Is anyone READING my questions?

Question

I asked earlier what it would take to prove god doesn't exist. 24 answers, and all I got from believers were things like "You're wasting your time trying to prove god doesn't exist", or "everything is proof of god", or Pascal's wager (again). No one actually answered the question - so we're agreed that there's no way to prove god doesn't exist? So please stop asking for proof that he doesn't exist and just go ahead and prove he does. I will accept anything that violates basic physical laws as proof.

Then I asked if prayer worked, and cited a study saying that it doesn't - people recovered at the same rate, wether or not they were being prayed for. A lot of people just said "yes, it does" without providing their own study. That's pretty inconsiderate, seeing how I went through the trouble to find that for you.

So, is anyone READING the details after the question, or just answering the one in the box?

Thanks, Soulful, Mullah, Laptop Jesus. It's just frustrating at times. I really want an answer!

Andi, I have read it - he's one of my favorite authors. I hope to meet him someday.

Kris - I also might accept someone coming back to life after being dead for several days as proof of the supernatural - so it doesn't really make sense to say 'this would prove god wrong' if it required a god to happen in the first place. But thanks for being the first to answer the question.

Sorry, not Kris, Retrosta for the last one.

Answer 1

I think you'll find that most people just read the words in the box. I have the same problem in ALL categories.

My opinion: The fact that no one can prove a god exists is proof a god doesn't exist. This god figure is right in there with the Loch Ness Monster, the Yeti, Bigfoot, the New Jersey devil, satan, heaven, hell, etc. All speculation, no proof of existence, and therefore fiction until there is some proffered.


M

Answer 2

Things you have to understand, is that a lot of religion is based on faith. Faith that someone is there watching over you. I strongly believe that.
As for the study, can the person who did the study prove that no one prayed? They can't, so to me, a strong believer in prayer, it is an inconclusive study. No one has given you a study that prayer works, but the study has not actually proven that either. In order for your study to prove that, someone would have to make sure that no one involved didn't pray. That is impossible because you can pray silently.
To prove to you that God does exist, here is a question for you, what created the universe? Even before the "big bang" something was there that exploded, how did that get there. And before you try to come up with some kind of answer that involves some collection of matter bs, what created that very first something? It all started somewhere, and the bible goes back far enough to the creation of the very matter that created the universe, science doesn't. And before you decide to throw back that question about who created God, I can answer that too. In the bible it is said that we do not have all the answers, but one day, we will.

Answer 3

I'm starting to read them. I saw your response about the constellation Ophuicus to the question "What constellation is the sun in" and decided to cruise for your questions. My background is Astronomy, so I appreciated the nudge about the 13th constellation in the Zodiac.

I'm an agnostic; as such, I consider the question of god's existence to be unanswerable at this time. That isn't a dodge - you suggested it when you said "anything that violates physical laws as proof". That's a dicey requirement, since anything we observe that violates physical laws may only seem to do that because we haven't discovered the physical laws it obeys. Therefore, it would not be proof of god - only that we do not understand the physical laws involved.

That is one reason why I consider the question unanswerable.

There are many others, of course, but that's for another topic.

On the subject of prayer, I saw the study too. I also checked into a USAToday article a year or two ago which claimed that prayer is effective. Unfortunately I don't have my notes on that; but what I remember finding is that the study was conducted by a religious organization dedicated to proving that prayer is effective!

With an agenda like that, how could they fail?

What was also interesting about that experience is that USAToday didn't make it easy to find out who or what conducted the study. I had to do a net search to find it on a religious website.

Next time I'll keep my notes on these subjects.

Right now I have to hunt down your other question to get the name of the study that showed prayer is ineffective. I want it for my agnostic back pocket.

See you around,

Big Al Mintaka

(yeah, it's the one in Orion. I never claimed to be creative with names)

Answer 4

I'm not sure I buy into the idea of that particular study on prayer. That's kind of ridiculous. LOL Prayer is/can be personal. Look, why do you have to be so scientific all the time. Have you ever tried to prove that love exists? Or that love doesn't exist? It's the same concept. There are some things you either know or you don't or accept or you don't. There are some people who have faith that there is a God and some people don't and for those that have faith and believe do so because they feel they have felt/seen the evidence that they need. Or at least the people I have spoken to have/do. And what's so wrong with having faith in something...even if ultimately it doesn't exist...are following the laws like..."treat others as you would want to be treated" really such horrible teachings to follow? I know it's the "in" thing right not to not believe because you can't physically see...but it's all relative.

Answer 5

Both your questions are that of faith in God. There is no concrete proof of God's existence or non-existence, that is precisely why it is called faith. You seem like a logical person and you would probably agree that even if there were some kind of concrete evidence of God's existence, there's always someone that would argue the validity of that proof or have a different interpretation of what was found. Even in science nothing is absolute. I believe that God gave us free will for a reason. It is not for you to prove God doesn't exist nor is it for me to prove to you that he does. I can only share with others that I believe in God and some of the reasons why I do not have any super powers to make people believe things they do not want to believe.

And yes, I do read questions in it's entirety while others may not.

Answer 6

I really have no proof that God exist except for what He's done in my life. He reunited me with my family after about a 20 year separation and some very bad feelings and bad blood between us. He has helped me get off a 38 year drug habit when counselling, rehab, self determination and just "trying to" didn't work. He clean all desire and cravings from me, in an instant, it wasn't something I had to "work for". Because of Him I finally have my Bipolar dis order under control also, I am on meds but they even have been the same meds I was on before. I'm not depressed, I enjoy people and enjoy life. I couldn't say this before.

Answer 7

There is lots of evidence that God exists take the first cause argument that God exists, the DNA argument, the origin of life argument, the argument from design, the irreducible complexity argument, the argument from consciousness, the argument from morality, the argument from reason, the argument from scriptures, the onthological argument, the argument from miracles, the argument from experience, the transcendental argument and lastly, there is the quantum mechanics argument. But if you have a closed mind on God's existence eri then all this evidence will not be good enough for you. You need to stop asking people to prove this and prove that and ask yourself "Are you willing to believe?" If I gave you good reasons to believe would you believe or would you find excuses for not believing? If you have already made your mind up that God does not exist then nothing short of a miracle is going to prove you wrong and its inconsiderate expecting me to answer a question that you don't want answered.

What annoys me about sceptics is there is no scientific evidence of this or that therefore it must not exist. There is no scientific evidence emotions exist so they don't exist? how foolish! Your character and mind is your spirit so if spirits don't exist you're characterless and emotionless? Prayer is a personal thing between you and God its not something that science can understand nor is it something science can explore because its a personal thing between you and God. These scientific studies that try to prove prayer insult God. The bible tells us if we don't believe in God he will not reveal himself to us. James tells us in his letter that unbelievers or sceptics are unstable and double-minded "they should expect nothing from the Lord" and there is your answer right there. God knows what's in your heart and he is not going to waste his time with those who don't believe. If you really want to know whether prayer works stop listening to scientists, priests, and Christians and open your heart and mind and genuinely seek God and I think you will find he does exist. If you generally and sincerely try to find God he will reveal himself to you.

Answer 8

I don't know that I've answered any other of your questions or not. And I don't need any documented "study" to know that prayer works. I of my own experience know that prayers are answered.
As far as prayer works, my question would be - works for what!
It's not something you can use to prove or disprove things to others. To get any result from prayer, you must have faith that - first of all God exists and will answer your prayer. You can't get a bunch of college students or Dr.s together and have do a prayer study to prove that it works or not because God doesn't do statistics. You either believe or you don't. If you don't believe then there of course will be no result!
God is no respecter of persons. He could care less whether or not his existence is proved or not. He knows he exists as do those who know him personally in their lives. He doesn't do parlor games, or give signs to prove that he's there!
But Back to your question if any one is reading your whole question, Yes I believe I did. I don't know if this is the answer you hoped for or not. But it's the truth as I know it!

Answer 9

I believe your problem is coming from the fact that believers DON'T NEED PROOF! They believe because they feel it in their hearts, not because they have read countless studies trying to disprove it! Believers believe because their God talks to them in ways that no study ever could.
To me, God exists everytime I see a new born baby, especially that of my nephew who was born three months early and doctors can give no explination why he lived or is doing better than most term babies.
And even everytime I see a family member die, because my God gives me comfort that they haven't really died. They have just moved on to a better place.
Or when my 4 year old cousin had a tumor on his spine for months that was the size of a grapefruit. When he went for his pre-op exam, it showed up on x-rays clear as day. Then when doctors got ready to begin the surgery they found nothing! It was gone! They said themselves there is no other explination than to have been a miracle from God!
I suppose it isn't so much about disproving His existance than it is about believing in Him more than you can believe in anything else. And my belief comes from the comfort that He gives me. So rather than sparking this big debate about existance, why not allow people to believe what they choose to believe! For me, I know my God is there and I have comfort that he will take care of me, and comfort that when I die, I'm going somewhere better. For you, maybe you don't want that comfort in your ife, but that's up to you! I choose to believe, and nothing will ever prove my belief to be false!

oh and as for the reading the details, I always do! I don't answer if I don't feel I have something helpful or inteligent to offer to the conversation! If I feel I could be of some help, then I will answer to the best of my ability! Sorry if I didn't get to any of your questions before this one!

Answer 10

Friend, not many people here are going to read long questions/comments. In fact, I'm even surprised I read this one. But let me tell you this, we cannot prove God exists and they can't prove he doesn't. That is a fact and all the explanations in the world leads back to asking the same question again.

As far as prayer goes, prayer works by faith, and work it does. Yet, I can pray for you in total faith but if you have none then it's a good chance I'm wasting my time for God said "Where two or more agree".