What kind of proof can change people’s minds? About God.

[Aupmanyav]

There's no need to display his power over the world to me if he can just plant the certainty of his existence in my head.

May be not in your or my head but he has done that in mare than 70% of the population of Earth.

 

[Wildswanderer]

Did you expect that one half hour experience that is contradictory to all experiences in the life of someone change anything?
That's not how brains work. You can feed a new information into a computer and it will replace an old one. To change a mind you need to repeat the new information a few times before it can override the old one.

Not true. One experience can certainly totally change a person.
We are more than our brains, we are body soul and Spirit.

 

[Wildswanderer]

There's a character in The Dresden Files book series who this made me think of. He was freed from demonic possession, granted a sword with a nail from the true cross in its hilt and tasked by the archangels to fight the powers of darkness.

He's also an atheist.

His reasoning was that the beings he sees could be aliens or he might just be mad.

This shows the problem with displays of power: they always leave room for doubt. Is the being that revealed itself to me really God or is it an immensely powerful alien? Could it even be the Devil trying to deceive me?

I would argue that if God is omnipotent and wants people to believe in him, the best way to do it is to grant people direct knowledge of his existence. There's no need to display his power over the world to me if he can just plant the certainty of his existence in my head.

Would that not violate your freedom? If God did that, he would have an army of robots following him but I don't think that's what he wants.

 

[idea]

it would take a God to know a God.

and to become a God, you would have to first be self-reliant, you would need to realize you do not need anyone else to be your God... you are your own God.

The best way to help someone become a God, is to abandon them. When all you have to rely on is yourself, you realize all you need is yourself.

Mystery solved, the Gods exist, and we are all God.

 

[Erebus]

May be not in your or my head but he has done that in mare than 70% of the population of Earth.

Possibly, though I have no way to know that's the case unless he saw fit to do the same with me.

Would that not violate your freedom? If God did that, he would have an army of robots following him but I don't think that's what he wants.

I would say no. Certain knowledge of God's existence may well make me reconsider certain choices but I would still have the capacity to choose. I see it more as allowing me to make informed decisions.

 

[Heyo]

Not true. One experience can certainly totally change a person.

There have been rare reports of that happening but it comes in most cases only together with brain altering drugs or illness.

 

[Twilight Hue]

and to become a God, you would have to first be self-reliant, you would need to realize you do not need anyone else to be your God... you are your own God.

The best way to help someone become a God, is to abandon them. When all you have to rely on is yourself, you realize all you need is yourself.

Mystery solved, the Gods exist, and we are all God.

Sounds like such a God has a self confidence issue and helplessly introverted.

 

[idea]

Sounds like such a God has a self confidence issue and helplessly introverted.

Not at all. Such a God has great confidence in others achieving God hood without help, and when we are all able to recognize one another for who we all really are, we will communicate very deeply with all ❤

 

[Twilight Hue]

Not at all. Such a God has great confidence in others achieving God hood without help, and when we are all able to recognize one another for who we all really are, we will communicate very deeply with all ❤

I don't need a God for that. Everything and everyone has their role being a part of the universe itself. It's good enough as it stands without a need for a placeholder.

 

[Jeremiah Ames]

Did you expect that one half hour experience that is contradictory to all experiences in the life of someone change anything?
That's not how brains work. You can feed a new information into a computer and it will replace an old one. To change a mind you need to repeat the new information a few times before it can override the old one.

good point

made me think that IF God were to come to earth to prove his existence, it would likely take quite some time to convince people, and even then some would never be convinced

 

[Jeremiah Ames]

Respond consistently to prayer requests.
If God would give whatever request whenever I asked it, God would have my vote.

perhaps just sending a letter to Santa Claus would fill your desires better?

 

[Jeremiah Ames]

Let me just say that it actually would take a God alone to convince me there even is one.

i must agree with you there

 

[Jeremiah Ames]

I think the issue you're pointing to is that a single event like you describe could be better described by mental illness or the like than by God actually existing.

A single event, no matter how spectacular, would do nothing to resolve all the apparent discrepancies between what we would expect to see if God were real and what we actually see in the world.

What would qualify as compelling evidence for God would vary depending on the characteristics of the God, but I would personally expect something akin to the evidence we have for the Moon:

- it's often there for people to just see
- it has ubiquitous (or near-ubiquitous) measurable effects
- it can be investigated in multiple different ways through many different disciplines, all of which produce results that agree with each other.

You'd need inter-subjective verification over the long term. A one-off stunt really wouldn't cut it.

I wonder if there would be any difference though, if the stunts were done on a regular basis?

i think many people have a hard time being convinced of anything beyond what they hold dear. (flat earthers?) (creationists?)

those who are open to learn, though, can accept new ideas without a battle

 

[Jeremiah Ames]

May be not in your or my head but he has done that in mare than 70% of the population of Earth.

how many of those 70%, though, are certain?

 

[Nakosis]

perhaps just sending a letter to Santa Claus would fill your desires better?

Sure, lets see if Santa gets it right this year.

 

[Aupmanyav]

how many of those 70%, though, are certain?

I would say a good percentage. So really, number do not mean anything.

 

[Heyo]

good point

made me think that IF God were to come to earth to prove his existence, it would likely take quite some time to convince people, and even then some would never be convinced

According to some interpretations that is exactly what supposedly have happened with Jesus. God coming to earth. And that didn't convince people and least those in his home town. They had an experience of Jesus not being the messiah for 30 years and one day he claims to be god. Nope.

 

[rational experiences]

I was taught some God concepts as a child.

Never believed.

Lived as an equal moral human loving admiring humanities artistic and national expressions.

Saw acute suffering that made me angry and sad.

Got burnt by occult radiation God sciences the themes in life about God the cosmic history and science on earth.

Learnt all about God by the teachers of God scientists.

 

[Twilight Hue]

good point

made me think that IF God were to come to earth to prove his existence, it would likely take quite some time to convince people, and even then some would never be convinced

That's a pretty dysfunctional God if it has considerable trouble convincing folks.

A tad underwhelming if you ask me.

 

[leroy]

The hell/heaven balance was getting way out of whack (technical term)

So, God decided that people needed proof that he existed.


He stopped time, but allowed that humans on earth could continue as if time still occurred.

He showed himself visibly to all humans, simultaneously (perk of being omnipresent)

He spoke: You want proof, well here I am. Any questions?

An atheist raises her hand, and asks: I could be dreaming. Everything has stopped moving, except people, and you’re standing in front of me. How do I KNOW that you’re really God?

God: I am the one who stopped time but allowed you to continue as if time still went on.

Atheist: Well, there is no proof that you did that.

God: How was it done then?

Atheist: It could have been a natural occurrence. I’m sure scientists are looking into it as we speak.

God: I am going to snap my fingers and plunge the universe into complete darkness for five seconds.

God *snaps fingers. Universe is in complete darkness for 5 seconds.

Light returns.

God: Do you believe now?

Atheist: Well, there is no proof that you caused it. It was very dark for a while and I couldn’t see anything.


Simultaneously to the above exchange, a Christian evangelical talks to God

Christian: I am patiently waiting for the 1000 year reign to begin, so I can rule over all those bad people, with you of course. When will that begin?

God: Ummm, who are you? I don’t know you.

Christian: But what about the rapture?

God: I said I don’t know you.

Christian: Well, let me talk to Jesus or the Holy Spirit then. You can’t really be God if you don’t know me, I did so much in your name.

God: Are you still talking?


Similar conversations happened throughout the world.


God left, and returned the universe to where it was previous to his arrival.


All the people still had their same beliefs.


Nothing changed.

There is a bunch of things that I don’t believe it, but I have a clear idea on what would convince me,

I don’t believe in ghosts, Aliens, Longness monster, etc. but I have a clear idea on what would convince me, (I don’t even require direct observation)…………I often wonder why can’t atheist answer this kind of questions clearly and directly.