Mary
I can get some people with PhD's believe in god; their PhD might not be in a subject that exposes them to the very strong arguments that every traditional concept of god is stuff and nonsense. They might be of a background where free enquiry into beliefs they have grown up with is not encouraged. They might be stunningly erudite about their field of expertise, but shy away from examining their religious beliefs. I know of really quite well educated JW's who pull this trick off.
I was struck recently by Anne Rice's account of her turn-around in belief; that I do not get. She grew-up Catholic but became an atheist. In the 1990's she underwent a gradual transition back to theist culminating with her rejoining the Catholic Church again. In her recent book about Jesus as a boy, she recounts this, and the reasons why.
Now Anne Rice is a very smart lady. She has read LOADS. She knew all the reasons why she became an atheist. She is open-minded (few grandmothers write more about sex! Especially gay sex!).
Yet read her explanation for her becoming a Catholic again and you wonder why. She quotes various writers who 'helped' her on their way, but actual hard evidence causing her re-conversion? Not a thing. She just became convinced by the arguments of Biblical Apologists whereas before she believed in Biblical Criticism, yet seems to have ignored the rather important point that Biblical Apologetics starts with a presupposition of the Bible's ability to differentiate itself from other so called 'Holy' books. Which cannot be proved, unless you include the Book of Mormon.
Personally I think linking education or intelligence to belief or disbelief in god is fallacious. Stupid people are atheists. Stupid people are theists. People with poor secular educations are atheists. People with poor secular educations are theists.
Let the arguments stand on their own without distracting bullshit. Which brings us to...
Warlock
If God claims to be a spirit creature, hence invisible, how can anyone confirm his existence?
If I claim to have a spirit 12" penis, hence invisible, how can anyone confirm its existence?
Insofar as being happy about possibly being wrong, at least I admit I could be wrong. How about you? I doubt it.
Is the reason you go for the ad hom due to the fact you have no argument regarding the existence of god that is worth hearing, or because they are all as easily lampoonable as the above?
How many times a day do you "check" your beliefs, especially the one concerning Gods existence?
Are you suggesting god might have sprung into existence between mid-morning and lunchtime? I mean, after breakfast I was pretty sure god didn't exist, I didn't realise vast all-powerful entities were so quantum.
What will prove to me whether God exists or not, will be my death.
No it won't. Look into Near Death Experiences. Survivors of NDE typically report experiences in line with their beliefs. You have a belief in god, and will probably, as your brain shuts down for good, experience for entirely physiological reasons sensations you will, due to your beliefs, interpret as proof of god's existence. You might think for a fleeting second that god's existence has been proved before your brain stops being capable of thought in any meaningful fashion, but if that is your standard of proof your standard of proof is sorely inadequate.
If he does exist, and if he will allow me, I will positively come back and haunt you, and Abaddon.
LOL. And thus show us that you learned nothing in life, and that god considers petulant childish actions a good use of your time. And as Funky points out, this has never happened, ever, to anyone. Dawkins would probably never sleep if even one half of one percent of the dead god-botherers who would have liked to give him a good haunting actually did haunt him.
Of course, this is not proof that god doesn't exist, it may merely be proof god is not as petty and childish as some of his believers.
