How can we prove anything?

Question

How can we prove God exists, or doesn't exist? Our science doesn't come close to measuring everything, so how do we know that there isn't something higher out there that we just can't see? And how can we know God does exist...yes there is the Bible, but that doesn't prove anything; even with all of the correct archaeological and history stuff in there, it still doesn't prove God was involved. Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

Answer 1

Slow down, you're asking a lot of questions all jumbled into one.

Better ask yourself what you know, what's possible to know, and how you can know it.

Do we know that god exists? Obviously not. There's no evidence.
Can we know that god doesn't exist? No, because it's impossible to prove a negative.
Can we know for certain that something godlike doesn't exist? Again, no. However, we do know that no evidence has ever surfaced that points to the existence of any supernatural phenomenon.

Now you're thinking, "But this doesn't answer my question. It's still up in the air."

Correct. But at least you have a starting point: What do I know and how do I know it?

Now, go and get yourself an education. I won't promise you that everything will be clear to you someday -- but you'll find that things will become clearer even as you become more comfortable with not knowing everything.

Good luck.

EDIT: Notice how the believers insist that you must believe first, then understanding will follow. Funny how they think that "Clap your hands and Tinkerbell will live!" can actually convince anyone over the age of five.

EDIT @ r u randy: Aww, now you've made me blush....

Answer 2

Well it depends how you are meaning to define "Prove". dictionary.com gives 12 different meanings, but if you mean "to establish the truth" then nothing can be proven at all. It's not possible. Science cannot prove anything, nor can anything else. Hinduism states that everything is "maya" or an illusion (I'm not a Hindu, but I'm just using this as an example) so how could Science prove anything if everything is an illusion. Our brains interpret everything through our senses. So then you have to find out (or think about) what the nature of the brain is, and what you as a being/person is. When you ponder that you realise that nothing can actually be proven.

Take care :)

Answer 3

There is tangible proof that the Holocaust took place, yet there are still people that deny its existence.

It wouldn't matter if there was "proof" or not that God exists, it is possible that people would still deny the Existence.

That said, here is my modest attempt...

We live in a temporal world - there is a beginning and an end to all things. Here is where the paradox occurs in the theory that there is no God - what was before the beginning? If there was something before the beginning, then what was before that?

The only logical conclusion is that there is something OTHER than a temporal realm - something Non-Temporal - an existence outside of time... an Absolute and Infinite Existence.

There is a theory of infinite velocity. Very simply explained, when infinite velocity is reached, one could occupy every corner of the universe at the same time. You would be able to see the future and the past all at the same time.

It makes sense that there would be something "infinite" out there, that could occupy everything at once and be in any "time" at once, because IT exists out of time. IT IS Existence.

So, we must conclude that Existence, in and of itself is Good and can only be capable of Good. Consequently, anything that tries to defy Existence would be "Evil." (namely, Satan) - but that is for another discussion.

Since we are living in a temporal world, the temporal existence has a beginning and an end, and therefore must have a Creator. The only possible creator is Infinite Existence itself - God.

From this, we can conclude that God is a sentient Being, capable of Creating anything and Doing anything and what comes from God can only be "Good" as Existence itself can only be Good.

Does this prove God's existence? I don't know...

There are many things in my life that have "proven" His existence. They are personal and are different for every individual. To me, they have been concrete, but for others, they could easily dismiss my experiences as mere coincidence, freakish events, or even my imagination.

As for scientific exploration, all scientific evidence that people have presented, trying to claim deny His existence, only confirms my belief that He DOES exist. The scientific evidence on evolution and the theories that have come about are ALL possible with an Absolute Creator. On the contrary, there are plenty of scientific theories that would be impossible Without a Creator.

If God is Existence, then everything He created comes from Him and from nowhere else. What is even more astounding is (if you believe in the Bible) is that God has made us in His own image and likeness. That means, unlike the animals of the world, we have a special closeness with God than nothing else has. We can have a relationship with God because He is everything and everywhere. In our every action and every word, we can be communicating with God.

I used to wonder why, if God wanted to have a relationship with us, he wouldn't just come down and verbally "talk" to everyone. But He does! That's the beauty of it. Verbal "Language" is what we do with each other - but there are SO many other ways of communicating that we don't often think about and that many of us partake in on a daily basis. If God is Everything, than He can communicate in ANY manner - through a thought, a touch, music, a sunset, ANYTHING! Just in our everyday life, every action and thought we do and have, good or bad, we are communicating with God and likewise, He is communicating with us - although it is not always in the way we are expecting or hoping.

Again, does this prove God exists? Well, define "prove." If "proving" means getting everyone to agree on the same exact thing without a shadow of a doubt, then I hardly think so. I hardly expect my long-winded response to suddenly "prove" God's existence and unite the world ;-) This is (a very small part of) my reasoning of God's existance. I could continue on in great detail my thoughts and experiences, but from fear of boring you all to death, I feel I must refrain.

Anyway, this is my "proof." Analyze away! :-)

Answer 4

Your question applies to all philosophies and religions, including evolution. If a book that has been thoroughly scrutinized and yet, is as you say archaeologically & historically accurate and still can't be discredited, what else do you need? Then add to that the future predictions that really put it's authenticity on the line and you have your answer. If anything, judge predictions that were made by the various people thousands of years ago. You're seeing them right in front of your eyes. But let me say, if you're looking for "proof", you'll never believe any.

Answer 5

The Bible is a holy book, but just a book.

The Church is a living entity that God himself founded and left behind on the earth to lead all to salvation ... and God still remains at the head of his Church.

The only way to discover both God and the whole truth is to become fully and actively involved in the work, worship, sacraments, and devotions of the Church ... preferably the Catholic Church ... which is the only Church Jesus ever founded, authorized, and empowered.

In this way, even those of little faith might eventually come to truly know and love the One who truly knows and loves us.

You should give it a try. What else have you got to do that's more important?

Answer 6

If God would exist even if we couldn't see him we should be able to see and measure the effect that this God has on the pyhsical world somewhere. However the reality is nothing of that sort is the case.

There is NOTHING!
Os even if there is a God clearly it doesn't want us to know it is there so treat it as thought it isn't there. After all it isn't as if God will pop out and say hey you don't believe in me blam raining fire.

Answer 7

There are many ways to explore the universe, but three stand out:
Science, which is the study of the universe of things that are testable and repeatable.
Philosophy, which is the study of the universe of things that are testable, OR repeatable, but not both.
Finally,
Belief systems, such as Religion, which is the study of the universe of things that are not testable AND not repeatable.

What a poor world it would be if we couldn't think about such things except the first two.
Or almost as bad, not be able to share our thoughts, organize them into categories, so that we could share such exploration in groups called, "religions".

Unable to explore or discuss anything we couldn't prove, or couldn't see repeating itself for all to see, our imaginations limited by the mistaken idea that nothing but scientific inquiry was a valid way to explore.

It may not prove anything, but religion is the father of philosophy, which in turn was the father of science.

Let's not kill off the past before we truly have explored it all, in every way.

Answer 8

The proof resides within a true believer; it is the Holy Spirit of God that leads in all truth.
That's why God is unknown to all non-believers, they search for proof, but that proof will not come unless and until they come to Him in faith with a true and repentant heart.
So, they mock what they can't know or even begin to understand. They think they're intelligent, but in reality they are digging their eternal grave, where their body will die, but their soul will be in torment for eternity. They think it is a joke, and God is a myth created by the weak, but they couldn't be more wrong.

God is real and salvation is through His Son. The only one that can reveal God's truth is God Himself. Seek Him.

Answer 9

The Bible does not say anything toward the proof of GOD"S existence. GOD doesn't need to prove himself. Your very existence and all things around you prove HIS existence. It is us who are not smart enough to believe the proof. We are the blind leading the blind. Even science is now proving the Bible is true.

Answer 10

OK, my math teacher told me this:
Let's make up two statements:
1. God exists
2. One of these two statements is true, and other is false
If we try to prove, that God exists, we'll say, that second statement is false and first is true, right? Right. So, that means, that second statement is true and false at the same time! So, that makes a contradiction. That means, that first statement HAS to be false. Let's prove it: if first statement is false and second is true, there are no contradictions and God exists. Also, both statements can be false - God doesn't exist (1st statement is false) and none of these statements is true (2nd statement is also false) - no contradictions.
By the way, mathematicians banned statements, which talk about their verity or falsity because of this trick. But you can tell it to your friends, because they may not know that this is banned!