Hypothetical for Christians: Put yourself in the shoes of a non-believer?

Question

Christians: Imagine for a moment that God has never communicated with you personally (i.e. answered your prayers, guided you, etc.). Now, can you point to any events or situations that would prove to you that the Christian God exists without there being any other possible explanations for those events or situations? Remember, you can’t rely on other people’s accounts of their communications with God because they might be lying or distorting the truth. You need something that will prove to you that this Christian God exists.

I ask you to put yourself in this position so that for a moment, you can see where non-believers are coming from. No God has ever spoken to me. I have never seen anything that could not be explained by science or luck. I have prayed to God and have never had any response. All I have to suggest that the Christian God is real is the word of other people. Can you see where we are coming from? You tell us we have to believe, but you can’t believe something until you have reason to believe it.

Answer 1

Did you notice that there only seems to be one real attempt (from Quella Bella)?

To the Christians who answered here, the same way you can't put yourselves in our shoes, some of us can't put ourselves in your shoes. I can't go back to Christianity (or any other religion).

Answer 2

Yours is a very interesting post indeed. You identify yourself as a nonbeliever and yet you have prayed and are disappointed that God has not answered your prayers, etc. Faith in God is not something that is turned on and off based on your experience with God. A believer believes through good times and bad times. We do not have a perfect life because we believe in God.

What kind of an experience do you hope to have from God? If waking up every morning is something you are thankful for then you are a person of faith. Someone once said (I don't remember who) that if one simply says "Thank you" to God, that is the only prayer you need to say. The existence of God cannot be proved or disproved. That is why we have faith. And btw, God is for all. It's not just the Christian God. God is the same for all.

Answer 3

There are other arguments for the existence of God. One of these is called the "moral argument." Let's consider this logic: (1)If God did not exist, there would be no objective moral standards. (2)Objective moral standards do exist. (3)Therefore God exists.
Dostoevsky is credited with saying that "Without God, everything is permitted." So without God, doing something immoral would be an illusion—even nonsense, or something merely unfashionable. Atheists cannot escape the problem that without God, whoever has the most political power determines what is moral.
This line of reasoning not only points to the existence of God, it begins to explain who God is, that is, what attributes God has. We can begin to see that God is not some evil monster, but rather is a loving and rational God, consistent with the God of the Bible.
The evidence for God is so compelling, that one must override his senses to deny Him. A thinking person who denies God must do so on the basis of preferring to believe there is no God in order to try to escape His judgment, thus irrationally seeking autonomy. Our challenge to the skeptic: At some point you must be willing to rationally consider the evidence and honestly seek with an open mind details about the God who made you.

A book that I highly recommend on this subject is " I Don't Have Enough FAITH to Be an ATHEIST", by Norman L. Geisler and Frank Turek. A smaller book is former atheist C. S. Lewis' Mere Christianity. This book has convinced many of the truth of Christianity. It is a great book to give out to friends.

Answer 4

I was a non-believer so I have been in your shoes. I know lots of atheists that grew up with christian teachings and many Christians that grew up with out (like me). I know Christians that have had amazing supernatural experiences that I have never experienced but I know their character (my husband for example) and know them not to be liars...especially about something so special to their heart. I do not believe based on others experiences however, but my own more humble ones. We all come from differing backgrounds on the subject and have to decide for ourselves. You are asking a question you know noone here will give you an answer to that will satisfy. You have obviously heard the message of Jesus and choose to not believe...if that is the case then go on and live your life happily and do not worry about the hypothetical nonsense questions. If you are not comfortable with your unbelief and still feel some proof is needed the only thing I can suggest is you pray for discernment to the truth...pick up the Bible and start reading. A good book to supplement your Bible study would be "The new Evidence That Demands A Verdict" by Josh Dowell...(a researcher who originally went out to disprove christ). I could not possible summarize the 760 pages of well researched defense of Christianity. You seem to need proof so rather than expect a quick Y/A paragraph to sum up the totality of ones belief I suggest you do some real research...you may even get that unexplainable miracle of recognizing God you seem to be so contemptuous of. God Bless!

Answer 5

hmmm, this is an excellent request, and also a difficult one!

But in all honesty, everytime I look into my son's eyes... I just believe that there has to be something greater out there. Something or someone that created such wonder and beauty in people and in nature. If I never had any spiritual experiences or had any of my prayers answered... I'd probably still believe in a god or goddess.

But I also understand where non-believers are coming from. That is why I respect their beliefs and don't try to force mine on them or anyone else for that matter.

True belief is not something that can be forced or taken away.

Answer 6

Hi, there is no doubt that Jesus Christ (who is God in the flesh) was who he says he was. Not only do Christians believe this, but non-believers do also, and recorded his miracles, healings, and authority to over demons. Islam accepts him as a prophet (not for who he really was - the Christ). Even Jews, to whom he came to did not accept him, just the Bible's prophesy said the won't, but they still believed he was sent of God. Eastern religions make mention of him, but again deny who he is.
The Bible is filled with treausres that explain life, that we cannot explain otherwise. Do you know that Biblical history says that the earth is about 6 to 10 thousand years old? Do you know that there is no evidence found anywhere that the earth is any older, much less than hundreds of millions of years. NASA scientists know this. They have seen the evidence for themselves, but they don't want to believe in God. We get the news by the very few who couldnt live with the lie. Darwin brought this theory forth, but was forced to concede, they and we have found no transitional forms. We find dinosaurs and men, and all creatures, for what evolutionists say 200 million years, but no transitional forms. Do you know that if evolution is true, we would have found millions by now? NASA also discovered a missing day in time by studying the stars, as only God has revealed in the book of Joshua (the sun remained up all day until he took the enemies of God down).
The best yet, are those who know Jesus Christ and believe every Word of the Bible. They find the love and peace of God, and his Holy Spirit to everyone who believes, and the Spirit confirms in us, Jesus Christ is the Word of God.

Answer 7

I can see where your coming from, I feel that something or something didn't happen in your life for you to believe it. I can only hope that you find God in your life. Still its quite understanable for you not to believe in God. Your right God did not decend down from heaven and tell you its self. I feel other Christians need to understand some people need for things to be shown to them directly for them to believe. I can only hope that you have the sort of experience that will show you there is a god. I feel everyone needs something to believe in other then logic and themselves.


Also I have no idea why Christians tell you that you haveto be believe maybe its because they fear God which I don't think anyone should feel. I have no idea I am not that type of person to judge those who don't believe I am understanding in how you feel.

Answer 8

It's hard to pretend that God never acted in my life when he already has.

I'm not the one telling you that you have to believe and I hope that you'll have an experience some day that will open your eyes, but if you're looking for an outward sign, I'm not sure I can help you.

I always thought that there was a reason why we were here, and therefore never rejected the possibility of God at work. But I didn't start actively seeking him until I had that personal experience that you've asked me to pretend I didn't have.

Sorry, can't do it.

Might I suggest something...if you're praying to God and not expecting him to answer, how will you know when he has?

Answer 9

I appreciate you well written explanation. And I'll try to give you the kind of response you're seeking, but know that I struggle letting go of what I know as much as you do trying to grasp hold.

You say you pray but never seen any response. Let me start there. If you put a quarter in the slot machine and nothing happened, how would you react? No big deal, it just wasn't your turn to hit the jackpot, right? Now put money in the drink machine and nothing comes out, you complain and demand your money back. Two very similar situations different outcomes because of your expectations.

You pray not expecting God, with whom you do not have a saving relationship, to act. Or you pray expecting God to give you what you're asking for on your terms. Remember, God gets to be God--God's ways, not our ways always. God is not a slot machine, hit and miss. Neither is God a short order cook filling our every demand...who would then be in the position of "god" if we were making the demands and he doing our every wish or whim?

God is more than a reasoned response. God is real and seeks a real, loving lasting growing relationship with you and me. He's not about performing shows of his power on demand. God is deeply concerned about your heart, the very core of who you are. God is more interested in the "why" of your prayer than the "what." Are you praying in order to prove something to yourself or someone? Or disprove? In my experience, God's not interested in games. God's in this for the long haul.

And for whatever reason, God's not interested in proofs and reasons or such. God's into faith, trust, relationship, growth. God's not interested in being discovered and put on display or worse, up on some shelf gathering dust. God is interested in you coming into relationship with God, knowing God, believing God, becoming more like God.

People are the way God has chosen to relate his story, his message. And while people are fallible and oftentimes a poor reflection of the true love of God, those who do walk in God's ways and are filled with God's love are a living example of how God's living presence in us changes us.

Keep asking good questions. Keep listening to the answers.

Answer 10

You're pretty smart for a caveman. I'm an atheist, so I suppose the thought experiment doesn't really apply to me.

Although I guess I could see how people would believe if they genuinely believe that God has delivered a message to them.

Answer 11

There is no way to prove something exists to somebody that does not want to see it. I used to be in your shoes and God revealed Himself to me through many of the things you are saying I can't use to prove it to you. I was not happy at first because it went against everything I thought was true and had "preached" for 27 years! But God did assure me. And that's all I have to stand on. Of course, there is lots of evidence but to those who don't want to see it, they never will. There is also lots of evidence that China exists, but I've never seen it - I've only heard what others have said and seen what people write on maps. The reality is... I can choose to believe what others have said or I could argue that China doesn't exist unless you can prove it to me without using a map or others comments. And no I don't want to go see it and how would I even know for sure that I was in China? See, there is no way to prove something to somebody that doesn't really want proof. So I pray you do well in your search but until you open your heart and mind, proof will never come your way! Be blessed!