The burden of proof lies with the believer, not the atheist from "summary" of The God Delusion: by Richard Dawkins | Key Takeaways, Analysis & Review by Instaread
The burden of proof lies with the believer, not the atheist. When it comes to the existence of God, the burden of proof falls on those who claim that God exists. This is a fundamental principle in scientific inquiry. In the absence of evidence, there is no reason to believe in something. Atheists, on the other hand, do not claim to have absolute knowledge of the non-existence of God. They simply lack belief in a deity due to the lack of convincing evidence. As Richard Dawkins explains, the default position should be skepticism until evidence is presented to support a claim. Believers often argue that atheists cannot disprove the existence of God, therefore implying that God must exist. However, this is a flawed argument. As Dawkins points out, it is impossible to disprove the existence of something that is defined in a way that makes it immune to falsification. In the absence of evidence, it is rational to withhold belief in a claim. This is not the same as asserting that the claim is false. Atheists do not claim to know for certain that God does not exist; they simply lack belief in the absence of evidence. The burden of proof lies with those who make extraordinary claims. To assert the existence of a supernatural being without evidence is an extraordinary claim that requires extraordinary evidence. Until such evidence is presented, it is reasonable to remain skeptical.
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