what evidence?

Question

in response to my last question someone said "Hebrews 11:1-Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
it says "EVIDENCE of things not seen"
so what is this evidence, can you touch it, smell it, hear it, taste it, or can we only detect it with instruments like a geiger counter or phenolphtalien?

faith is 1.21 jigawatts

Answer 1

Apparently the word "evidence" means something different to christians.
Evidence has basis in reality and truth.
Mythological beings like god or leprechauns on the other hand, are based in imagination. Nothing more.

Answer 2

There is plenty of evidence. There are many more sources than just the Bible that we can rely on (although the Bible is more than sufficient on it's own).

1. Geography
2. Texts
3. Toponymy
4. Archaeology

Geography- If you study the geography of Israel you would see how it affected the settlement patterns, routes of travel commerce, econmy, politics and thus the history of that time. The geography of the Biblical Israel confirms what we read in the Bible.

Texts- There are extra-biblical texts (texts outside the Bible) that also confirm what is written in scripture. Egyptian sources are primarily from the 2nd millenium BCE. There are 4 types.
1) Expedition journal and topographical lists- example is Thutmose III.
2) Literary papyri-example, Journey of Sinuhe
3) Execration texts- 2 sets (ursing)
4) Coorespondance archives- El Amarna letters
Other Extra Biblical texts include Mesopotamian sources, from Syria the Ebla texts, from Transjordan the Mesha Stele, from Israel the Tel Dan inscription.
Also look at authors like the famous historian Josephus, Tacitus, Pliny the younger, Julius Africanus, and the Talmud.

Toponymy- the study of place names. If you study the cities and other names in the Bible you will see that they have the Principles of Location which prove they really did exist. Those are:
1) Near a water source.
2) Defensible.
3) Continuity of the name through the centuries.
4) It fits with the geography described in the text.
5) Check data from archaelogical surveys.
No one would settle in a place that did not have these Principles of Location.

Archaeology- If we dig in Israel and find ancient sites that are consistent with where the Bible said we would find them, that shows the Bible's history and geography are accurate. One prominate archaeologist carefully examined Luke's references to 32 countries, 54 cities, and 9 islands, finding not a single mistake. These are only some sites that have been excavated: The Pool of Bethesda in John 5:1-15, the Pool of Siloam from John 9:7, Jacob's well from John 4:12, even Pontius Pilate's identity has been confirmed by archaeology! John McRay PH. D. was asked if he had ever encountered an archaeological finding that blatantly contravene a New Testament reference he responded, "Archaeology has nto produced anything that is unequivocally a contradiction to the Bible. On the contrary, there have been many opinions of skeptical scholars that have become codified into 'fact' over the years but that archaeology has shown to be wrong."

Answer 3

Things unseen cannot be touched, heard or smelled. Their proof is in their result. I'll give you an example in the proof for the existence of Jesus:

The only proof for the existence of Jesus is the result of His coming. You can prove the existence of a cause by the result. From an obscure part of Galilee, a new religion was born, whose spiritual impulse made many thousands sacrifice their property, lives and family members in the cause of one "Jesus of Nazareth". People who had spent their lives worshipping stone statues, Roman and Greek gods and goddesses, who had believed that might was right and one's own interests came first; these people were transformed by a new message called Christianity. They became benefactors of the poor, upholders of justice, opposers of war and bloodshed. This spiritual impulse does not come from a fabrication or a non-existent founder. It comes from a real individual, whom those followers loved.

This is not just a proof that Jesus existed, but it proves that He was the Messiah, the Logos, the eternal Christ which appears in every age, the Return of Noah, Abraham and Moses. The same can be said of Muhammad. He too transformed the lives of thousands of ignorant pagans, who considered women as nothing, who loved bloodshed and cruelty. They became a community where justice reigned, where women's rights were upheld, where the poor received charity, where science flourished at a time when Europe was in the Dark Ages. This proves that Muhammad existed and that Muhammad was the Messiah, the Logos, the eternal Christ returned again.

The same can be said of Baha'u'llah, the Manifestation of God for this day and age. He too has created a community which is the most diverse on the whole planet, where people of formerly opposing creeds, races and nationalities have come together, where a community structure has been built that could never have otherwise been imagined. Baha'u'llah is the same Logos, the same Christ, returned in the Glory of the Father, in fulfilment of all past Dispensations. The Bible is not required to prove either the truth of Jesus, Muhammad or Baha'u'llah. Reason alone is sufficient to prove their existence and their truth. "Ye shall know them by their fruits" was Jesus's promise. Their fruits prove their truth.

The existence of God also does not require the Bible to be proved. The existence of a creation, requires the existence of a single creator. All CONTINGENT things have a cause, so there must exist an ultimate non-contingent Cause which is not in itself caused. The existence of imperfection requires the existence of something which is absolutely perfect. The existence of the limited, requires the existence of the limitless. If we have cold, then we know that heat also must exist. If we have evil, we know that good also must exist. If we have darkness, we know that light also must exist. The negative requires the positive. The created requires the creator. To those who believe in God, His existence is an obvious fact. It cannot be proved by the Bible or by scientific methods. Science deals with the physical, the created, so it cannot describe the creator, the non-physical, the non-material.

Answer 4

Look up to the sky on a clear, crisp night, and behold the myriads of stars and galaxies. Try to imagine how many countless planets there are out there with intelligent societies living in peace and harmony, free from the influences of evil. Signs given by Jesus and the prophets of the Lord's return are now being fulfilled here on earth. The time of His return is getting closer. Then will He defeat and imprison the forces of evil who would destroy us.

Answer 5

I am looking at the most spectacular sunrise. I saw two deer on the beach yesterday. I am alive. The universe is amazing.
People are either positive or negative toward God at the age of conscientiousness. If you go on negative signals he will not reveal himself to you. If you go on positive signals he will provide the salvation message and Bible doctrine. I do not understand if people are negative and are not willing to listen why bother? Just eat, drink, and be merry. Why insult positive people who have a relationship with The Lord. What good does it do? You are not going to change any Christians mind. You cannot get out of the plan of God once you believe. Find something constructive to do.
Through grace are you saved through faith it is a GIFT of God not of works lest any man should boast.
Peace out.

Answer 6

YES!!!!!!! god is a god of truth also!
God has given us plenty of evidence-resurrection of Jesus, science, very specific prophicies, archaeology, miracles today, many things to show that he is there. Much of it is tangable, like the stuff I mentioned.

I have seen good friends with real problems suddenly healed at prayer meetings (not anything like that trash on tv-Benny Hinn stuff). Jesus gave a lot of physical evidence.
I could go on but the best thing would be to go to a church (probably a larger evangelical one...they use their brains too) and ask a pastor to sit down and talk with you about this.

Answer 7

to quote Helen kellar
the greatest things in this life are not seen with the eyes .. but felt with the heart

i have no evidence for you

Answer 8

Faith is the juice with which you power your flux capacitor.

Answer 9

I have never seen the wind, just the evidence that it exists.