How do you know a God exists when you have never met him/her/it?

Question

Why do most people believe in God when they have no proof of his/her/its existence?

Answer 1

Nobody knows, regardless of what they claim. The people who say "How do you know I exist or Africa exists" are indulging in a cheap logical fallacy, as neither the existence of another person or continent is inconsistent with what we do know about reality; in fact to deny those things is the logically absurd position.

The existence of an invisible deity with powers and abilities far beyond those of any Superman is at best unnecessary and at worst completely ridiculous. Does anyone really believe in the existence of Superman? If not, why do you insist that something orders of magnitude more incredible must exist?

Answer 2

It's what we call faith. Most members of the human race can't find a reason to NOT believe in a power greater than mankind. Science has tried to prove it from both platforms. The jury is stil out and we may never have 'concrete' proof.
I, for one, believe in a Deity. That is my choice, as it is for those who don't believe in such. The choice is up to us. No one has ever come back from death to confirm or denign.
Checking the timeline of this planet, time was lost for a brief moment, which some researcher say they have found an explaination for in the Bible. Again, it's our choice to take what they say as truth or some agenda to fit the need for an answer.
This is a question that has been going on for thousands of years
and I think it shall continue. We just don't know and that's the fun of it all.

Answer 3

It always has to be looked at suspiciously when religious people use science, or more specifically, a scientist to help prove their point. They are the ones that always complain that you can't believe someone when their opinion doesn't fit with religion. Yet, according to Theis, these scientists are right on target, because they back up a God. Most of the time when these scientists speak you have to understand they are speaking of a non-supernatural God, which would not be Yahweh, which is the God that most of you are debating the existence of. My point being, it is not fair to claim scientists are right solely when they agree with your point or when their argument fits your own. This is not the way science is set up.

I myself do not believe in a supernatural being. I have as much right as any of you to believe what I want, and this is it. I base my choice on faith. Faith that there is not a God. If faith is an ok reason to accept the existence then be that fact it is as good of a reason to believe he doesn't exist.

I feel that the Yahweh you are all refering to when you talk about God is not a very old God. The earth being about 3.6 billion years old and the Old Testament being written perhaps 12,000 years ago? I am just estimating, plus it would probably be older than that, but just for discussion let's say that age. Perhaps, add a few more thousand years for the fact it may have been passed down through verbal communication and not written down. Well since people believe that God allows those that worship and believe into heaven, don't you find it strange that he would allow Man to believe for about a hundred million years before he showed himself to them in a book? Those that lived before The Old Testament would be commited to hell by the sheer fact that there was no Yahweh around for them to worship. That is why the bible talks about Jesus' venture into Hell to rescue the souls of those that were unfortunate enough to live before he died for their sins. To find more information on this you could read Dante's Inferno, which I suggest as a great read.

To conclude, we are all equally right to believe or not believe as we choose. I find a little more questioning in my belief than most do, but to believe in a God is a very big concept to believe whole heartidly, especially there is no physical proof, not to say that there is physical proof that he doesn't exist. Make sure that you come to your own conclussion without being forced into it and feel confident that it is your decision, because no one, with no stance on either side is more appropriate to make the decision of existence than the individual.

Shake off all the fears of servile prejudices, under which weak minds are servilely crouched. Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call on her tribunal for every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason than that of blindfolded fear. -Thomas Jefferson

Answer 4

What do you consider proof? Only what you can personally see or touch? How do you know George Washington existed? Did you ever meet him? What would you accept as proof that he did exist? If you think through this, I think you will see that if atheistic reasons for denying the existence of GOd were applied to other firgures such as Washington we would have to deny him as well. Nobody always believes only what can be emprically proven. A person cannot prove empirically that they have a brain. There is evidence, not empirical proof. But if you want evidence, there were over 500 eyewitnesses to the resurrection. What the atheist has to do is prove these witnesses were somehow liars, decieved, or lunatics. But without any real historical evidence for that, to deny their eyewitness account would also incriminate Washington.

Answer 5

Your assumption is 100% wrong. I have all the proof I need to know that there is a God.

What I don't understand is why people like you feel it's not enough to believe God doesn't exist, but you also need to try to convince people who DO believe in God that God doesn't exist. I find that extremely annoying. I don't go around trying to convince atheists that God exists.

Answer 6

You never met Julius Caesar, Napolean Bonaparte, Genghis Kahn, Teddy Roosevelt or Enrico Caruso.
Does that mean they never existed?
"Ah!" you will say, "there is proof of there existance."
Ah, indeed.
A report, some years ago, in the New York Journal-American:
“Eight of the nation’s outstanding men of science were asked to give their views on this question:
Do scientists believe in God ?
One of the eight, Wernher von Braun:
“Anything as well ordered and perfectly created as our earth and universe must have a Maker, a master designer. Anything so orderly, so perfect, so precisely balanced, so majestic as this creation …..can only be the product of a Divine Idea.
There must be a Maker; there can be no other way.”

Another of the eight, Dr. William Swann, an authority on cosmic radiation:
“Viewing the universe as a whole, I cannot escape the fact that it is of intelligent design. The universe shows the same kind of efficiency of planning ….as an engineer strives to achieve, in his smaller undertakings.”

Dr. Warren Weaver, mathematician:
“Every new discovery of science is a further revelation of the order that God has built into His universe.”
The report concluded:
“From these answers, one basic concept shows up clearly:
Some Divine Power, beyond control of man, has shaped the universe.”
The report concluded:
“From these answers, one basic concept shows up clearly:
Some Divine Power, beyond control of man, has shaped the universe.”

Answer 7

To start with a simplistic analogy - Why do you believe in such a thing as wind? Because you can see the results of it's effects.

You can see God's creation. AND you can read God's Word. Did you know that the bible is full of prophecy that has been fulfilled. It speaks for itself. But if that weren't enough the bible, which is God's holy Word has been proved through archeology.

If you are interested in learning more about God and about bible study, or if you have other questions along this line, feel free to email me.

Answer 8

It's all faith and belief. Do you see air or gravity? No, but you know it's there because you need it. People, like myself, know we need God in our lives, so we just know he is there. Look around too. Look at how amazing this world is. Trees, rivers, oceans, all the animals, and the people. None of this was an accident, it was all created by God.

Faith allows you to see what others can't. You just have to have faith!

Answer 9

But I have 'met' and 'seen' Him. You are simply thinking 'inside the box' of a human mind and physical body...which is natural as we are human. I've ' see ' Him through a felt hug to my heart, compassion through hard times, a loving 'good talking to ' when I need it...I refer to this knowingness as Soul speech or Soul language. It's not spoken in verbal words yet is very much 'heard' and communicated soul to soul. Keep listening to your soul within and you'll 'hear' or "see" Him. It's just a ' knowingness '...you'll know.

Answer 10

I almost slipped into a coma and was very ill for a few years the doctor still doesnt know how I healed so fast, I know it was my faith in Christ. There are days when I dont know where my next meal will come from but due to my faith in Him, I dont have to worry. I have something to share with you below