Why believe in god with no evidence?

Question

My niece was watching a cartoon and saw a butterfly. She asked if butterflies are real, and I said "of course." She said "then why haven't I seen one?" A 5 year old understands what most adults don't, that a lack of evidence for something is evidence against it. For example, when you watch "Lord of the Rings", do you say "Well I have never seen an evil monster name Soren before, so I guess I don't know if he is fake or real." No, you assume that because you haven't seen him, he is fake. You assume the same about all things for which you have no evidence. Why don't people understand this about God, or psychic powers, or souls, etc.? Why is a 5 year old smarter than adults?

Answer 1

"It is one thing to believe in levitation when you see it, it is another thing entirely to believe in miracles"

Richard Bach, Illusions

Answer 2

This is inside of the box (concrete) thinking. Piaget discovered that there are changes with respect to peoples ability to think and reason as they matured. In very little children, there is no concept of object permanence. They believe that if they don't see their mommy/daddy that they no longer exist. Therefore a 5 year old child is not smarter then an adult, because there are limits to their ability to understand. If you have a kite which disappears into the clouds, there is still the evidence of the pull on the string. For those of us who are believers, we have the assurance of that tug on our hearts. We have the evidence of His word which He has preserved for thousands of years (read Evidences That Demand a Verdict). There is the evidence of millions of Christians through the ages who have lived (and died) for Him. If you read Lee Strobels "The Case for a Creator" you will find that there is a lot less evidence to believe in the theory of evolution. Take a look at the level of sophistication and complexity with which you are designed, and see that complexity replicated throughout the universe. Sometimes people don't want to see, because they don't want to see. Think outside the box. Shalom.

Answer 3

Is the universe not enough proof for you????? Are you not enough proof of God's existence. Yea too bad butterflies are real you just need to let your niece get out more. As for lord of the rings it's a fictional movie. I mean your niece maybe smarter than you but she's not smarter than me. If your life and the universe/earth aren't enough proof then i really have no idea what is. WE can't see our brain but we know it's there because we think, talk, breath and everything else with it. It's the same exact thing.

Answer 4

you're kidding right? your argument is illogical on many points. here's two.

1. the lack of evidence for something is evidence against it. Not true, because even if what your interpretation of your niece's statement is true, clearly butterflies do exist.

2. your niece is showing a clear example of faith. she instantly believed butterflies were real because you told her they were, which we can see by her second question of why hasn't she seen one. a five year old esp wouldn't ask this question without the basis of the assumption that something did exist. they aren't at the developmental stage where they can argue abstract concepts. heck, most people don't even get to this stage.

3. okay, a third- horror movies wouldn't work if people weren't titillated by their fear of the unknown.

oh, i could keep going, but i have work to do.

Answer 5

thats what faith is my friend...Belief without evidence..I wouldn't say a 5 year old is smarter then Adults because when these adults where 5 they were being told that God was real and that you don't need to see him that he is just real. If they were taught something else then they would believe something else.

Answer 6

can you see air? than how do you know it exists? have you ever seen a million bucks? than how do you know it exists? Firstly, your eyesight is not the only sense that you have.

Secondly, how do you if you're real? you don't. what if you're dreaming this imaginative world and you're body lies asleep somewehere else. thing is, you cant completely and properly prove anything. But with the knowledge that there is a God, you dont need to. your life has a purpose. trying to prove every single thing that you possibly will never understand. theres no use in it.

Answer 7

Spirituality is born from a personal occurrence with a divine, psychic or mystical experience of one form or another which inevitably connects a person to All that Is/God/Goddess/Allah/Great Spirit /whatever you want to call it.

Religion is second hand opinion of someone else’s divine experience. I think you will find that religions, and especially fanatical religions, tend to separate and divide people, while spirituality brings people together.

Thank God that Spirituality is on the increase!

For those who are ready, no explanation is necessary and for those who are not, no explanation is possible! http://www.psychic-junkie.com

Answer 8

The existence of God cannot be proven or disproved. The Bible even says that we must accept by faith the fact that God exists, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). If God so desired, He could simply appear and prove to the whole world that He exists. But if He did that, there would be no need for faith. "Then Jesus told him, 'Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed'” (John 20:29).



That does not mean, however, that there is not evidence of God’s existence. The Bible declares, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world” (Psalm 19:1-4). Looking at the stars, understanding the vastness of the universe, observing the wonders of nature, seeing the beauty of a sunset – all of these things point to a Creator God. If these were not enough, there is also evidence of God in our own hearts. Ecclesiastes 3:11 tells us, “…He has also set eternity in the hearts of men…” There is something deep down in our beings that recognizes that there is something beyond this life and someone beyond this world. We can deny this knowledge intellectually, but God’s presence in us and through us is still there. Despite all of this, the Bible warns us that some will still deny God’s existence, “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” (Psalm 14:1). Since over 98% of people throughout history, in all cultures, in all civilizations, on all continents believe in the existence of some kind of God – there must be something (or someone) causing this belief.



In addition to the Biblical arguments for God’s existence, there are logical arguments. First, there is the ontological argument. The most popular form of the ontological argument basically uses the concept of God to prove God’s existence. It begins with the definition of God as “that than which no greater can be conceived.” It is then argued that to exist is greater than to not exist, and therefore the greatest conceivable being must exist. If God did not exist then God would not be the greatest conceivable being - but that would contradict God's very definition. A second is the teleological argument. The teleological argument is that since the universe displays such an amazing design, there must have been a Divine designer. For example, if earth were even a few hundred miles closer or further away from the sun, it would not be capable of supporting much of the life it currently does. If the elements in our atmosphere were even a few percentage points different, every living thing on earth would die. The odds of a single protein molecule forming by chance is 1 in 10243 (that is a 10 followed by 243 0’s). A single cell is comprised of millions of protein molecules.



A third logical argument for God’s existence is called the cosmological argument. Every effect must have a cause. This universe and everything in it is an effect. There must be something that caused everything to come into existence. Ultimately, there must be something “un-caused” in order to cause everything else to come into existence. That “un-caused” something is God. A fourth argument is known as the moral argument. Every culture throughout history has had some form of law. Everyone has a sense of right and wrong. Murder, lying, stealing, and immorality are almost universally rejected. Where did this sense of right and wrong come from if not from a holy God?



Despite all of this, the Bible tells us that people will reject the clear and undeniable knowledge of God and instead believe a lie. Romans 1:25 declares, “They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator - who is forever praised. Amen.” The Bible also proclaims that people are without excuse for not believing in God, “For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - His eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse” (Romans 1:20).



People claim to not believe in God because it is “not scientific” or “because there is no proof.” The true reason is that once people admit that there is a God, they also must realize that they are responsible to God and in need of forgiveness from God (Romans 3:23; 6:23). If God exists, then we are accountable for our actions to Him. If God does not exist, then we can do whatever we want without having to worry about God judging us. I believe that is why evolution is so strongly clung to by many in our society - to give people an alternative to believing in a Creator God. God exists and ultimately everyone knows that He exists. The very fact that some attempt so aggressively to disprove His existence is in fact an argument for His existence.

Answer 9

You are the very evidence that God does exist. Where else could such an intelligent and social being such as you come from? There has to be a higher order of life from whence you came from

Answer 10

May be they are running away from the responsibilities to God after believing him.But arent aware of what is waiting for them.

I beleive in him but no need for evidence,if i dont .The life would be very difficult to live.

Answer 11

Only someone full of pride and arrogance will demand evidence of the existence of God. God doesn't need us to believe in Him. He is Who He is whether we believe it or not. Believing in His existence is only for our benefit not His. He reserves the right to reveal Himself to whomever He wants. All we need is a sincere desire to get to know Him and He'll do the rest.