. Any person who thinks Jesus was actually the Son of God and not the son of ordinary peasants has to be at best naive. People making extraordinary claims need to back them up. Of course more rational people will be 'cynical'.

It is healthy and good to be cynical. It is not healthy to fall into nihilism. Cynicism means to question and that is why we call something 'criticism' when evaluating art or scientific research. You should be cynical and question things. The results can be uncomfortable for others, but one should not care about that.
I agree with almost everything here Gandalf, as I've said I believe in a creator, but not the bible, religion, God or Jesus. As long as people realize the difference between a belief and a fact, then I'm good. When they start trying to say their belief is a fact, without being able to prove it, that's when it becomes a problem for me.