How are we supposed to believe in God if He offers no proof of His existence?

Question

...and please don't tell me about events that supposedly happened 2 to 6 thousand years ago. If He exists why would God not make himself known to modern man? Would he rather billions of good people go to hell than make himself known?

so faith and calling me stupid...good answers guys!

Answer 1

He has. The Bible is still around today. Written by 40 different men over 1500 years from all walks of life. It is clear that he has revealed Himself today.

Answer 2

He does make himself known to modern man. He has made himself known to me. What I did--if you are really interested in an answer to your question--was pray for faith and for God to reveal himself to me.

He gave me faith, and he did reveal himself.

About your "Don't tell me about events that supposedly happened 2 to 6 thousand years ago" thing, does this mean that you don't believe in evolution because of events that supposedly happened billions of years ago? I am not arguing for or against evolution...I am just pointing out that some evolutionists tend to rely on speculation about what happened billions of years ago but like to dismiss as "too old" the historical DOCUMENTS that are collected in the Bible.

"Good people" don't go to hell, by the way.

Answer 3

"Faith" is a weak response to such a question. My observation is that people need to believe in a God to justify the things they can't understand. A friend who shows up deserves faith, or a mentor, someone who helps guide you when you are lost, deserves faith. "Faith" isn't only rooted in belief w/out proof. Faith also develops directly with proof, when someone comes through. God doesn't do this. God has no foundation for deserving faith. An echo from thousands of years ago, when various men wrote explanations of what was then misunderstood, is not current proof. If anything, technology should give God more ways to contact us - not less. If the smarter we get, the less we need God, then perhaps we've out grown him, and God has moved on. Even if God exists, he doesn't show up. Even if God exists, he hasn't earned any faith. We put faith in the people we trust, who have earned it. I'll have faith when God shows up and does something worthy of my trust.

Answer 4

Hi, BC,

This is too short a forum for a detailed discussion, but conceptually here are some things to consider in framing the question:

Overall, what way would you think that God should make himself known?

That's a tough question. People are all different, and we all also have different standards of inquiry -- i.e., the requirements to be met before we agree that something as true.

(Based on our temperaments, what is proof to one person and worth their investment is not convincing to someone else.)

Another question: Is a relationship with God simply based on observing evidence of Him? If God did show that He existed in a way we found acceptable, would that necessarily make us want to be in a relationship with him / become his disciple -- or would it take something additional to win that level of commitment from us?

What if we didn't like the God we discovered -- would we still accept him, or would we reject him?

Likewise, has God met anyone's standards in making himself known to modern man? (He has... and while this doesn't "prove" the validity of God, it does highlight the difference in human perspective.)

And does God actually want "billions of people to go to hell"? is this a true statement? What rules do you think should be used to determine which people would be separated from God?

I don't have a short answer to your question, because it contains a number of implicit assumptions that not everyone is in agreement with (whether right or wrong).

It definitely seems that, by your standards, God doesn't measure up.

I am also not sure what information I could provide to you about God (based only on my own perceptions and experience -- i.e., ultimately subjective) that would meet your standards of approval, which seem to be fixed right now.

This could be a problem, since the other approach is of course to review the standards and see if they reasonably need to be modified in some way.

Answer 5

God does not show Himself because He does not want to taint our Freewill or Realistic Natures.If He came to Earth and walked around with us in physical presence there would be snipers because of our freewill nature that provokes some people to hate.If He proved His powers and existance from a spiritual invisible place then we would be a confused,sorry bunch of kiss-asses that could only beg Him for gifts and TRY our hardest to LOVE everything around us to impress Him and show Him how good we are but that would be fake and He'd know how fake some of our attempts were because He is Omnipresent,which means even His eyes and powers are buried deep in our souls.In this absolute knowledge of His existance we would completely lose our Freewill only to become a people that would feel persecuted by an all powerful being for feeling a little discernment about other peoples ways or opinions,about having an intense sexual experience without embarrassment of how intense,a day that things happen that piss you off without feeling the PAIN of ABSOLUTELY HAVING TO SMILE THROUGH YOUR ANGERS AGONY and if it defeated you then having feelings of resentment towards an all powerful being would bring torchure to you because you're face to face with your Creator and cannot let your rage out.You would always feel like someone was watching you and,believe me,that is no good at all.We could'nt explore our world the way He wants us to.

Answer 6

Does it really ring your soul bell to think that such an entity NEEDS anything from anyone? To need would show imperfection...need is a human illusion only. Soooo, God does not need for anyone to believe in Him/Her...they know Who You Are & where you come from...it's YOU who doesn't at this moment...and that's perfect-ly o.k...it serves it's purpose for your lifetime here.

You will live your life, as you see fit, with the knowledge you grasp, and the truths you find, and what feels good to you....and then go Home...as everyone else will.

Now, if you see that knowing Who You Are in reality, is of importance to you, then seek such, however, your eyes & ears can deceive...to find the "unseen" trueness, you have to listen to your innerds...that little voice that says "Now that makes sense"...hold onto those bits & simply leave the rest...move on with that feeling & knowing & keep an openness for more...it will come...no worries! Good Journey!

Answer 7

Psalms 19 says the heavens are testimony, and the fact that the sun rises and sets each day shows that HE IS, and I believe that. I can see the sun come up in the morning and know He is there, I can know it in my heart. That is something else, God plants that longing in your heart, the one that tells you there is more, that it's not all over when the fat lady sings, there is more. And that "something else" is eternal life and God Himself, your heart tells you that He is a loving father, that He created you out of love, that He has compassion on you, and He doesn't want you to be lost.

Answer 8

The Psalms say that the heavens declare His glory; the skies show the wonders of His hand. The intricate, intelligent design of the universe is there shouting God's existence, for all to see if they will only look.

Think about DNA, the complexity of the eye, the ozone layer, etc., as just a few examples of God calling to us, "I am here. I designed you."

Answer 9

God does offer his proof of existence ---when miracles happen--and thats how he makes himself known to modern man and also when Jesus was grown God spoke to Jesus to tell the king of Egypt to let his people go. God would NOT rather let billions of good people fo to hell then make himself known----how i know because he sacrificed his only son, Jesus, so that all people sins will beforgiven.

Answer 10

I understand where you are coming from, it is very hard to believe in God, when he's not right in front of your face.

I assure you though, believe. I think God made his word clear ages ago, he has faith that people will either choose him, or not, that is the great thing about freewill. He gives us the opportunity to choose him, or not.

Try this, if you spend your entire life following what he wants and loving the person that he is for creating you and you die and go to heaven, think about all you gained. And if he does not exist in the end when you die? what did you lose? nothing, because your dead and there is no afterlife.

Believing in, following, and loving God, not only rationally makes sense, but it helps you and the rest of humanity.

Answer 11

Living here on earth is God's training ground for us to be filtered and only those who are chosen will live with HIm forever.

Modern Age like right now rejects what is written in the bible thats why you say that He is not known. Science rejects creation in bible.

And, if He will just show up, and do kindness, grant everyones prayer right away, how can we have Faith?

Faith does have a great price, anyone agree?