can you understand god is real by intellectual reasoning, or can you only know he is real in your heart?

Answer 1

You can understand he's real with your mind.

You can only love him with your heart.

Think about your own loved ones: what does it really mean to be intellectually convinced that they exist? Not much. What counts is your loving relationship with them.

Answer 2

THE FOUR METHODS OF ACQUIRING
KNOWLEDGE
There are only four accepted methods of comprehension - that is to say, the realities of things are understood by these four methods.
The first method is by the senses - that is to say, all that the eye, the ear, the taste, the smell, the touch perceive is understood by this method. Today this method is considered the most perfect by all the European philosophers: they say that the principal method of gaining knowledge is through the senses; they consider it supreme, although it is imperfect, for it commits errors. For example, the greatest of the senses is the power of sight. The sight sees the mirage as water, and it sees images reflected in mirrors as real and existent; large bodies which are distant appear to be small, and a whirling point appears as a circle. The sight believes the earth to be motionless and sees the sun in motion, and in many similar cases it makes mistakes. Therefore, we cannot trust it.
The second is the method of reason, which was that of the ancient philosophers, the pillars of wisdom; this is the method of the understanding. They proved things by reason and held firmly to logical proofs; all their arguments are arguments of reason. Notwithstanding this, they differed greatly, and their opinions were contradictory. They even changed their views - that is to say, during twenty years they would prove the existence of a thing by logical arguments, and afterward they would deny it by logical arguments - so much so that Plato at first logically proved the immobility of the earth and the movement of the sun; later by logical arguments he proved that the sun was the stationary center, and that the earth was moving. Afterward the Ptolemaic theory was spread abroad, and the idea of Plato was entirely forgotten, until at last a new observer again called it to life. Thus all the mathematicians disagreed, although they relied upon arguments of reason. In the same way, by logical arguments, they would prove a problem at a certain time, then afterward by arguments of the same nature they would deny it. So one of the philosophers would firmly uphold a theory for a time with strong arguments and proofs to support it, which afterward he would retract and contradict by arguments of reason. Therefore, it is evident that the method of reason is not perfect, for the differences of the ancient philosophers, the want of stability and the variations of their opinions, prove this. For if it were perfect, all ought to be united in their ideas and agreed in their opinions.
The third method of understanding is by tradition - that is, through the text of the Holy Scriptures - for people say, "In the Old and New Testaments, God spoke thus." This method equally is not perfect, because the traditions are understood by the reason. As the reason itself is liable to err, how can it be said that in interpreting the meaning of the traditions it will not err, for it is possible for it to make mistakes, and certainty cannot be attained. This is the method of the religious leaders; whatever they understand and comprehend from the text of the books is that which their reason understands from the text, and not necessarily the real truth; for the reason is like a balance, and the meanings contained in the text of the Holy Books are like the thing which is weighed. If the balance is untrue, how can the weight be ascertained?
Know then: that which is in the hands of people, that which they believe, is liable to error. For, in proving or disproving a thing, if a proof is brought forward which is taken from the evidence of our senses, this method, as has become evident, is not perfect; if the proofs are intellectual, the same is true; or if they are traditional, such proofs also are not perfect. Therefore, there is no standard in the hands of people upon which we can rely.
But the bounty of the Holy Spirit gives the true method of comprehension which is infallible and indubitable. This is through the help of the Holy Spirit which comes to man, and this is the condition in which certainty can alone be attained.
(`Abdu'l-Baha: Some Answered Questions, Pages: 297-299)

Answer 3

That is a debate still going among some Christian philosophers, but I would say there are good cases to be made for both as legitimate pathways to knowing.

My own take on this issue is that to take either pathway in isolation is a mistake. If God exists and is the author of all else that exists, using the capacities of both the mind and the heart would seem to be what has been intended... while many Christian ministries, for example, have done remarkably well in reaching people in the second form, I admit they've largely not placed enough priority in cultivating the mind to develop a rich, holistic faith you can take to the streets and be reasonable about.

Some of that may be due to the fact that so many in the West have become lazy in their imagination.. we are tube-fed imaginative images for us... we would rather not think... we'd rather be entertained. We would fault a movie or even a movie-watcher for being much too "analytical" for entertainment's purpose.. People (especially young people) seem to see Church in a similar way.

The good news is there is still ample literature and .mp3 audio on the web to read of some great theistic thinkers. This is what I've devoted the last 3-4 years of my life to, and plan on making it an academic career in philosophy of religion. =)

Answer 4

No, but I can understand that God is real by intellectual reasoning and by the heart.

Answer 5

Both. Logically, for every creation there must be a creator. For every cell there must've been a pre existing cell and matter is not created nor destroyed. This in itself is contradictory. That would mean cells have been around forever and that they could infinitely be traced back and that God didn't create the first one :-S In our cells, polypeptide chains consisting of a sequence of 500 anti codons match perfectly with their codons to form a protein. It's amazing, and too much of a coincidence to credit "Mother Nature" for. In the end, it's all down to what's in our hearts though. To Atheists science is their "god". It's what they abide by and what governs their beliefs. I believe science as it coincides with God's existence.

Einstein, the "smartest man ever," and "man of the century" (Time Magazine), who made the greatest strives in science (splitting the atom, E=MC2 etc) himself, acknowledged the existence of a higher power. An intelligent designer is the most plausible explantion for this world's countless phenomenas. It would be arrogant, foolish, and take a lot more blind "faith" to believe that we evolved from fungii, that black men are inferior to white (Darwin's theory) and that all the astounding accuracy and precision is a coincidence. (Just for one miracle alone the likelihood of it happening is 1/1^950) Science doesn't provide the explanation I'm looking for and in the end they all have ungrounded theories as to creation and existence (the one thing explained clearly through God).

Peace and God bless.

Answer 6

the proof is in the pudding, eh?

We know He is real, by the fact that He has revealed Himself to us, and called us out. The only thing that just knowledge can point out, is the fact that we have hardly any knowledge at all.

You cannot intellectually understand the unknowable, unreasonable existence of God. It is a mystery to all men. Believers and unbelievers alike.

Answer 7

Intellectual reasoning says don't believe in anything that isn't supported by viable evidence so no, you won't believe in God on purely rational grounds, although some intellectually dishonest Christians will try and argue otherwise.

Answer 8

The only way you can understand GOD is by being born of the Water and of the Spirit. It's the Spirit that gives life because your intellectual flesh profits nothing! You must have a personal relationship with him and that's by accepting the atoning blood sacrifice from his Son Jesus Christ who died for your sins.

Peace,

Hope

Answer 9

You can understand he is real with your mind, but you can only love him with your heart. Only by accepting Christ into your heart can you be saved from damnation. Its a combination of both- knowing and believing that God is real without needing factual proof. The proof is there, though... look at the miracles around you.

Answer 10

In this day and time, you have to know he is real in your heart because today's intellectual reasoning doesnt allow you to believe.