My two cents for nonbelievers?

Question

I have read so many posts here saying atheists/agnostics want proof of God. And it's frustrating to a lot of people (me included), enough so that there are some pretty outlandish allegations made about each side. So here's my story.

Flying home from Portland, ME by myself, sorta young (~14). Gate opens, walk down to the tarmac, go to the 737 waiting, and they tell me, "You're down there" and point me to a prop plane. Eek! Get on, reluctant at best. We taxi, take off, I am nervous. Of course, one of the most turbulent flights I have been on, certainly the most by that point in my life. So I say a little prayer, ask that God calm me down and keep it safe for us. Seconds later, I look outside and see the plane's shadow on he cloudtops with a rainbow around the shadow and the turbulence stops, smooth flight the rest of the way.

Point is, I'm sure there could be a "scientific" explaination for it, but I asked and I saw what I saw and experienced what I experienced.

Proof is where you truly look for it. It is there if you want to find it. I'm sure I'll hear lot's of, "How naive"'s and whatever else, but I believe it happened because I asked. God , to me, works within natural law to provide his answers, and they are to be found if we're truly willing to look and listen.

My two cents.

Personally, I think it's all the same entity. "A rose by any other name still smells as sweet."

Moreover, is it any coincidence that most cultures generally acknowledge a supreme being? It's my experience that where there's smoke, there's fire.

I can't make you see or hear, let alone feel what I felt, but I can tell everyone that we are all capable if we want to, truly want to.

Did you ever ask your mom for something growing up, a cookie say, and she said no 'cause it would spoil your dinner? Sometimes the answer is no. I'm ok with that, but it doesn't mean I hear a faint, far off "noooo..."

I believe bad things happen for a reason. Look at how this unfolded. I was shook up. I asked for help. (I believe) God calmed things and sent me a message, "Hi, I'm still here. Drop by anytime."

I didn't ask that the flight get smoother. I asked that I could calm down and that the flight would be safe. I didn't ask for a smooth flight, and I certainly didn't ask to see the superimposed rainbow on the shadow.

Answer 1

Yes - God does hear and answer our prayers.

Answer 2

Yes, there is a scientific explanation for it.
But is there a religious explanation? Why did you need to tell God to make the flight smoother? Surely he knew before you took off. And why would an omnipotent being care how turbulent your flight was anyway?
And why would you trust a memory of a childhood event that took place when you were alone, nervous and indulging in what one can only assume was an indoctrinated desire to ask your imaginary friend for help?
Incidentally, if you prayed to God then you obviously had some sort of belief in him already, which would certainly colour your memory of the event.

Answer 3

This aligns perfectly in support of the power of prayer. However, what if you had prayed 5 minutes later? Then you would have prayed after the fact and you wouldn't have remembered this event.

How many times have your prayers *not* yielded the results you are describing? You know we tend to remember events that support our beliefs.

If you thank god for suddenly turning your turbulent flight into smooth sailing, then couldn't you also blame god for making the flight rough to begin with?

Wouldn't it be reasonable to assume that people who have died in place crashes have prayed as well? Why didn't god answer their prayers? If their prayers went unanswered because it was just their time to go, then no prayers mean anything to begin with. Either prayers can affect god to alter the course of events in our favor or else we just go when it's our time and all the praying in the world won't change that.

Ultimately it comes down to the fact that, yes indeed, humans are able to describe what you experienced. You didn't understand what was going on at the time so you attributed supernatural intercession to an event that occurs hundreds of times each day. Combine that with a coincidence of you coming out of an unstable atmosphere (in a small plane no less) right as you finished your prayer and you have an even that supports your idea that prayer works.

Answer 4

I've had bad flights and good flights, not praying. I have seen tornados and rainbows right after, with no convo with a god. If I were a believer and had prayed during the good flights would I say they were good because I prayed, probably? The difference is in your mind. You think that prayer has power, so it does. They have studies that show that prayer doesn't have any effect. But its a personal thing- so to me, it does not matter, if you pray- then it will make a difference to you.

Answer 5

Praise Jesus.

One night a few years ago I lived in a Mobile home. Violent storms were blowing through that night. 80-90 mph winds, I was very concerned. I stepped out on the back porch, and pointed my finger in the air. Without thinking about what I was doing, but knowing I needed to do something. I commanded the winds to stop in the name of Jesus.
Before I could lower my hand the winds ceased to almost a dead calm.

We know by faith that God does answer prayers. When something like this happens we have a testimony.

People who do not believe God will never know what we are talking about. We can thank God for his grace that he has shown to us.

Answer 6

That's a very nice story. And you can experience things any way you choose to; no one can tell you that you are wrong for having these feelings. But I don't understand your point. I mean, what is your question?

Answer 7

Cat Stevens converted to Islam because he was swimming in the ocean and was inadvertantly pulled out too far by the tide. He says he knew he couldn't make it back to shore.
As his strength was failing, he prayed to Allah to save him, and he miraculously was able to swim back, against the current, where seconds before he was powerless to make progress.
Was that a miracle? Did Allah answer his prayer?

Answer 8

If that is enough proof for you, that's fine. All I'm saying is I need something a little more substantial.

Answer 9

I just have one question for you.
Have you ever prayed hard for something that did not occurr and there was no pretty rainbow.
If so, then using your logic, there is not god.

Answer 10

Here you can have your 2 cents back.