Does God exist?

[El_Jibaro]

Is There a Creator?

We arm you with a few ready answers to this age-old question.

By Bob Hostetler

You’re a teenager in the middle of a heated lunchtime debate with your friends at school, and you suddenly wish you could disappear.

“If God exists, then prove it,” one of the guys says with a smirk. “I mean, it’s cool that people go to church and read the Bible, if that’s their thing. But you can’t sit here and tell me with 100 percent proof that God is real.”

You take a giant gulp of Coke and slouch at the table. The same prideful smirk flashes across the other guys’ faces. Everyone seems to be siding with your skeptical buddy—and you’re at a complete loss for words. They just don’t get it, you tell yourself silently. How do I help these guys understand that God is real and wants to save His stubborn creation?

Prepare yourself for some earthshaking news. Like it or not, we can’t prove God’s existence.

But wait a minute. We can’t prove that Julius Caesar ever existed either. There are marble busts of Julius Caesar, of course. There are coins with his name and image on them. Books about him could fill a library. Documents and inscriptions refer to him. But these things are evidence, not proof. Evidence points to a fact. Proof asserts a fact irrefutably.

We can prove that 2+2=4. We can add two oranges to two oranges, and the result will be four oranges. We can do it again and again, and the result will always be four oranges. That’s proof—what scientists call empirical proof. But whether Julius Caesar ever lived cannot be proven empirically. The weight of historical evidence, of course, indicates that he actually did.

The same is true of God. We can’t prove His existence empirically. As in Caesar’s case, however, the overwhelming weight of evidence not only makes it possible to believe in God’s existence, it makes it very hard to ignore. Reliable men and women through the ages have testified to the reality of God.

A man named Moses encountered God in a burning bush and wrote an affidavit that became part of our Bible. The head of state of a major world power, Israel’s King David, attributed his ascendancy to God. A renowned political prisoner, the apostle John, recorded his encounter with God in a lengthy statement that now concludes the Bible. Such testimony is not proof, but it is evidence from trustworthy sources.

Few Real Atheists

Evidence also exists in the records of all world civilizations. From prehistoric times, the idea of God has existed in the mind of humanity. Perhaps that’s because the idea of a Supreme Being who made the world makes sense. The concept of a God is what scientists call a highly convenient hypothesis — that is, it fits, as if our minds have a feel for God. So much so, in fact, that when men reject the notion of God, they invariably substitute something else. Some humanists and New Age proponents, for example, often deify themselves and worship “the mind.”

In the Beginning — Who?

One reason God makes sense is because the human mind seems unceasingly to seek the causes and origins of things. Where did this world come from? What causes the sea to teem with fish, the sun to flame with energy, the invisible particles of dust to swirl in the air?

If they evolved, what caused the things from which they came? Is it more sensible to believe in an infinite, eternal God or to imagine that once there was nothing, and that over eons of time it developed into something—with no force to start it happening?

It is next to impossible to believe that our universe has evolved accidentally into such vast, beautiful, complex precision as we see all around us. Our universe encompasses roughly 100 billion (100,000,000,000) galaxies. Each galaxy holds about 100 billion stars and perhaps as many planets. The astronomer who charts the vast intricacies of the universe must believe in God or assume that such things happened by chance.

One human DNA molecule, far too tiny to be seen by the naked eye, is a complex, twisting ladder of 100 million or so twists and about 100 billion atoms. The biologist who probes DNA must attribute its properties to God or imagine that this astoundingly complicated building-block of life developed without intelligence, like a jigsaw puzzle of 100 billion pieces that assembles itself in a box.

God in Action

The most convincing evidences of God’s existence are experiential. Professor and author Paul Little cites the experience of prisoners on the Malay peninsula during World War II. These men in a Japanese P.O.W. camp “had been reduced almost to animals, stealing food from their buddies, who were also starving.” However, they began to read the New Testament. As a result, “this group of scrounging, clawing humans was transformed into a community of love . . . a touching and powerful story that demonstrated clearly the reality of God in Christ Jesus.” (From Know Why You Believe by Paul E. Little, Victor Books.)

A skid row drunkard who has not had a sober moment for three years suddenly — in one night — announces that his life has been changed and his drinking has stopped.

A teenager who has often contemplated suicide because of loneliness finds hope, even happiness, in prayer, Bible reading and selfless devotion to her new church.

In each case, the change came about because someone believed in God. Events such as these happen daily. They can’t prove God’s existence, of course. But they don’t have to, because that’s not the way God planned things.

Hebrews 11:6 gives us the bottom line:

“Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

Humans will look from here to eternity for proof of God’s existence. But we cannot grasp God by proofs; He is infinitely greater than our puny efforts to understand Him. We can only take hold of God with the grasp of faith — we must “believe that He exists.” When we do that, “he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

[Italia_Lena]

[quote]Originally posted by El_Jibaro
[b]Is There a Creator?

We arm you with a few ready answers to this age-old question.

By Bob Hostetler

You’re a teenager in the middle of a heated lunchtime debate with your friends at school, and you suddenly wish you could disappear.

“If God exists, then prove it,” one of the guys says with a smirk. “I mean, it’s cool that people go to church and read the Bible, if that’s their thing. But you can’t sit here and tell me with 100 percent proof that God is real.”



Ever heard of faith??

[El_Jibaro]

Originally posted by Italia_Lena
Ever heard of faith?? [/b]

1 - How do you define faith?

2 - What is the object of your faith?

Wishful thinking is not the same as faith.

A nice sentiment is not the same as faith.

For example, I happen to be married: were I to go to bed, or share any kind of intimacy, with another woman outside of my wife, then I would be unfaithful to my wife.

If the object of my faith happens to be myself, and therefore I please myself by seeking the love of another woman, then I lied to my wife when I made my public vows that she would be my one and only woman (wife = woman; ME and OE).

[Italia_Lena]

Jib:

How do I define faith? Well it certainly isn't wishful thinking.

Faith is the belief in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of someone or something.

I have faith that God exists. I believe in spirit, and miracles, and births. When you place your faith in God, there are and have been rewards. It may be "blind faith" but it is faith. Just because you cannot see him, doesn't mean he isn't there!

I know I don't have to argue with you that God exists I am not trying to argue. Just trying to reply to your post.

Basically the part about being unfaithful to your wife is just that...you are not being supportive or loyal and are not worthy of trust.

The object of my faith is not myself, so I am not sure I see the poin that you are trying to make about the being unfaithful part!

[El_Jibaro]

Faith is more than just partial mental agreement.

The definition of faithfulness in marriage is founded on the ancient Christian notion of faith.

It involves SURETY and CERTAINTY.

Breaking faith in marriage is to anull the surety and certainty of it.

This faith as part of marriage does not apply to marriage alone, but to all contracts and alliances in the Western world. Thus, a fraudulent deal is where a contract is not based on good faith.

Better than to look at faith from the perspective of human contracts is to look at it the way God defines it:<<Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11.1>> and how to use it: <<Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11.6>>

[Leticia_g]

The question of God's existence is very important. Even though there are many that refuse to believe something that they cannot see, there are many more that have the needed faith in God to acknowledge his existence. Faith is a deep feeling, without it we have nothing.

In a marriage if faith did not exist the marriage would not last. People feel that marriage is good when everything is going well. The test of love and devotion is when things are going wrong. That's when you find out who is truly in love with you and who has the faith in the relationship to keep it going.

In the bible is stated that Jesus was tested. Temptation is always there to test the faith we feel. Even Jesus had his faith tested, imagine we can't even compare in greatness to him. The apostles were also test, and some failed to prove their faith and devotion to our God.

Faith is something you rely on. You can't see it but you feel it deep inside. Without the existence of faith, we would have a very cruel world to live in. The feeling that we have a God that loves and guides us no matter what we do is a feeling that no one could compare to.

[john2001]

Is There a God ?
Consider this : An archaeologist digs deep into the desert sand and finds a piece of an old clay pot. After his investigations, this archaeologist can tell us, from this little old piece of dusty clay, so much about the civilisation that existed thousands of years ago that produced it; he can tell usabout the types of ovens, temperatues, and dyes that they worked with, the raw materials that they used, and thus assess the level of their artistic skill and technological ability, etc. All this from a small piece of clay lying in the desert.

Did this archaeologist ever see the civilisation that produced this pot ?

How does he know that it ever existed ?

He knows because he saw that the piece of clay was produced by someone who designed it, and shaped it, and had the intelligence to be able to heat it and produce the pot, and not only that, they also had the ability to colour it and make it look beautiful.
Design ==> Designer.

To the archaeologist the existence and intricacy of the piece of pottery is conclusive proof of the existence, intelligence and ability of the people who made it.

Look around you : at the beautiful sunset on a summer evening, at the moon and the stars on a cloudless night, at the water that you drink, at the trees and how they grow from tiny seeds. Think about yourself : your eyes with which you see, your ears with which you hear, your tongues with which you taste and talk, your hands and your feet, your heart and your brain.Consider how these things are so complex in themselves and yet work together in such perfect harmony.

From the movement of the galaxies to the complexities of the interaction of molecules, from the dynamics of eco-systems to the intricacies of DNA, all lead to the obvious fact of the existence of the great Wisdom, Knowledge and Power that allows our Universe to exist and function.

To any perceptive person the existence and intricacy of creation is conclusive proof of the Existence, Knowledge and Wisdom of the One who creates, organises and sustains it.

Most people naturally recognise the existence of the Creator, and we find reference to the Creator in all cultures and religions. Even the atheists, communists and (disbelieving) scientists cannot avoid this reality, but avoid the term 'creator', for phrases like 'Mother Nature' and 'the amazing way nature has designed...'

How strange in the face of this, that many today reject the belief in the existence of the Creator. Perhaps this is due more to fashion and the desire to justify a materialistic attitude to life rather than real observation and comprehension of reality.

Something stranger still, and perhaps another reason for the trend to deny the Creator, are those who claim that a man, or men, who walked on the earth, breathed air, who had bodies and souls subject to the Laws of the Universe, are the Creator, or manifestations of the Self-Subsistent One. This is of course a complete contradiction in terms. Something cannot be the Creator and created
at the same time, needing air, food and drink and being self-sufficient, being temporary and eternal!

If you are one of those who believe that a amn such as Buddha, or Krishna, or Jesus is the Creator and Controller, then think again!

We were created from a drop of despised fluid, in which was a microscopic sperm, which fertilised a microscopic egg and we grew in our mother's womb in stages predetermined, overwhich we had no control. We came from our mother's womb, urinating and defecating, needing constant attention and care. Without food we will die, without air we will die ... and then such a one is God?

Indeed any intelligent person would recognise exactly how dependant life, the universe and everything is on its Creator. Our dire need for His help makes itself plain in times of great distress.

Imagine yourself in an aeroplane and you know it is going to crash...

Who do you turn to for help then ?

Or on a ship in the sea, thrown helplessly up and down by towering waves ...

There will have been a situation at one time or the other in your life when you called upon your Creator alone, forgetting everyone and everything else, hoping, trusting, wishing that the Being you know in your heart and soul that has power and control over all things would help you. The only One you know can save you!

O creature of God, contemplate upon these verses:

" Behold! In the creation of the Heavens and the Earth; In the alternation of the night and day; In the sailing of the ships through the Oceans for the profit of mankind; In therain which God sends down from the skies, and the life that He therewith to an earth that is dead; In the beasts of all kinds that He scatters through the Earth; In the change of thewinds, and the clouds which they trail like their slaves between the sky and the earth - Indeed these are signs for a people that are wise."
[The Qur'aan 2:164]

"It is He who has made the sun a shining glory and the moon a light of beauty and has measured out their stages, that you might know the number of years and their reckoning.Allaah did not create this but in Truth. He explains His signs in detail for people who understand.
[The Qur'aan 10:5]

"He has created the heavens and the earth with Truth. Far is He above having the
partners that they ascribe to him. He has created mankind from a sperm drop; and behold this (same) man becomes an open disputer! And the cattle, He has created them for you; in them is warmth (warm clothing) and numerous benefits, and of them you eat."
[The Qur'aan 16:3-5]

"Blessed be He who sent down the Criterion to His servant that it may be an admonition to all creatures.
To Him belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth; no son has he begotten, nor has He any partner in His dominion; It is He who created all things and gave them theirdue proportions. Yet they have taken besides Him gods that can create nothing but are themselves created; that have no control of hurt or good to themselves; nor do they control life nor death nor Resurrection."
[The Qur'aan 25:1-3]

"Were they created by nothing or did they create themselves?Or did they create the heavens and the earth? No, they have no firm belief."
[The Qur'aan 52:36]

"He it is who enables you to travel through land and sea, until, when you are in the ships and they sail with a favourable wind and you are glad about that. Then comes a stormy wind and the waves come to you from all sides and when you think that you are encircled by them, you call upon God making your faith pure for Him alone saying :'If You deliver us from this we shall truly be grateful.' But when He delivers you, behold! you rebel in the earth wrongfully. O mankind, your rebellion against God is only against your own selves - a brief enjoyment of this wordly life, then in the end unto Us is your return We shall inform you of that which you used to do."
[The Qur'aan 10:22-23]


BACK TO http://www.BECONVINCED.COM