What Would Be The Effect of a Deity Showing Themselves?

Question

Whether you believe in a deity or not, if you woke up tommorrow and a deity had unoquivically risen up and shown himself to the world beyond question (i.e. The devil had walked around, hoofs 'n all wreaking fire and brimstone on BBC news, or Zeus had come down and started chucking a few thunderbolts about) what would you do?

As an agnost, I'd unwittingly have to become an instant convert, but what would it do to those of a religious capacity if it wasn't YOUR god that came down?

As a religious person - would you retain your religion faced with the stark reality that you (and several million other people) are entirely wrong? Or would you continue?

As an Atheist - would you become a follower in the face of total undeniability?

Answer 1

Would there be no faith component and actual proof existed, I would then continue the question

....would a few lightning bolts sway my opinion? No. Could the being simply be an alien? Possibly. Could this being be omnipotent? Not likely.

Why would a deity who, up to now, has remained hidden and drawn "strength" from faith and belief choose to walk our earth? Why would this being stalk lowly us?

Are we sure that this being is totally undeniable?

My questions would still continue.

Answer 2

A true believer wouldn't bother answering this question because the question is nullified by the belief. You should have known this.

Such questions come from people far removed from society and spend their time playing roleplaying games or reading comics.

An obvious answer is if some being manifested himself claiming to be any deity than one you believe in, a test would be in order.

If the being was forcing worship, it wouldn't come easy because man has thing called free will.

Even if God Almighty manifested himself, there would be doubters, which is one of the many reasons why he doesn't appear.

Man has to survive or die on his own, not from the help or harm of any deity or devil.

If Zeus manifested himself commanding worship and demonstrated his powers by summoning massive storms, tornadoes, hurricanes and tsunamis, undoubtedly a great many would believe him.

But beyond that man has free will and some will not believe that he is anything other than the Devil. That is just how man is.

Even if God manifested himself in all of the glory of Heaven and the Angels, many would accept him. Still after a time, many would turn away and go in a different path.

If you read the old testament, you would know that Moses had this problem with the Jews during their decades trek through the desert.

When we all die, we shall all know the truth about faith. Either God exists, or Zeus, Odin, etc. or Nothing.

What is important is that a man who believes in something faces the twilight years with strength and calmness, while those who don't face death with horror and cowardliness.

Answer 3

The Old Mystery Schools had a saying.
"If you want to know what is hidden, see what is before your eyes."
The Christ said our "eyes and ears are waxed over, so we look but don't see, and hear but don't listen". That is due to the fact our body has certain protcections which block out sensory overload, and keep us from having a nervous breakdown.
In Nature where it is quiet and serene. People are more in touch with spiritual things. In a city, with the noise pollution and everything. Their senses obviously become deadened.
You can learn to see quite easily. Just focus your eyes a little above the top of a tree when the sun is shining, and the trees are green. And keep focusing on the spot just a little above the tree. And you will see a milky white aura all around the tree.
As for signs. The Christ said "a wicked generation will get no sign." That's not because Christ didn't do signs. It's because a wicked person wouldn't believe a sign if he saw it! He would just explain away.

Answer 4

In todays society most people would not believe it. There would be claims of tricked up photography and special effects, it would be called a hoax. Consider all the bigfoot sightings, the Loch Ness monster, Ufo's, and so on. Those who choose not to believe these things never will and those who do believe them will always insist they are real. If Jesus Christ himself came and performed miracles he and his followers would probably be labeled a cult. The miracles would be called magnificent magic tricks and illusions. The world is too cynical to accept anything against the grain.

Answer 5

The God I believe in is a universal consciousness. So if a manifestation thereof showed up, such as an individual deity, the larger God would still exist. I would say, "Oh, a manifestation of the larger deity. Whatever."

Answer 6

There would be no atheists. That would be the proof we ask for.

The ridiculous thing is, religious folks actually believe that the most important thing to this god of theirs, above all else...

Is that you believe he exists. :)

And that god absolutely will not show any proof that he exists, because that would make the game too easy.

So basically everything we know as human beings about evidence, and our way of grasping the nature of the universe says that no god exists. And if we can't turn off our common sense and just go ahead and "believe" that he does... then we will be tormented eternally in hell.

:) Come on, guys... wake up.... surely you can be smarter than this. :)

Answer 7

Christ tells us never to give up on people, but to recognize that sometimes, no matter what we say or do, certain folks just aren't ready yet to move forward or to hear the Good News. In that circumstance, Jesus tells us not to badger, get angry, or condemn. Just move on. Shake the dust from your feet and move on. Hold those folks always in prayer, and hope for the future, but let them be.

It's hard to do, but in the long run, the best gift we have for such folks is our silent, respectful caring and hoping. So when that moment comes, don't judge, just commend them into God's hands and let go!

Mt 10:7-15

Answer 8

I'd be curious to see what the deity would actually make of us now. Lets face it we're a weird bunch of people on this planet.

I guess depending on what the deity did would dictate my reaction to an extent.

Answer 9

Only if Venus, Aphrodite, and a bevy of Muses came down and started putting themselves about. Then I expect that most lads would become instant believers !

Answer 10

Of course I would belive if a deity provided conclusive proof of their existence. But I doubt I'd be a worshipper. Even if it was one of the creator gods, I see no reason to worship them because they gave me life. If life is a gift, it's mine to do with as I please.

And I doubt any supernatural being needs or wants worship.