If God made His existence and His rules undeniably clear, would there be any who wouldn't follow?

Question

While answering, I'd like to indicate your personal God-belief (if you will), because it's my guess that those who believe in a personal God will say 'yes, there will still be those who deny God' while those who don't believe or are unsure will say 'in such a situation, all would follow God'.

It just seems to me indicative of the gap in perception of _why_ non-believers don't believe.

And for the sake of argument, let's say that 'undeniably clear' means speaking _publicly_, not in certain people's heads but out loud where all can hear, saying 'this book is My word and that book is a blasphemy; this rule is to be kept and this rule is not to be kept, etc, etc.' By 'undeniably clear' I mean that, so please don't answer that 'God's existence and rules are already clear, so those with eyes to see, let them see'.

jewishgirl87 - I accept that point. I can't speak for human nature as regards actions. After all there are plenty now who believe but don't follow. I guess I should have restricted my question to belief - it would still be a valid question.

Gary M, what you say is logical and fits in with the world as I perceive it. Then the question, however is, are we (okay, I) wrong for not believing? If so, why? The Bible claims that the fool says in his heart that there is no God, but based on what you say, why is that foolish?

littlehessner: two points: 1. Christianity is a relatively young religion: Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism, Shintoism and most forms of paganism, Wicca, spiritualism, animism and even disbelief are older. It's not that 'people have made new religions', it's that they haven't been convinced by Christianity. And (2) if they prefer their religions because Christianity is 'too easy', then why would following them be a sin in God's eyes?

Answer 1

In deference to the asker, I state now that I believe and have accepted the salvation that comes from Jesus' work on the cross. I believe the Bible is inerrant in its concepts, as it is the message of God given by divine inspiration.
With that said,In this question is contained a paradox so great that I can only attempt to approach it. The answer is quite simple, yea though it may sound like a cheating way out": this question is unanswerable.
First of all, I must assume that you are using the God of the Jewish and Christian faiths, for He is the only deity in the breadth of religions to be attributed as a "personal God".
As said, suppose that God did come down, or even announced from heaven, the situation you have presented. In this case, what has he proven? If he is God, than he knows he is God. If he wished humans to know he is God, then they would have already known, for if not, that would mean that God would have to decide that he, for some reason, needs humans to know that he is God. Were that a true need, he would continuosly, from the beginning of man, be announcing His nature.
Even with that argument aside, let us approach the concept of people's reactions. When Ebenezer met the ghost of Marley, risen to bring Scrooge a message in "A Christmas Carol", the first thing that Scrooge did was blame a piece of food and subsequent indigestion. "You are more gravy than grave."
Now suppose that a member of the Pyunavi tribe down in South America had seen that in the 1800s, when the book was written. Their culture at that time was completely untouched by the modern Western culture, and they were highly animistic. I assure you, had a phantom-like figure appeared before them as a Ghost, they would all be begging the "Spirit" for mercy.
I use this example to bring the following point: there is ALWAYS a way for a man to rationalize an event in his life to fit the view he holds. Should the impossible circumstance listed in the question by some chance happen, many many people from all different cultures and backgrounds would not follow, not out of defiance, but because they rationalize it as simply another event within their perspective, rather than an event to change their perspective.

P.S. I believe with my full hear there will come a day when Christ will come down with all of His power and every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the Glory of God the Father. But when that day comes, it is merely the broadening of that which is already happening.

Answer 2

What would the point then be?


Faith exists in the 'gap', if you like, between knowing and not-knowing. We have no material certainty in the existence of a God, and yet we (well, some of us) believe. Faith therefore cannot exist without a measure of doubt.

An example. God knocks my door, introduces himself, explains who he is and proves it in some way (perhaps a miracle.) He then goes on to explain the meaning of creation, his divine plan.
He leaves, and I have no doubt of the existence of God and understand his plan completely.

But I am somehow poorer as a result. I have had proof of God's existence, I have no doubt, and subsequently have no faith- there is no need for faith in this scenario.

So what then?

You said:

Gary M, what you say is logical and fits in with the world as I perceive it. Then the question, however is, are we (okay, I) wrong for not believing? If so, why? The Bible claims that the fool says in his heart that there is no God, but based on what you say, why is that foolish?

Answer:
I dont think its foolish. We can approach God via our hearts and our minds, but somehow I find that simply listening for the truth with my heart can help me discern more easily what the truth is far more effectively than using my mind.

This is borne out by others experiences. The practice of meditation teaches us to make the mind still and allow 'other voices' to speak.

As an aside, this Yahoo Answers is a useless way of conducting this kind of thing; a discusssion, I mean!

Answer 3

Everyone would certainly have to believe in the same God if that were the case. I'm sure some would reject his rule as being unfair (essentially what devil worshipers do today...they believe that God exists but choose to go the opposite with their worship) and not follow it, yet that would be kinda stupid if you knew not following would lead to eternal punishment. I also don't think that having the rules laid out clearly would ensure piousness...people mess up.

Answer 4

solutions to the two questions: 3 i'm an agnostic. basically because of the fact the life of a god can not be proved nor disproved in this universe, if he does exist and is previous the guidelines of nicely-known physics and documents, there is not any reason he ought to no longer additionally exist or no longer exist in a multiverse.

Answer 5

yes because god gave us a free will and some people are so stupid they decided to make there own religions because christianity was to easy. they are also to blind to see that everything in the bible is true and coming true. it is simple logic that every one would believe but because God is the way he is and we are the way we are we do not share the same logic. everyone has a seperate calling some to be preacher and missionarys some to be proffesional baseball players some to be stay at home moms. the bible has a seperate meaning to everyone

Answer 6

I have got slightly lost in your question, lol...but to answer it from my view as a Christian: -

God already does make His rules/regulations/standards/salvation etc, etc, etc abundantly clear through His word & His people… There is no mistaking this!!

But not all people believe…because it is their ‘Freewill’, CHOICE: not to believe!!

Or more to the point in many cases, over the 1000’s of years…

People believe: but choose to ignore… or … bend and twist what they believe to suit their own aims, goals, wants, needs, pleasures, lifestyles, etc, etc, etc: into new forms of ‘RELIGION’ to fulfil that need!!

Take a look through some of my previous answers…

God bless…Shalom!!

Answer 7

Yes of course. If there is a god, and if that god one day were to appear out of nowhere and make His presence known to us all, I find it hard to think if anyone in the world would deny of his existence.

But of course, the scenerio you proposed is only a hypothesis. It would never happen....

Answer 8

yes i do believe in god, and yes i do think people would not follow god even if they were certain. they might all BELIEVE, but thats not the same as following. not everybody will like the rules god has given and so they will just disobey.

Answer 9

Many of us here follow the path to the best of our abilities, there is no one true way . The answer is with in your self. seek and ye shall find!!

Answer 10

Of course.