Milton Platt
Well-Known Member
Not seeing @Milton Platt, so maybe I didn't provide enough.
So continuing...
Since God is spirit - Can't be seen or felt physically, how does one test or detect God?
Matthew 5:3
What does that mean?
Well, we all know what a physical need is, and how to fill that need.
The phrase “those conscious of their spiritual need” or "poor in spirit", literally means, “those who are beggars for the spirit.”
Matthew 5:3 (Μακάριοι) Happy (οἱ) the (πτωχοὶ) poor ones (τῷ) (as) to the (πνεύματι), spirit,
Matthew 5:3 Interlinear: 'Happy the poor in spirit -- because theirs is the reign of the heavens.
Our spiritual needs involves things related to the spirit - our conscious awareness to understand and know things - specifically an innate spiritual need.
So we ask, "Why are we here? What is the purpose of life? Where are we going?" and based on what we see, we ask, "Why? Why death? Why suffering? Why injustice?" and the questions keep going.
When one is conscious of a physical need, do you notice that they don't lie down and say, "Aw. So what?" They seek to fill that need. Otherwise, after some time their skeleton will tell the tale.
Some, sadly, have ignored, or not given attention to their spiritual need. Some who once gave attention to their spiritual need, have given up, on trying to fill that need. The results are seen there too - Many there are, but one is suicide.
Suicide data
Close to 800 000 people die due to suicide every year, which is one person every 40 seconds. Many more attempt suicide. Suicide occurs throughout the lifespan and is the second leading cause of death among 15-29 year olds globally.
Suicide is a global phenomenon; in fact, 79% of suicides occurred in low- and middle-income countries in 2016. Suicide accounted for 1.4% of all deaths worldwide, making it the 18th leading cause of death in 2016. .....
There are indications that for each adult who died of suicide there may have been more than 20 others attempting suicide.
[GALLERY=media, 8659]Global AS suicide rates both sexes 2016 by nPeace posted Sep 8, 2018 at 12:47 PM[/GALLERY]
On the other hand some have not given up on filling that need, and as Jesus said, it results in happiness. Why (More on that laterr)?
Many have felt that something was missing from their life.
Jehovah's Witnesses BROADCASTING
In a way, it's like being sick, only not physically.
I think all of us, at one time or another, has been sick/ill.
We know when we feel well, from when we feel ill.
When we feel/defect that there is something wrong, we want to make sure, so we go see the doctor.
Sometimes we may not feel sick, but since we can't see our internal organs or their functionality, some of us have regular checkups with the doctor.
If the doctors checks, and finds that something is wrong, depending on what it is, we may get some kind of medication.
Sadly, some people get an inaccurate diagnosis, and are sent home, only to become seriously ill, or die.
Sometimes a person may get a prescription and decide, "You know what. I'm not taking these. All they are going to do is fill me up with more chemicals." So they store them in a drawer, or dump them in the garbage.
Some take the medicine, and see results. They get better... Or do they?
One thing I do know, works for sure, is Panadol.
Man... have you ever had a severe tooth ache? Ouch!Pop two of those things in your mouth, swallow, and in about 60 seconds, you are grateful you brought Panadol.
How do we know if we feel better? Our senses tell us, right?
What is my point?
Our experiences through the use of our senses, allows us to make observation every day. They allow us to make decisions, analyze, and verify the results of those analysis.
We don't throw reason, logic, and common sense out the window, for the sake of belief.
A spiritual person searches for answers. They don't just accept things for the sake of belief, but they use their senses. They observe, they reason and use logic, in order to find reasonable answers.
Their experience in life, through the use of their senses tells them that the universe and life did not originate on its own, but was designed by an intelligence. It screams design. Nature bears the signature of a creator.
This reasonable and logical conclusion is mentioned in scripture. Hebrews 3:4; Romans 1:19, 20
They have also experienced the powerful effect of God's spirit, and his word the Bible, it being a product of holy spirit.
The results of their observations tell them that these are real, and true.
Examples
I have seen results every time from...
Effects of spirit - Matthew 10:20; Mark 13:11; Luke 12:11, 12; 21:14, 15; John 14:26; Hebrews 4:12
Effects of prayer - Matthew 6:7, 8; Mark 14:38
Effects of God's word, the Bible - Psalms 1:1-3; 119
These give clear evidence of the existence of God. These are all spiritual "instruments" that we use to test that conclusion. There is no physical instrument that can be used to do this.
Any questions... please feel free to ask.
I realize you didn't answer my last questions,so perhaps might like to do so now, as I have once again addressed your questions.
Based on the examples you provided... What evidence is there that life evolved from one common ancestor?
I've been out of the country........
That's quite a long post. Too bad it's mostly Bible quotes and commentary on the quotes
Effects of spirit - Matthew 10:20; Mark 13:11; Luke 12:11, 12; 21:14, 15; John 14:26; Hebrews 4:12
Demonstrate that a spirit exists before you attribute things to it.
Effects of prayer - Matthew 6:7, 8; Mark 14:38
The effects of prayer are measurable and they have been measures and shown not to work.
Power of prayer flunks an unusual test
http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.1005.5574&rep=rep1&type=pdf
http://freethoughtpedia.com/wiki/Harvard_prayer_experiment
Effects of God's word, the Bible - Psalms 1:1-3; 119
You need to list specific things and then demonstrate cause and effect.
