What is and isn't God willing to do to gain believers?

Question

Some theists claim that God revealed his existence to them through a miracle, answered prayer, or holy book.

Others argue that God does not prove himself to us because he is not accountable to us.

There are also those who say God constantly proves he exists through the order and beauty of nature.

My question is -- What exactly is God willing to do to demonstrate his existence or power? What does God refuse to do?

I'm sorry, I don't understand some answers. God proved he existed through the death of Jesus?

Saying that God gave his son is begging the question. This is like saying elves made it rain, therefore rain is proof of elves.

Spiffs, obviously as an atheist I don't consider the Bible any more evidence than the Quran or the Iliad.

The Unmoved Mover is a philsophical argument, but scientifically unimpressive. God should know this. He should know exactly what each person requires to believe.

Answer 1

One school of thought is that once god has set things in motion, there is no further interference. This is contrary to the belief that praying for intervention has any measured affect.

No gods, no interference.

Answer 2

The question is ultimately what you will accept as true or not.

I find it a bit silly to ask why God doesn't make his existence more clear, but if coming down to earth as a human being and living amongst us teaching, performing miracles and rising from the dead is not enough empirical, historical evidence for people, I don't know what will convince them. That is what the christian truth is, I can't speak for other religions, but that is one of the CLEAREST reasons we believe what we believe. One can either choose to accept or reject this eye witness account which, to me, has all the trappings of a real true account, not the transparancy of myth. The essential message of christianity is that God demonstrates himself both in nature as creator and goes beyond that, to also save us.

There are other proofs for God as well, the greeks had worked out a few even before the time of Christ. It was actually Aristotle whom hypothesized the Unmoved Mover argument which was then perfected by Aquinas. And in Plato's allegory of the cave the symbol of the Sun which makes all things intelligable, gives light to the intellect, etc, struck a cord with many christians. Besides that there is also the fact that this universe had a beginning, has beauty, mystery, is almost unfathomably enormous, has creatures like us whom have free will and a soul or sense of self (though materialists like to explain these away with assumptions) intellect and morality and many others.

For some people almost anything can allude to God's existence, the beauty of a sunset, the smiling face of one's friends, etc. For others, they do not see any transcendant meaning or beauty or mystery in life at all. It is partly a matter of perspective. If we so set ourselves against believing something, almost nothing can be demonstrable without a doubt. Even the veracity of our very own senses.

The real issue is not that there is not good reasons to believe in God, but that the reasons to believe in God are often not scientific, nor could they be. And for some people that just equates to untruth.

Answer 3

CCC 1 - God, infinitely perfect and blessed in himself, in a plan of sheer goodness freely created man to make him share in his own blessed life. For this reason, at every time and in every place, God draws close to man. He calls man to seek him, to know him, to love him with all his strength. He calls together all men, scattered and divided by sin, into the unity of his family, the Church. To accomplish this, when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son as Redeemer and Savior. In his Son and through him, he invites men to become, in the Holy Spirit, his adopted children and thus heirs of his blessed life.

CCC 2 - So that this call should resound throughout the world, Christ sent forth the apostles he had chosen, commissioning them to proclaim the gospel: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age." Strengthened by this mission, the apostles "went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that attended it."

Source(s):
The Life of Man—To Know and Love God (Catechism Of The Catholic Church):
http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/prologue.htm

Answer 4

He said their would be a generation that will always be looking for a sign and none will be given. By faith you walk not by signs.

Answer 5

God was willing to let His own Son die a horrible death on the cross to prove how much He loves us. He is not willing to FORCE us to accept that gift. It is up to each of us.

Answer 6

He gives you choice. If you wish to deny him, you can....that is how he shows he loves you. He also gave Jesus to die for you! That is a very simple way he has used to gain believers. Also Jesus instructed the disciples to go and make disciples out of people unto the ends of the earth!

Answer 7

God doesn't have to demonstrate anyting to anyone; ergo, He does not have to be willing...you either believe or not, your choice. God's "proof" Is the fact that we're all here...

Answer 8

he refuses to stand by and let the world he created fall apart...oh wait....

Answer 9

God gave his only son to die for YOUR sins. what else would he need to do?

Answer 10

let it ride.