A belief in gods as real and existent beings is a preconception which acts as a filter for reality, a parental control for information you encounter.

Before the theist can examine any evidence of a natural origin to the universe or humanity they already have decided that god created all this, that reality is intended to reflect the glory of god, that god is a fact and that the stories in their holy book are accurate and true. That’s a massive filter to force reality to strain through, a clear and obvious preconception. It’s placing a precondition on information before they encounter it. It places the conclusion before the evidence is presented. If we so choose we can refuse to acknowledge any evidence that doesn’t conform to a constraining precondition, or we can choose to follow the evidence where it leads.

If I ever found evidence of a god that could withstand honest, open, critical scrutiny, if I could submit it for examination and study and the conclusion was that there was no other possible explanation for this evidence than that it was clearly the product of a god, I would be the first to start posting about it, talking about it and showing that evidence to the world. Why wouldn’t I? I’m obviously not reluctant to state my opinions. If I ever become convinced there’s a god or gods I will not be shy about saying so.

I’ve already met and rejected several of the current nominees for the position of god around today. I’ve been interested in the mystical and spiritual since I was in my teens. Some god as yet undetected, unknown, not featured in any religious text, may come along in the future and I’ll believe. I’d like to think that it would be belief based on more concrete knowledge than current religious belief is. We may someday find evidence for the supernatural. (Often when I read books on quantum physics I wonder why a religion hasn’t suggested that the quantum world is the supernatural realm they’ve been talking about.) I enjoy contemplating the quantum world. I like having my view of reality both broadened and sharpened.

I won’t say I don’t have my own preconceptions. But none demand the degree of conformity that religious belief does. If I were convinced any current theistic viewpoint was valid and chose to share it, I am free to do so. Can a person convinced that a god exists honestly say the same?