My fellow christians, why do you use logic to try to prove/disprove spiritual things?

Question

You go and use the world's logic the world is going to do the same to thump you with it. Proving God within the framework of human intelligence and logic will not work since God exists outside of our senses. Science cannot prove something it cannot measure. How can science prove God and eternity when both our outside of our physical realm? Science can only deal with things within the physical realm. You're going to turn more people off by coming up with errant logic than anything else. I've done the same thing but then I studied up on logic (couldn't remember it all from my college days.) I found out they are right. You cannot use logic to prove God. You can only use faith. Faith is illogical and exists outside of human wisdom. The only way to do a proof would require that some assumptions are true.

Hebrews 11:1
1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Interesting reading:
http://www.doesgodexist.org/Phamplets/Mansproof.html

So you would have to make assumptions like the Bible was true. Well, atheists could argue that is not a valid assumption. Hindus could argue that their creation story should be the assumption.

Anyhow, my point is, faith comes by hearing the word of God. Its is not something that can be proved logically. If you do, someone more clever can undo it with clever logic. With faith, only disbelief can undo that...

Prove you're right by being a light in the world. Quit using science to witness and use your lives, attitudes, actions, etc.

Answer 1

Stands up and Applauds you.

Thank you. Myself, being an aethist, has "thumped" a number of your fellows in the logic area. However you may be the closest to a "true" christian in your understanding.

As long as you don't try to shove your faith down my throat, I have no beef with you, your religeon has its faults, but at least you try to lead / live by example and understand that Spirituality and God have something science will never have - Faith,

So, congrats to u.


in answer to your question though - because they are human and get defensive and spout anything that sounds semi plausible instead of doing research / understanding basic logic.

Answer 2

There are two types of people that fall into error, those who are genuinely seeking for truth and unintentionally get misled, and those who reject truth and God gives them up to believe a lie (Rom 1) The latter people you are right about, logic will never change their minds because they are committed to deny God. But sometimes logic will help a genuine seeker over an intellectual hurdle. God does use aploogetics to some degree. I use the Bible a lot because I think that is where the real power lies, but I have had some who you just give a simple logical answer to and the lights come on.

Answer 3

A logical argument can really only be made when using an accepted and true standard. To us Christians that standard is the Bible, to anyone else that is not a true standard. So you are right you cannot make a true logical arguement. Of course you cannot make a logical argument on an unproven THEORY like evolution. Scientist make unproven assumptions all the time it just depends on who people want to give credence to.

Answer 4

It is important that we live our faith as you say. That is why the scripture you quote at Hebrews 11:1 in it's entirety says "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" the Scripture says EVIDENCE of things not seen. God made us as intelligent, logical creatures and when we study the Bible and gain an accurate knowledge of it, it is logical and reasonable.
It also occurred to me that often time the apostle Paul took opportunities to reason with those who did not believe. One that comes to mind is Acts 17:16-32. At the end of his witness, some mocked him, some ignored him but others became believers.

Answer 5

It is a difficult thing, indeed....Because even if a believer were to admit that logic shouldn't be used to defend faith, he/she is caught up in a world surrounded and completely infused with it. Without logic and imposed human structure, you couldn't even coherently think or write the commentary you posed to your "fellow christians." We can't escape human intelligence in our sermons, witnessing, or faith--which all presuppose an imperfect, un-godlike human intelligence grasping at something far beyond his entire being, his essence...into the divine and ultimately ineffable. My opinion is that we are stuck with human reason, since it is all we have--unless, of course we could somehow become God--which I don't believe can or will happen.

Answer 6

You make a great point. I have noticed when my fellow Christians post questions on this site trying to prove God to atheists that is the end result, arguments sometimes heated arguments, even if they meant well. Either you believe based on faith or you don't. And if someone chooses not to, only God can call them and change their heart. Bless you brother for posting that important question.

Answer 7

They're ignorant of basic philosophy-Christianity can ONLY be defended on the basis that scripture contains a divine revelation. They can use logic to argue for the existence of a God but not the Christian God.

Answer 8

NewlyBorn needs to avoid answering questions addressed to Christians. I hate when atheists do that and had to mention it. Everyone else here came up with a lot of good points. There is hardly anything more to be said. We may disagree on what the Word of God says (in other words, interpretive), but we all know what it IS.

Answer 9

Amen brother. People need to consentrate on spreading the message of the Gospel rather than wasting time trying to prove God exists.

Answer 10

I think you are right, but the fact is, people don't come here to witness, they come here to debate. I am not here to prove my faith, although I will defend it, I am really here to learn about other peoples opinion, and possibly, to inadvertently make someone else reconsider theirs when presented with something they might not have considered.