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Originally posted by @fmf
Of course it does. There cannot be some something "between" you and a deity or deities that you do not believe in. Simple as that.

It comes down to evidence for the Christian God vs. lack of evidence for Hindu gods.

EDIT: <<There cannot be some something "between" you and a deity or deities that you do not believe in.>>

So if you don’t believe in something, you think it doesn’t exist? Don’t you realize that God’s existence doesn’t depend on you - or anyone - believing in Him? If everyone on the planet were an atheist, do you think that would have any bearing on whether God exists?

Originally posted by @romans1009
It comes down to evidence for the Christian God vs. lack of evidence for Hindu gods.

No, it doesn't. It comes down to the simple fact that you believing that there is something "between" you and a supernatural being does not affect me at all. Your estimation of the competing "evidence" does not affect me at all. You projecting your religious perspective onto me is all about you - and only you - and does not affect me at all ~ nor does it conjure up any kind of psychological reality for me, regardless of the psychological reality your religious beliefs conjure up for you personally. Your personal opinions about "evidence for the Christian God" are irrelevant.

Originally posted by @fmf
No, it doesn't. It comes down to the simple fact that you believing that there is something "between" you and a supernatural being does not affect me at all. Your estimation of the competing "evidence" does not affect me at all. You projecting your religious perspective onto me is all about you - and only you - and does not affect me at all ~ nor does it conjur ...[text shortened]... or you personally. Your personal opinions about "evidence for the Christian God" are irrelevant.

Whether you believe in God or not does not affect whether He exists.

Originally posted by @romans1009
So if you don’t believe in something, you think it doesn’t exist? Don’t you realize that God’s existence doesn’t depend on you - or anyone - believing in Him? If everyone on the planet were an atheist, do you think that would have any bearing on whether God exists?

This is a red herring. You are perfectly entitled to believe that your god figure exists. You're perfectly entitled to be as certain and certain can be. However, there cannot be some something "between" you and a deity or deities that you do not believe in. In the case of Hindus, their certainty of belief in their god figures, no matter how strong and sincere that belief is, does not create something "between" you - a non-believer - and those deities. It simply does not. The same goes for you suggestion that there can be something "between" me and whatever deity you just so happen to believe in. I am an atheist, so there's nothing "between" me and your god figure.

Originally posted by @romans1009
Whether you believe in God or not does not affect whether He exists.

I know you believe that. But there can only be something "between" me and the god figure you believe in... if I believe he exists. Whether you believe in the Hindu gods or not does not affect whether they exist either. But if you don't believe they exist, then psychologically speaking there cannot be anything "between" you and them.

Originally posted by @fmf
This is a red herring. You are perfectly entitled to believe that your god figure exists. You're perfectly entitled to be as certain and certain can be. However, there cannot be some something "between" you and a deity or deities that you do not believe in. In the case of Hindus, their certainty of belief in their god figures, no matter how strong and sincere t ...[text shortened]... t so happen to believe in. I am an atheist, so there's nothing "between" me and your god figure.

So if God exists, only you determine or decide if something exists between you and Him? He doesn’t have any say at all in that?

“Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.”

(Hebrews 4:13)

Originally posted by @romans1009
So if God exists, only you determine or decide if something exists between you and Him? He doesn’t have any say at all in that?

There is no psychological or emotional relationship of any kind between me and anyone's god figure, including yours. I am an atheist.

Originally posted by @fmf
I know you believe that. But there can only be something "between" me and the god figure you believe in... if I believe he exists. Whether you believe in the Hindu gods or not does not affect whether they exist either. But if you don't believe they exist, then psychologically speaking there cannot be anything "between" you and them.

You’re assuming that only you decide if something exists between you and God. And since you don’t believe God exists, you obviously don’t think there is anything between you and Him.

But you can’t be certain God doesn’t exist. And if He does exist, then obviously He has a say about whether something exists between you and Him.

Originally posted by @fmf
There is no psychological or emotional relationship of any kind between me and anyone's god figure, including yours. I am an atheist.

I wasn’t referring to a psychological or emotional relationship. I was referring to an issue, something that has to be dealt with.

Originally posted by @romans1009
You’re assuming that only you decide if something exists between you and God. And since you don’t believe God exists, you obviously don’t think there is anything between you and Him.

But you can’t be certain God doesn’t exist. And if He does exist, then obviously He has a say about whether something exists between you and Him.

It's not about whether you or I believe any given god figure exists or not. If you and I do not believe in a particular god, then there can be nothing "between" you on I, on one hand, and that god figure, on the other ~ regardless of who's out there insisting that the particular god figure exists.

Originally posted by @fmf
It's not about whether you or I believe any given god figure exists or not. If you and I do not believe in a particular god, then there can be nothing "between" you on I, on one hand, and that god figure, on the other ~ regardless of who's out there insisting that the particular god figure exists.

If God exists, He has a say in whether an issue exists between you and Him. You can’t be certain God doesn’t exist. Therefore you can’t be certain that an issue doesn’t exist between you and Him.

Originally posted by @romans1009
I wasn’t referring to a psychological or emotional relationship. I was referring to an issue, something that has to be dealt with.

Your religious beliefs do not create any supernatural "issue" that I have to deal with. What's more, as far as I am concerned, your religious beliefs are nothing other than a psychological or emotional "relationship" with [or dependency on] some notions you have regarding supernatural beings and other phenomena.

Originally posted by @fmf
No, it doesn't. It comes down to the simple fact that you believing that there is something "between" you and a supernatural being does not affect me at all. Your estimation of the competing "evidence" does not affect me at all. You projecting your religious perspective onto me is all about you - and only you - and does not affect me at all ~ nor does it conjur ...[text shortened]... or you personally. Your personal opinions about "evidence for the Christian God" are irrelevant.

No, it doesn't. It comes down to the simple fact that you believing that there is something "between" you and a supernatural being does not affect me at all.

Well it certainly will affect you if his belief turns out to be true. In that case it does affect you but you just don't know it yet.

Originally posted by @fmf
Your religious beliefs do not create any supernatural "issue" that I have to deal with. What's more, as far as I am concerned, your religious beliefs are nothing other than a psychological or emotional "relationship" with [or dependency on] some notions you have regarding supernatural beings and other phenomena.

You’re right - my religious beliefs don’t create any supernatural issue you have to deal with. The existence of God does that.

Originally posted by @romans1009
If God exists, He has a say in whether an issue exists between you and Him. You can’t be certain God doesn’t exist. Therefore you can’t be certain that an issue doesn’t exist between you and Him.

There can be nothing "between" someone and an entity that the person doesn't believe exists. If you want to assert that there is some sort one-way thing going on that involves whoever your god figure happens to be - it likes me, it loves me, it is going to torture me, it's going to make me live forever, whatever - then you can assert to your heart's content.

But the idea that these assertions of yours create a relationship of any kind whatsoever "between" me and the deity you believe in or create or bring into existence any actual issues that I have to address, is all something going on entirely in your head and not mine. Remember, I am an atheist.