How can we know "God" exists?

[Orias]

How can we know "God" exists?

By the same way we can know anything else.

How does one prove what they know?

 

[Twilight Hue]

How do you view God? As a literal metaphysical being in the sky? As a state of being? As a force that transcends all? Not literally real, but a symbol that points to something beyond what we can comprehend?

Is there any evidence for God? Scientific, anecdotal, philosophical or otherwise?

I think that the possibility of God is great, considering how organized and precise the universe is; but I wouldn't go so far as to say that I believe in God.

The universe only looks precise because we set a standard of what precise is. Everything concerning any god stems from only one source and that is other human beings. Nowhere else.
God to me are the interpretations that arise concerning of what is not explained to which a personality is attributed. Like Mother Nature.

 

[Willamena]

How do you view God? As a literal metaphysical being in the sky? As a state of being? As a force that transcends all? Not literally real, but a symbol that points to something beyond what we can comprehend?

As a tap on the shoulder.

So I guess that's "metaphorically."

 

[haribol]

Everything we have is God manifestations and we cannot see any other thing than godliness. When you sunshine you can see God is smiling and to say the universe is material or physical is an illusion since even today physics has Proved that the universe is not just material it is beyond or something more than what is and it is meta material. The world is full of consciousness only and anything beyond what is observed remains and that is the spiritual form of the universe.

 

[Thief]

I guess I should worship my physics teacher, who is all of the above.

Worship?
Maybe not.
Many things can stand between you and heaven.

I suspect heaven to have hiearchy.
It seems the Greatest of all would be in charge.

 

[1137]

Worship?
Maybe not.
Many things can stand between you and heaven.

I suspect heaven to have hiearchy.
It seems the Greatest of all would be in charge.

My physics professor is pretty cool.

 

[Tiberius]

How do you view God? As a literal metaphysical being in the sky? As a state of being? As a force that transcends all? Not literally real, but a symbol that points to something beyond what we can comprehend?

Is there any evidence for God? Scientific, anecdotal, philosophical or otherwise?

I think that the possibility of God is great, considering how organized and precise the universe is; but I wouldn't go so far as to say that I believe in God.

The only way we can know for a fact that God exists is if we can test for his existence in some way.

I personally can't imagine what kind of test that could be, given there is no clear definition of God.

 

[Thief]

How do you view God? As a literal metaphysical being in the sky? As a state of being? As a force that transcends all? Not literally real, but a symbol that points to something beyond what we can comprehend?

Is there any evidence for God? Scientific, anecdotal, philosophical or otherwise?

I think that the possibility of God is great, considering how organized and precise the universe is; but I wouldn't go so far as to say that I believe in God.

If no one has said so yet.....consider...

Billions of copies of a device that can little more than learn.
Each occasion results in a unique spirit....unique perspective.

Someone had to be First in mind and emotion.
First in spirit.

If that same person is the Creator then forming someone else would be essential.
The Universe (one word) might be large....but if you are the only One....
it is solitary confinement.

Which I think explains why we are here.

 

[1137]

If no one has said so yet.....consider...

Billions of copies of a device that can little more than learn.
Each occasion results in a unique spirit....unique perspective.

You way undersell humanity. The device you type on was created by us, (and I could drag this example out if it weren't 1am), so obviously we can do more than learn. Also, copies? The diverse personality of every individual human (and animal for that matter) shows that we are certainly not copies.

Someone had to be First in mind and emotion.
First in spirit.

Of course. I'm not sure which species first evolved to have a mind and emotion though...

Which I think explains why we are here.

Doesn't explain it for those of us who wish to give it some, erm... deeper thought.

 

[Thief]

You way undersell humanity. The device you type on was created by us, (and I could drag this example out if it weren't 1am), so obviously we can do more than learn. Also, copies? The diverse personality of every individual human (and animal for that matter) shows that we are certainly not copies.



Of course. I'm not sure which species first evolved to have a mind and emotion though...



Doesn't explain it for those of us who wish to give it some, erm... deeper thought.

Yeah right...deeper thought....

How about creation?......now think about it.....carefully....

Which came first?....Spirit?...or substance?

But haven't we had this discussion before?
Did you get it right?

 

[Thief]

The only way we can know for a fact that God exists is if we can test for his existence in some way.

I personally can't imagine what kind of test that could be, given there is no clear definition of God.

I use the notion of superlatives.
Bigger, faster, stronger. more intelligent and greatly experienced.
Coupled with the concept of Creator......
the Almighty.

Stacked deck.

 

[haribol]

I simply wonder why people have this extreme obsession with God and this obsession has at times bring about good consequences and harmony but at times violent occasions. Why we stick to religions that teach us to discrete people and divide them along racial lines.

 

[chinu]

I simply wonder why people have this extreme obsession with God and this obsession has at times bring about good consequences and harmony but at times violent occasions. Why we stick to religions that teach us to discrete people and divide them along racial lines.

That because "Time" Satan doesn't want God to conquer his place, if this would have been happen continuesly, than there would have been BLANK-OUT on this earth (Means no people on earth) everybody will be in heaven, or God's place.

 

[1137]

Yeah right...deeper thought....

How about creation?......now think about it.....carefully....

Which came first?....Spirit?...or substance?

But haven't we had this discussion before?
Did you get it right?

Depends how you define spirit. However, we do not, and may never, have the possibility to tell if there was something before matter. How can physical entities even imagine something completely separate from the physical?

 

[Sunstone]

How do you view God? As a literal metaphysical being in the sky? As a state of being? As a force that transcends all? Not literally real, but a symbol that points to something beyond what we can comprehend?

Most days, as a symbol, like an x in mathematics, that is more or less a placeholder for an unknown and perhaps unknowable something -- or nothing.

Is there any evidence for God? Scientific, anecdotal, philosophical or otherwise?

The direct, immediate experience of god might be considered evidence for deity. But I consider that evidence to be rather weak for several reasons. Among them, the possibility that such an experience is some kind of illusion. Again, the possibility that such an experience, like the experience of color, bears no great correspondence to reality beyond the functioning of the brain. And so forth.

I think that the possibility of God is great, considering how organized and precise the universe is; but I wouldn't go so far as to say that I believe in God.

I think the apparent organization and precision of the universe is explainable in terms of natural causes.

 

[Thief]

Depends how you define spirit. However, we do not, and may never, have the possibility to tell if there was something before matter. How can physical entities even imagine something completely separate from the physical?

Try definition under..... Creator.

It was one way or the other....Spirit first...or substance....

If substance first then all of spirit is carried in tangible form.
And if so carried cannot be separated.
We are then destined to follow our flesh into the box...and the box into the ground.

Eternal darkness then prevails.
It is physically real.

Shall we continue to say if we are thinking spirit after the last breath?

A recent radio interview of a specialist about resuscitation claims the brain continues hours after the heart fails.

Any hour beyond the last breath could feel like eternity.
Especially if anyone leaning over your corpse can be heard to say.....'He's gone!'

And then knowing which way you're headed.....

 

[1137]

Apparently you are incapable of understanding that your overwhelming fear of death proves nothing about "spirit".

 

[Thief]

Apparently you are incapable of understanding that your overwhelming fear of death proves nothing about "spirit".

I am not driven by fear.

Apparently your denial drives you.

 

[1137]

Denial of what? Your argument with no supporting evidence founded on an appeal to fear? Yes, fear of accepting fallacy does partially drive me. I have no problem with belief, but stop peddling it as knowledge.

 

[Thief]

Denial of what? Your argument with no supporting evidence founded on an appeal to fear? Yes, fear of accepting fallacy does partially drive me. I have no problem with belief, but stop peddling it as knowledge.

Knowledge as such items I can be sure of?

You believe in gravity..don't you?
Can't see it....but you feel the effect.
strange don't you think...all these centuries go by and them someone lays claim to having discovered it.

Too bad Newton isn't on the forum.

But to be sure of things you can't see.....you have only your reason.

I see billions of copies of a form that does no more than learn.
Each occasion produces a unique spirit.

I am sure this effort is not in vain.
I am sure that death is not final.

A recent radio interview with a specialist of resuscitation.....
the brain might continue several hours after the heart stops beating.
Some people have returned to speak of experience beyond the body.

Stands to reason that such things could happen.
also stands to reason...if the chemistry fails altogether the bond is broken.

Doesn't mean the spirit fails with it.
Although denial will likely play against the continuance.

Seems there IS some notion to continuance.....
I think so anyway.