Is it IMPOSSIBLE to prove of disprove the existence of God?

Question

By definition, God exists beyond the realm of human understanding. To me, that means mere humans would be incapable of either proving or disproving His existence.

Please chime in with your thoughts, but throughout history some of the greatest minds of all time have failed at this task, and that is why the terms 'faith' and 'belief' seem so appropriate to me.

Answer 1

People claim he exists. Those who make the positive assertion, "God exists", have the burden of proof resting squarely upon THEIR shoulders. Those who take the negative stance (negative meaning disagreeing or skeptical) are on solid philosophical ground. Skepticism is the default position and is justified until those who assert a positive stance can provide proof for their stance.

If every assertion were accepted as true until proven false, we would be required to believe in every delusion, flight of fancy, imaginary creature, etc etc. If I proposed that there was an invisible teapot orbiting Mars and that you would just have to accept my proposal on faith until you can prove it wrong... how would you respond? You would tell me that I had to prove it first and that you were in no way required to believe in my teapot until it was proven to exist.

The United States system of justice works in quite the same way. "Innocent until proven guilty". The accused is considered innocent of the crime they allegedly committed until damning evidence proves beyond a reasonable doubt demonstrates their guilt. Likewise, we must NOT believe until evidence demonstrates the existence of your deity (or any deity).

Answer 2

By YOUR definition, that is what god is, and yeah, that's the popular definition...

But the truth is that there is no consensus on exactly who god is, what he is made of, where he is, how he is, where he came from, if he is a he, a she, neither or both, and so on ad nauseum.

Some people think that the universe is god and everything in it is a part of god, and so therefore we are all god.

But yeah, it's impossible to prove or disprove god.

But does it really matter? There are any number of things that can neither be proved nor disproved. The innumerable gods throughout history, pink monkeys dancing on Pluto, even fairies and leprechauns...

That's why we apply belief to that which there is real evidence for. Anything else we believe because we want to, we were taught to, or we have a psychological need to fulfill.

Answer 3

It all depends upon what level of proof you are demanding. If you mean the type of proof that is allowed to decide a case in a court room then No, it's not impossible to prove the existence of God.

This link http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/jesus/greenleaf.html goes to a paper by Simon Greenleaf. Greenleaf, one of the principle founders of the Harvard Law School, originally set out to disprove the biblical testimony concerning the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He was certain that a careful examination of the internal witness of the Gospels would dispel all the myths at the heart of Christianity. But this legal scholar came to the conclusion that the witnesses were reliable, and that the resurrection did in fact happen.

While it is written to prove the testimony regarding Jesus if you look at how the case is laid out you can see what I mean about it being possible to "prove" the existence of God.

Answer 4

The reality of God is one that lies within each human being. No one can disprove or prove God exisits. To the Christians (myself) the reality of God comes from Faith. Faith is an inner quality that defies all proof and reason. To an atheist God doesnt exist because they can explain or justify, the existance of life and body wiith science rather than spirituality. The bottom line is, until we are dead and gone, we wont for certain be able to prove either way. For me God is real, God is apart of me, apart of my life, that is my faith, yours may be different, it doesnt matter where the proof lies, the truth will be known one day....

Answer 5

God can mean several things actually. Some people consider God as the natural laws of our universe rather than an omnipotent being. God can be also interpreted as our human desires, hopes, emotions, and etc.
But in terms of the Christian God, yes, it is impossible to actually scientifically say that God does not exist.

Answer 6

It's not impossible to prove or disprove; it's impossible to get everyone to believe you even if you're right. Not to say God exists or does not exist; I'm just trying to answer the question.

In response to what ZERO COOL said, many classic western philisophers (i.e. Rene Descartes, Thomas Aquinas) believe in the existence of God, and even use logic to prove the existence of God, so the "positive stance" is also backed by "solid philosophical ground."

Mirage: I simply said the claims of the existence of God are also backed by solid philosophical ground. Sure the negative stance is backed by philosophical ground, but so is the positive. If you disagree, then where does the negative stance get its philosophical ground? Of course, philosophers. I wouldn't think being "on solid philosophical ground" means conceptualized by someone other than a philosopher. And I am also agnostic.

I'm sure any "solid philosophical ground" can be argued against, zero cool. You say his logic is nonsensical, but you write of Aquinas' lack of metaphysics. If you read Aquinas, you'd know his five logical reasons as to why God exist, which make no reference to any "personality traits" of God. These five reasons concern logic, not metaphysics.

For example, the argument from movement, causality, relative perfection, etc.

Answer 7

Impossible......I believe almost any thing is possible. impossible, like death,
no one can bring them physcially back to life.
Our Bible, was not written by god, it was written by people. However, alot of us believe in the Holy Bible, and even in court...we swear on the bible, to tell the truth under God.
I agree with you, God exists in our hearts and mind....which gives us faith, belief, hope and everything. I pray to God, and if it is for something, that I should not be praying to him about. I pray to "Rudie", because God is busy taking care of more important things. Silly, it seems I know.
God.was the creator and ruler of the universe, a Supreme Being, as explained in the dictionary. and when aked or prayed for something its like god sent.....I truly believe there is something there! I cannot see it, but I feel it.
Many people do not believe in God, and I feel that is fine, it is their life and each to choose what they want to believe in, or what they do not beleive in.
You use the word faith....I have a writing on my refrigtor...it says
Have Faith! God will remove the obstacles! " for we walk by faith, not by sight.
its in bible...11 cor.5:7
Yes, faith and belief are totally appropriate.....I cannot prove the existence of God. However, I believe and have faith.
Good question........interesting. It does seems like the easiest to say God created the universe.......however, as the years go by, and we get older and wiser, and our children grow up, theirs grow up....the answers will be found.
You really have me so interested in this now, I am going to do real research.
Thank you for your question.

Answer 8

God could prove or disprove his own existence. So yes, it IS possible. But only if there truly is a God.

BwwaHaHAHAHA!

Answer 9

i don't believe because i don't see

unless god comes down himself, I HIGHLY DOUBT THAT, it is imposibble to prove the existence of god, because the definition people have given of god seems very superficial, i have to disagree on the assumption that god is in the form of a person, has human representation- the 20% of me believes in an abstract and complex source of light- i hate calling it god because it makes it sound like a person, but i don't believe in a supreme BEING

Answer 10

Quatum physics allows for the existence of God. While this doesn't prove His existence (because it simply says that He can exist and not that He does exist), it does discredit any absolutes people might give of His nonexistence.