Does God Exist? Can you Prove or disprove it?

Question

Many will say proof is in reading the bible. I've read Winnie the Pooh but that doesn't prove there is a 100 Acres Woods. Other's will tell me the mear fact that I am here on earth or that I have children is proof that God exist and yet we know how life is procreated. Prayer and god were not present at conception or delivery. If in the beginning there was Adam and Eve, where are the dinasuars (which we can prove existed).
We know what causes disease and yet we often say that God wanted that person to "come home". Why does it have to be so painful? How can we say that a child was sexually abused and murdered 'cause God needed them in heavin?
Isn't it enough to see that a garden is beautiful without having to believe that there are fairies at the bottom of it too?
We base our belief on what was written and re-written over the centuries and indoctrinate our children, like skinheads teach their children predjudice and other countries teach their children to hate Americans.

Answer 1

Lectio Divina is Latin for “spiritual reading” and represents an early monastic technique of prayer which continues in practice though less widely, intended to achieve communion with God as well as providing special spiritual insights and peace from that experience. It is a way of praying with Scripture that calls one to study, ponder, listen and, finally, pray from God's Word.

History
Lectio Divina was first expressed in the year 220 AD. It was found that to read the Bible profitably it is necessary to do so with attention, consistency and prayer. The systematization of “spiritual reading” into four steps dates back to the 12th century. Around 1150, Guigo II, a Carthusian monk, wrote a book entitled “The Monk’s Ladder” (Scala Claustralium) wherein he set out the theory of the four rungs: reading, meditation, prayer and contemplation. In 2005, Pope Benedict XVI stated, “This is the ladder by which the monks ascend from earth to heaven.”

Method
Lectio is typically practiced daily for one continuous hour. A selection from the Holy Scriptures is chosen ahead of time, often as a daily progression through a particular book of the Bible.

Time
Selecting a time for lectio divina is important. Typical methods are to pray for one hour in the morning, or to divide it into two half-hour periods, one in the morning and one in the evening. The key is to pre-select the time that will be devoted to the prayer, and to keep it. Using the same time every day leads to a daily habit of prayer that becomes highly effective.

Place
The place for prayer is to be free from distractions. This means it should be isolated from other people, telephones, visual distractions, etc. Some find a religious icon to be helpful. The same place should be used for lectio if possible, especially as one first begins to practice it. Familiarity with a location reduces the possibility of distraction away from the prayer. Some practitioners conduct other devotions, such as praying before the Catholic Eucharist, as a preparation for Lectio Divina.

Preparation
Prior to reading, it is important to engage in a transitional activity that takes one from the normal state of mind to a more contemplative and prayerful state. A few moments of deep, regular breathing and a short prayer inviting the Holy Spirit to guide the prayer time helps to set the tone and improve the effectiveness of the lectio.

Once the stage is set it is time to begin the prayer. There are four phases of the prayer, which do not necessarily progress in an ordered fashion. One may move between different phases of the prayer very freely as the Spirit guides.

The Four Moments
Lectio
Read the passage several times.

Meditatio
Reflect on the text of the passage, thinking about how to apply to one's own life. Gravitate to any particular phrase or word that seems to be of particular import. This should not be confused with exegesis, but is a very personal reading of the Scripture and application to one's own life.

Oratio
Respond to the passage by opening the heart to God. This is not primarily an intellectual exercise, but more of the beginning of a conversation with God.

Contemplatio
Listen to God. This is a freeing oneself from one's own thoughts, both mundane and holy. It is about hearing God talk to us. Opening our mind, heart and soul to the influence of God. Any conversation must allow for both sides to communicate, and this most unfamiliar act is allowing oneself to be open to hearing God speak.

Answer 2

No one has proven that God does not exist, yet everyone you ask will tell you what they think and do so in their own reasoning.

The only thing I can add, you already have prejudice against and that is the Holy Bible.

No one is an expert on the matter of, if and or how God exists.

Yet I can only tell you from my close examination of the Holy Bible for the past 27 years, I've come to conclude that according to this book the Almighty God does exist.

I base this findings on Psalm chapter 14, and verse 1: it says; Only fools say in their hearts, "There is no God." They are corrupt, and their actions are evil; no one does good!

And I also accept what it says in: Romans chapter 1, verses 18 thru 25:

But God show his anger from heaven against all sinful wicked people who push the truth away from themselves.
For the truth about God is known to them instinctively, God has put this knowledge in their hearts.

From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God made. They can clearly see his invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God.

Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn't worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. The result was that their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they became utter fools instead.

And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people, or birds and animals and snakes.

From these two bible scriptures I believe that God does truly exist.
Science have discovered and are finding different things talked about in the bible,(Noah's Ark, the dead sea scrolls, the ruins of Sodom and Gomorrah), and they are therefore coming to conclude that God does in fact exist and that the contents written within the bible are reliable.

Over the years I've read and studied enough of the bible to know it isn't just some book that a group of men got together and all of a sudden decided to write. Any intelligent person with logical reasoning know that bible scriptures didn't originate within the mind or heart of man.

I therefore conclude that the bible are the words of the Almighty God who exist within the Heavens above.

Answer 3

You ask powerful questions and I believe you are right not to blindly follow imitations of the past. However, there is scientific proof that God exists. Not all scientists ackowledge this proof, but many do. The proof lies in opposites. For example, we know that the story of Winne the Pooh exists. We have ample evidence. We may not know, however, the author of the story, but that the book was written is proof of an author. It could not have been written if there was not an author.

The existence of a building is proof of a builder just as a painting is proof of a painter. Adam and Eve were not the first human beings on Earth, but rather, the first human beings to know that they were created ... and therefore, there must be a Creator. Call It/Him/Her what you will ~ a rose by any other name is still a rose. The proof is solid.

www.bahai.org

Answer 4

when that person tells you that the proof is you being here, they are right. How did we all get here? we just didn't poof from the sky. How do you know that God wasn't in the delivery room? Just cause you can't see him, doesn't mean he wasn't there. The air we breathe. We don't see it, does that mean it doesn't exist? Like George Burns said, A guy told him that he didn't believe in God, he believes in the big bang theory and George asked him, well who do you think lit the fuse?

As for children getting hurt and God not doing anything about it, he gave us all free will. We may not like it all the time but without free will, we will all just be drones and then what is the point of our existance? When people say that God called that child in pain home, he did because he wanted to end their suffering. God created the people that made the laws that protect the victims, that is why we have jails and prisons. God isn't allowing all of this to happen, When it does happen, it's because the court either didn't do their job to protect or the pedifiles just didn't get caught.

Answer 5

There's a creation... there must be a creator. The books in the bible have always been accepted as a collection of historical works. The book of Pooh has always been accepted as a creative work of fiction. The bible has withstood the persecution of many on many occasions and is still considered (officially, I might add) as a great historical work. The bible has been written and translated, not rewritten. Also, read the book of Job for your descriptions of dinosaurs and other creatures. And, yes, there is pain in the world. I could try and explain it to you, but I can already guess that you wouldn't appreciate my take on it. I'm not trying to take away from the fact that your questions (tough ones at that) are real. It's just that the answers I would have to offer are not easy to swallow for many. So, if these things really bother you, I hope you seek the truth out and I also hope that you find it.

Answer 6

I don't think the proof is in the Bible, I think your argument is flawed right there. You atheists put too much faith into contradicting the Bible and it seems like you guys think all the religions in the world were derived from that book....

It's just book filled with stories, written by men and not God. Men are flawed and bias.

Why does death have to be so painful? ...do you prefer that it tickles? Life on earth can't be perfect, if it was there would be no reason for heaven. There has to be a balance...that is the point. Besides, God does not interfere with the goings on of humans. He gave us free will, we choose to use it in different ways.

You shouldn't reject God just because of some book....that is sad.

*What dues ex machine said made no sense, sure we can't prove whether he exists or not, that is true, but:
"his existence is highly improbable based on the observable evidence." ...that was the most ignorant thing I've ever read, you just contradicted yourself.

Not to mention the fact that there is no evidence disproving God...I think we would have heard about it.

and evolution? no, not proof if that's what you were thinking. God could have planned evolution. Some people need to open their minds and read a book.

Answer 7

I do believe tat God exists. Have you ever had a very close call and narrowly escaped serious injury or even death? There had to be a larger more powerful forcr that gave you protection. I can prove that the Bible is true. It is used as a road map to almost every atchelogical dig ever done. Without the Bible alot of things found would not have been found.A part of being a christian is belief , Belief that God exists and helps us through the hard time of life. There is plenty of proof that Jesus was born and died and rose again, do you believe in Jesus? There are those that say the Bible has been changed in the years of writing I do not believe this as this all God inspired words. There is a place that says That people will be punished to the third and fourth generations. Does it sound fair maybe not but it is what God says. I love the Lord and fully believe on Him and know that He carries me through the hard times . In fact I can honestly say I find it a special privelege to be tested for God only tests those that are His own.May God watch over you and yours and may you find it in your heart to believe that He does exixts it is a big part of faith.

Answer 8

We can prove dinosaurs existed, because we have bones in the dirt. That is excellent evidence for the existence for dinosaurs. That is in no way proof that God does not exist. Nor does it prove that they lived over 6000 years ago. I know how fossils are dated.
As to disease and sexual perversion of some, this is also no proof that God does not exist. But this is what we should expect in a world that has fallen to sin. Death, destruction, disease, rape, murder and war is all normal behavior for a world in sin. God created a perfect world-disobedience to God caused sin to enter the world and corrupt all things, including man, animals, weather and so on. You forget original sin here. Nothing is supposed to work right.
People saying that God called a baby home, or a victim of a crime, or auto wreck is unfortunately a misguided statement by those who want the grieving to feel better. I agree that it is nonsense, but it does help some. God does not call people home. Death, due to sin, claims them. It happens to everyone. Now, God may rescue the souls of those who are innocent. But, he does not take a babies life because he wanted that baby in heaven. God does not work that way.

Answer 9

Does the fact that knives have been used to murder prove that no one designed them? Is the use of jet aircraft to drop bombs in time of war evidence that they had no designer? Or is it rather the use to which these are being put that is causing grief to mankind?
Is it not true that much desease is a result of mans own poor living habits and his spoiling of enviroment for himself and others? Are not wars fought by humans a major cause of human suffering? Is it not also true that while millions suffer from lack of food, there is more than enough in other lands, so that one of the underlying problems is human greed? All these things give evidence, not that there is a God , but that humans are sadly misusing there God-given abilities and the earth itself.
When we see a camera, a radio or a computer , we readily acknowledge that it must have been produced by an intelligent designer. Would it be reasonable, then, to say that far more complex things- the eye, the ear, and the human brain- did not originate with an intelligent Designer.GOD!
Romans chapter 1 verse 20-23 in the Bible says these interesting things: "His invisble qualities are clearly seen from the worlds creation onward, because they are perceived by the things made, even his eternal power and Godship, so that they are inexcusable, because , although they knew God, they did not glorify him as god ,nor did they thank him, but they became emptyheaded in their reasonings and their unintelligent heart became darkened. Although asserting they were wise , they became foolish and turned the glory of the incoruptible God into something like the image of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed creatures and creeping things"

God does not want anyone to die rather he wants us to have life here on earth in a Padadise as the earth was originally designed to be. The reason for it not to be a paradise yet is beacause of a dispute between God and his Adversary " Satan". god has allowed Satan to mislead people for awhile (Genesis 3:15). It seems as he has succeeded very well until now.But do not be misled God will take over and make this earth a paradise, this is the reason why he send his only begotten son to this earth to give his life as a ransom sacrifice so that we through him can gain everlasting life. Jesus is the resurection and life. John 17:3 mentions : "This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true god, and of the one whom you send forth, jesus Christ."
A good sugestion to you , to get a grasp of the"heavenly" dispute going on between God and Satan , please read the Book of Job in the Hebrew scriptures or the old testament.And notice please that Job did not know where his troubles came from.But God had allowed him to be tested by satan . Likewise today , we mistakenly blame God for all the bad things in the world when it is actually Satan and his wicked spirit forces that are to blame. There is nothing evil or bad in God , God wants only good for us . GOD IS LOVE!

Answer 10

Yes god exists!!!! In your question you say we know how life is procreated, in the beginning there was Adam and Eve, and you say prayer and god were not present at conception or delivery.

The Bible says Adam was created from the dust of the earth. Eve was created from Adam's rib. Procreation came from God's insight for Adam and Eve to multiply.

God and prayer were there before conception and has always been there at delivery. How else could a woman stand so much pain??????????

Answer 11

No one can prove or disprove the existence of god as described in the bible.

Quite simply no one knows. So, some people think it is better to believe that god exists. It is called faith. You believe without the need for any proof.

The truth is that belief in god does not make you any better, happier, sadder.

Non -believer and believers both feel the same pain when they lose someone close to them, they feel the same joy when they achieve something worthwhile.

I think we need to stop asking about the existence of god and start loving each other. If your god stops you from loving someone ditch that god. That god is evil that stops you from loving other human beings.