At what point does the possibility that an event is more than coincidence become obvious?

Question

Consider this in terms of probability theory and statistical significance.

Answer 1

When the results can be duplicated repeatedly.

Answer 2

With people who do not believe in religion (especially Christianity) coincidence has almost become extinct.

People have been healed of many terminal diseases through the centuries by the power of Jesus. But now it is said that the body can some times heal it self of any thing, and those who happened to be healed in Jesus name in the past just happened to do it at the time their bodies were healing them selves.

They try and take it to include every thing.
I know a pastor who went to a hospital because a boy broke his leg. The doctor had just taken an x-ray when he got there. He prayed with the boy. The boy felt totally well and wanted to leave, but the doctor would not allow it. The doctor showed them the x-ray of the brake. After some time, the doctor took another x-ray to confirm the brake. That x-ray showed not brake. The doctor ended the conversation by saying the boy should go and see a psychiatrist. The doctor was holding the x-rays that showed that the leg was broken and with in 2 hours it was healed by prayer and he thought the boy had a mental problem!?

I just said that as an example of some one trying to brush away proof of some thing more than coincidence.

Answer 3

There is no single number or statistical point at which one says, this is no longer a coincidence. When something happens that would normally be considered a coincidence over and over again it begins to arouse suspicion that there may be some other factor or factors invoved in the likelyhood of the event. At that point one begins to look for those other factors. Thru continued experiment and evaluation they can be determined. Saying that the event is caused by some mystical or spirit entity however, is jumping to conclusions.

Answer 4

Repeatability is important. There are no hard and fast rules.

In science, there are no "true" theories, there is, rather, a continuum between "true" and "false". Theories can be "false" if they are logically inconsistent, but a theory can only become "more true", and the probability is never 100%. Often the probability of a theory being true can be calculated quite precisely, using "Baysian statistics". Each additional piece of supporting evidence increases the probability of the theory being true, yet the theory remains, in principle, falsifiable.

Answer 5

Toogethr's answer is correct. For what it's worth, a physicist generally considers something impossible when there's less than a 50% chance of it happening throughout the currently accepted lifetime of the universe - something like all of the molecules of an object just happening to be traveling in the same direction at the same time, causing it to rise into the air spontaneously while its temperature drops.

Answer 6

Sort of like, if I drink a beer, sure enough I'm going to have to pee in an hour or so?

That sort of probability and significance?

Answer 7

lol. At the point that you set it up yourself by your own actions. Therefore its almost predestined.

For example.... you go out with a guy thats a druggie, what you want to bet you're going to have trouble?

Answer 8

Like, say, if someone prays to win the lottery, and it happens?

Consider this:

- Lots of people pray that they'll win the lottery.
- SOMEONE has to win.

Now, does this still seem so extraordinary?

Answer 9

i cant explain , but an example would be jessica alba flying to my house and asking to be my girlfriend