We talk past each other because we have different epistemic values. I believe in observation-based evidence, and evidence-based decision-making.
We can have a lively discourse on any given issue about what counts as sufficient evidence for the truth (congruence to reality) of any interesting statement of natural language, but I dismiss the proposition that an ancient narrative with mystic speculations counts as proof of much of anything.
The theory of evolution is a set of empirically testable propositions which have withstood many rigorous investigations--though not without modification. Creationism is only so much unfalsifiable fatuous nonsense. But yet the Republican legislators in the state of Tennessee want it to be discussed in public schools as an "alternative". H.L. Mencken must be rolling over in his grave.
Another holy-roller orgy in Tennessee. I will concede that arguing that god does not exist merely because there is no proof of god's existence is logical insouciance. The standard of affirmative proof needed to confirm for certain the truth of some assertion P may be the same as its negation ~P. But as a practical matter, I don't know that you need an argument for not believing in god in the face of no evidence.
It would be extremely cumbersome to act as if you did believe everything for which there was not sufficient evidence of nonexistence. The methodological commitments of science are not consistent with faith-based belief in God. Science does require faith in the universal generalizability of statements about the natural world which are theoretically sound and have not been empirically dis-confirmed.
It is also permissible for scientists to postulate additional entities if they contribute to the explanation of some phenomenon and are well-rationalized. But what contribution does belief in god make to explaining the existence of the world as we observe it?
If there is an appreciable contribution, what is the rationale for accepting it over some available alternative? I've never heard a compelling response from a believer.
Edited by Dopeman.