Athestic discussion on my theory?

Question

Continuing from yesterdays discussion:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ahm5uOW.vXCK8RXkqigmGRvsy6IX?qid=20070224131412AAfUhI9

The theory that God being all-knowing, doesn't bother to prove Himself to an atheist because all the possibilities wouldn't lead the atheist to believe in Him.

Someone said if he appeared in public in front of everyone, then they will believe.

But, the problem with that is the human race will ask for more divine intervention up to the point they will be totally dependant on God.

And someone said "If God is all knowing, don't He know how to prove himself before an Atheist?"

What I think is that.....the burden of proving there is a way to convince an atheist God exists doesn't rely on theists, but atheists themselves. Because I once asked what proof exactly do atheists want, and they do not know themselves.

Opinion?

Scenario: God appeared before an atheist, if that's not extraordinary enough for God Himself to appear, I don't know what is.

The atheist would first consult a doctor, then take medication, then do check up, and exhaust every possibility before concluding that was God.

My point in ten words:

"Are you guys really open minded?"

Let say God did that for you, creating a Human before your very eyes. But what about this human? How is his soul? How would he live? Is it ethical for him to continue living?

The most humane way is to destroy or deconstruct him.....but that basicly goes back to "no proof, I must be nuts."

Answer 1

strangely, I would require a LOT of proof before I accept the existence of magic fairy sky daddies. Especially since a much simpler explanation (it's just a bunch of origin myths, like the million others) covers all the bases.

Answer 2

"But, the problem with that is the human race will ask for more divine intervention up to the point they will be totally dependant on God."
Translation: God is afraid of you. He's hiding in heaven because if he shows himself you won't stop calling him and he'll have to change his phone number.
Problem: The problem with this statement is that there are already many, many people who are already dependant on God, and that doesn't seem to phase him yet. I don't think he's met his believer quota yet.

"What I think is that.....the burden of proving there is a way to convince an atheist God exists doesn't rely on theists, but atheists themselves."
Translation: I want you to believe me, so you have to prove that you'll believe me.
Problem: The problem with this statement is that some people don't want to believe you. Saying they have the burden of proof on their aptness to believe just makes it sound like you're trying to shift the work!

Honestly, I didn't believe in ghosts when my work was haunted. I heard stories, I even heard some noises I couldn't explain logically. I didn't actually believe it until I saw something myself. I do believe in ghosts now, and I'm okay with the fact that some of my ex-coworkers still don't. They'll believe it when they see it.

If God showed himself, I'd believe. If "God" was a 30 year old unemployed homeless carpenter that wandered the country preaching, I might need some more proof. If it was a radiant being floating on a cloud (you know, obviously visible Godliness) then I wouldn't.



Edit in response to yours:
Regarding, "Let say God did that for you, creating a Human before your very eyes. But what about this human? How is his soul? How would he live? Is it ethical for him to continue living?

The most humane way is to destroy or deconstruct him.....but that basicly goes back to "no proof, I must be nuts.""

Why would he have to be destroyed? So God makes a human, shows him off a bit, then sets him down somewhere (maybe in high school or something) and he carries on his life. I'm sure God could make him a birth certificate. Are you trying to suggest that this is an unreasonable way for God to prove Himself because the human He creates would be somehow incapable of life? Wouldn't this sub-par human defeat the purpose of our little experiment? How could it be un-ethical for God to create a person and let them live? I think I may be confused here...

Answer 3

Here is the one and only way to prove that your god exists:

Have him present himself, take a handful of dirt, and create a living, breathing human male IN OUR PRESENCE. This creation should be without a navel, FYI. Then, he must remove a rib from said male, and convert it into a female, again with no navel. Then and only then will your claims and assertations hold any credibility.

If he did it once, I'm sure that he could do it again...

EDIT- The ethics of allowing these people (adam and eve, if you will...the proof requires both) is a moot issue. The proof demanded AND VERIFIED would be there (and yes, this is rhetorical). That said, according to the bible, god's ways and mind cannot be grasped by a human, so attempting to guess whether or not allowing these beings to live is an exercise in futility. Remember, you asked what proof would be acceptable...not what would take place when and if that proof ever came to pass.

Answer 4

My opinion?

I think you are trying to say something clever ... and failing miserably.

Just what is your point? In ten words or less.




I think I am probably far more open-minded than you - any atheist with a brain would be.



"Let say God did that for you, creating a Human before your very eyes. But what about this human? How is his soul? How would he live? Is it ethical for him to continue living?"

So, now you are saying that his god in whom you believe can NOT create a human, with a soul, from nothing? Ever heard of a bloke called Adam? It is either possible or not. Which?


.

Answer 5

From what my limited understanding of the bible is, here goes.
It's not about us, it's about god! see he's on a mission, to select
people that will accept that he exists, through Faith! Faith is the
big thing here for god! Don't ask me to explain why he set it up that way. But once again, I think to understand gods [logic]?
You really have to see we, people are just a means to an end!
With God,it's all about God! now I know this sounds like F***ed up reasoning but it's what my belief is as to why a god that exists
and has no direct communication with us!feels no need too!
HE"S GOD!

Answer 6

that's an old argument:
a God you claim exists, but you can not prove the existence of God, and God would not bother to prove anything.
well, assuming your theory is correct, why do you assume that God, whose existence you can not prove, and who clearly does not care to do anything, would care about what we humans do?
and since there is not the slightest proof that God cares what we do, except for what people, whose business is God, claim God wants us to do, but even they can not come to a single conclusion what is the will of that God they claim exists.
So, if there is a God, who is not interested in what we do, and does not bother to let us know what exactly he wants us to do, why should we bother about God's existence or in-existence, as it is clearly relevant only to those people who make a living out of that proposed existence.
So, in short, it does not matter if there is a God or not, and we can all simply ignore that issue, which would certainly do good for the world we live in.

Answer 7

I like the way you think: In Revelation, is speaks of a time when all will have God proven to them, and will still reject him. There will be Angels flying around proclaiming the Gospel, but people in the hatred for god and zeal for sin will ask for death rather than life through Jesus.

Answer 8

A god wouldn't have to prove himself to us, it could simply make us believe. Rather than appearing before us and hoping we believe it's him, he could just 'miraculously' alter our minds to make us believe. Such crude displays as appearing before us or walking on water are beneath an omnipotent being.

Answer 9

Atheists aren't looking for proof. Perhaps you are thinking of agnostics.

Answer 10

the atheists no he is never gowing to prove himself because he is not real we have said show your self on the world news in 20mins it will never hapen