I think "god" is our default software. We created gods as soon as we became conscious, and looked to them to bring order to a world that was otherwise chaotic and threatening. Even later when our brains evolved to reason, they didn't do away with our irrational thoughts, they just added more brain matter on top and left us to fight it out. Evolution is slow, and works over time, so it'll be a while before we've left the gods behind.

I don't believe anything. I am not a believer. I base my opinions and decisions on what I know proven facts or the correct history,science,physics. I let those who won't to base there's on belief do so,believe what ever it is you believe. There are so many different beliefs it is easy to choose the wrong one. I will stick with the facts.

in what context are you saying god comes up so often? here? we talk about this stuff here for a number of reasons but one of them is that elsewhere we keep butting up against it. we don't just encounter people who believe in gods. we encounter people who want to legislate religion, usually christianity, and force nonbelievers to go along with it. we encounter people trying to convert us or frighten us into behaving as they do, or shunning us in situations where we have needs not being met (wild example: if instead of refusing to bake cakes for gays, that cake shop owner refused to bake cakes for atheists, or jews, or muslims, or druids). we live in the world we live in and we can't ignore the fact that there are religionists out there and they interfere with our lives in ways they shouldn't.

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You don't have to have the burden of proofing, it is the way to approach the topic and wording it. Jow a days, I avoid getting myself in religious conversation. When I did, I would question them back and the answers would be so contradicting and nonsense that I would be the one in peace with my answer at the end of the conversation.

All hail Satin! The smoothest of fabrics.

I avoid religious people and if they bring it up, I act bored, mumble, "Um-hum..that's nice," and wander off. No reason to argue with wing nut people.

The burden of proof is on the one making a claim. If you say "there is a God" the burden of proof is on you. If you say "there is no God" the burden of proof is also on you. If you say "I don't believe there is a God" there really is no burden of proof because all you say is that you don't believe. The same goes for "I believe there is a God". The discussion might continue and somebody asks "Why do you believe that?" Any reason you give you must be able to justify. When it comes to not believing in something, that is easy when there is no evidence but giving reasons for believing something without evidence you better have some good reasons. Who else but the person who believes should be the one providing those reasons? That's the burden of proof they have that non-believers don't have.