Unveiling the Onus: Who Bears the Burden of Proof, Atheist or Theist?

This paper explores the philosophical debate on where the burden of proof lies between the theist and atheist. It argues that theism should be considered the default epistemic position due to its self-evident and crosscultural nature, and that atheism, by negating this foundational claim, inherits the obligation to provide counter-evidence. Drawing on legal analogies, epistemological principles, psychological studies, and Islamic concepts like fitrah, the author demonstrates that belief in God is not only natural but justified by default. The work also analyzes common misconceptions regarding agnosticism, positive/negative claims, and compares the existence of God with mythical analogies like unicorns, showing these comparisons to be philosophically weak. Contrary to the popular narrative where atheists often demand evidence from theists, this paper argues that theism is a default, self-evident position. Extensive quotations from renowned scholars and scientific studies are incorporated to strengthen the claim.