Atheists: What evidence (if any) would cause you to believe a God exists?

Question

In answering another one of my questions, a religous person suggested that I ask this one instead. I'll answer first, since I'm an atheist.

For such a remarkable thing as God, All-powerful, all-knowing, and so on, I'd need some pretty powerful evidence. I'd believe in God if he silenced religous confusion... if religous people actually seemed to live better lives, and if undoubtable mircles were commonplace.

I mean, God could do all these things, right? And I think he should, if He wants us to follow Him...
why make things difficult to understand and cause well-meaning people to live incorrect lives? I know if God exists, and he was very kind, I'd want to follow Him.
But instead, we are left with only confusion, and even the religous can't agree on exactly what God is.

DF: Good point about the space aliens, as it's possible they could do such things. But if miracles were common place & happened exclusively to those who were religous, I'd have little reason to doubt they were on to something... but yeah, I could still be wrong.

David:
You are free to define God however you want. I decided to "argue for" a God with unlimited power, because this is the God most commonly presented to me by theists who have interest in the atheist replies here.
Note also that I never say I'd "worship" a God being, only try to follow it.
If there was ample evidence in the world of an active force for good, and an active force for evil, I would try and promote the good force. I might be tricked, but it'd be a good bet.
Secondly, God needn't be a being that merely possesses superior technology... this is true in you are a monist, but doesn't restrain us if we speculate about what a possible world with God might be like.

Answer 1

for me to believe in a God, he would have to show me some form of identification, like a drivers licence or his passport and three utility bills, oh! plus his street number and postcode and his mothers maiden name, so that I could check with Expierian and the electors roll, to see if he is, who he says he is! then I might believe.

Answer 2

There seems to be a bit of confusion in this question and the answers.

A god like capability, that is the ability to do wondrous things such as part the seas or raise the dead, is just another form of technology. Whether that be a known science or some sort that we might call magic or supernatural (whatever that might be...) power.

So, if some creature has such an ability it may be impressive in that I do not understand it, but it does not make that creature a god or worthy of worship. The question, and general (mis?)understanding of gods, presumes that a god must have some extraordinary power. Don't know why though.

In this light, I suggest that many of these answers are pointless. Might I suggest that a better question would be...

What makes a being worthy or worship?

Surely not just the ability to do wondrous things? After all, to a person of 2000 years ago, we might seem to have godly powers, but nobody would suggest we deserve to be worshipped.

Answer 3

Excellent question dude. I would need something to happen that couldn't be better explained by science than by fiction.
That could take a huge number of forms, and the fact that nothing even vaguely close has ever occured suggest strongly that despite the huge array of proof an omnipotent god could offer, there is none. (second hand stories from friends of friends and the bible do NOT constitute proof - PERIOD)
And before anyone stammers "but that's just because you're not looking for it and don't see the miracles in everyday life" I should say that I find the idea that you need to be looking for god before he "finds" you to be laughable.
If that were the case then it is no surprise that so many people are believers against all the evidence. When I was a child I WANTED Father Christmas and magic to be true, so in my under-developed mind, it was easy to convince myself against all the evidence that it was real. Religion is exactly the same.

Answer 4

I must admit to be totally confused about God. Many intelligent people believe and that confuses me. I would like to have such a believe. What I find is that if we have a god he is the most, there are so many things I would like to say, lets take one, the tide after the earth quake 250,000 killed, you could repeat this a hundred times, don't go back to the last war when there there millions. What god could contribute to that, children laying with their guts blown out, I'm sorry I see a lot of people making money out ot the fear of death.

One final point , every war over the last two hundred years has been about the church. dont stop there just look at today.

Answer 5

The fact that there is religious confusion is one way which the existence of God is confirmed because it was foretold in the Bible.

Also, when Jesus was on earth, he performed miracles. Some believed, some didn't. The Jewish religious leaders said that he got his power from the Devil. Is there any reason to think that we wouldn't see similar reactions if miracles were performed today?

How does God make things difficult to understand? He has provided us all with his word the Bible. Are you aware of the opposition the Bible had to come through in order for everyone to have access to a copy? If there wasn't a God, I would expect the Bible to have been lost centuries ago, but it has survived.

God does not spoon-feed people. Effort is required on our part. We must have an honest-hearted study of the Bible, by doing so, you will see that it contains clear evidence of inspiration and explains why God is permitting wickedness for a time and what is to happen on earth shortly. Surely that merits a little investigation?

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It is a common arguement from atheists that the Bible has been altered during translation. This seems to me to be no more than an excuse not to read it.

The truth is, there are thousands of handwritten copies of the Bible, some are thousands of years old, dating back to before the birth of Jesus. These copies have been compared with each other and later copies and have not been altered. True, some translators have allowed personal beliefs to colour their renderings. But these weaknesses can be identified by comparison of a variety of translations.

Answer 6

Very good question. What evidence would I accept as proof for the existence of god (any god)? I have no idea, I don't have a preconceived litmus test that your god must meet before I will abandon my Agnostic/Atheist stand and believe. But if I had to, I would say that if after I am dead and my brain is colder than ice and my body has been incinerated to ashes, my consciousness lives on and I come into the presence of anything, god or not, then I would have to believe.

Answer 7

I wouldn't say categorically that i do or do not believe in God however, I would say that it depends on how the person defines the concept of what or who God is.
I believe there is a defining force that created the earth and all things on it, I don't however believe that it was in the form of man or any other such thing.
I neither worship God or any other Deity and don't think I will be condemned to purgatory for that. Only here in the living form can I be condemned and punished for the things I do wrong.

Answer 8

I think I'd always feel a little sceptical. On the other hand, atheists have experiences that cause them to believe in God. I don't know what such an experience is, but if I were to have one, presumably this would at least help me believe in God.
It's a tough question, when I really think about it.

Answer 9

well the god showing up but their are more than monotheistic gods such as the Olympian, Egyptian, roman, Celtic, Norse, Taoist, and so on gods which I find more realistic to consider but then their are the spirits who appear to have Divine powers such as the native American Australian and Hawaiian and the spirits who have limited Divine powers and gods who have limited Divine powers, then the gods, demigods and spirits who were more superhuman than Divine but on each case it would be show yourself and prove who you are.
Miracles on the other hand I think happen everyday and I don't think having an explanation makes them less of a miracle it is the wonder of it working out for the best when in all probability it shouldn't. like having a supposedly incurable decease and the only treatment that could work which usually doesn't works, or a child being born with a lot of problems and a suitable donor being found that to me is a miracle it doesn't take a god to perform it.

Answer 10

Everbody has the Knowledge of God already in them, Romans 1:19-20-21. So there are no true atheists they already know that God exists. As for confusion 1 Corinthians 14:33"For He is not a God of Confusion and disorder but of peace and order........." And yes, the religious can't agree but the word of God is not a religion. So don't look to religion , the meaning of religion ,in short, means "Bondage". So don't look to religion for spiritual answers but to Jesus who is the Word of God. James 3:16 "For where ever there is jealously (envy) and contention (rivalry and selfish ambition),there will also be confusion (unrest, disharmony,rebellion) and all sorts of evil and vile practices". The powerful evidence you are looking for is Jesus, you can't get more powerful than that. God has already silenced religious confusion in His Son Jesus. You say you would believe in God if religious people would live better lives, well how about you live a better life through Jesus and influence the religious people to live a better life. why wait for someone else why not you. God can only do these thing only if you allow him to, you have a free will to choose and God the Father will not violate the gift of choice He has given you. Really he has already done all these things that you speak of through the shed blood of His Son Jesus. God has done all He is going to do, you have have to take the next step and except Jesus.

Answer 11

Dear Atheist. Answer me. Are you an atheist
1. just because you do not want to believe in a GOD?
2. just because you can not understand this creation?
3. just because you do not think miracles are possible?
4. just because you do not want an owner/proprietor for this creation?

Or may be for many more other such questions in my mind or your mind?

This applies the same for all the believers of all religions in the reverse.

There lies the answer for your simple question. It is personal to everyone. I believe or not believe. That is it. Nothing special about an answer from others.

Whether some one is religious or an atheist, getting an answer from others means, that they feel they have got supporters for their own theories (true or false), and they feel that they are powerful ruling the earth.

It is just as simple as that. I want to rule the earth and humanity. Power hungry both faithful and atheists.