How do we know a Prophet is a Prophet and sent by God?

[TagliatelliMonster]

Lets say that a prophet said that a purple polkadotted zebra was going to be born. Then it was born. That proves the prediction. Lets say that a series of correct predictions, that makes it even less likely of being a coincidence. You said that no test exists. Isn't the fact that a prediction (or many obscure and unlikely predictions) come true is an indication of the truthfulness of predictions.

Well, it's a bit complex actually. See, consider the statement: "the causal chain can't be just asserted - it needs to be demonstrated".

Suppose indeed that some "prophet" in some religious scriptures claims that some god talked to him and "revealed" these predictions to him. And let's say those predictions are as detailed as those in your example and that they indeed came out.


Does this "prove", or even "support" that a god exists and that this god revealed those predictions to him?

Nope. That was a bare anecdotal claim before confirming the predictions and it remains one after it.
At best, it warrants more investigation into the claims. But confirming the predictions does not confirm the anecdotal claim of how they were obtained.

 

[Koldo]

Yes. I meant your interpretation. Sorry if I was not clear about that. I meant what YOU accept as an acceptable interpretation.

On this particular case? The literal interpretation. That part is meant to convey an actual miracle that could be seen. The following part makes that clear: "But if they see a Sign, they turn away, and say, "This is (but) transient magic."

The point of contention was supposed to be whether it was a miracle or magic, not whether it actually happened. Except no one else really noticed it happening.

 

[firedragon]

On this particular case? The literal interpretation. That part is meant to convey an actual miracle that could be seen. The following part makes that clear: "But if they see a Sign, they turn away, and say, "This is (but) transient magic."

The point of contention was supposed to be whether it was a miracle or magic, not whether it actually happened. Except no one else really noticed it happening.

Hmm. Miracle or Magic. Whats the difference? In a theistic worldview, the whole existence could be considered a miracle. You know this. Creation is a miracle in any worldview.

And you say that "not whether it actually happened". And then you say "nobody noticed it". Which means you contend this is an occurrence when humans were there. Correct>

So what time period do you think this is alluded to?

 

[Fool]

God's love made Jesus.

god's love made everything. god so loved the thing it made. jesus didn't try to make it about himself; so why are his followers?

 

[Koldo]

Hmm. Miracle or Magic. Whats the difference? In a theistic worldview, the whole existence could be considered a miracle. You know this. Creation is a miracle in any worldview.

And you say that "not whether it actually happened". And then you say "nobody noticed it". Which means you contend this is an occurrence when humans were there. Correct>

So what time period do you think this is alluded to?

Yeah... I know where this is headed.
That's not gonna work, sorry. I am not going to buy that ****.

 

[firedragon]

Yeah... I know where this is headed.
That's not gonna work, sorry. I am not going to buy that ****.

Haha. Buy "What"? You said "that", so what is "that"?

You have a prototype, and are scared the thing you want to be within that prototype to break it. So you are preemptively putting a stop to the future.

Its like a father who has a prototype of women who party and is holding back his daughter from going to the varsity in fear of "she will party like them".

Have a great day.

 

[Koldo]

Haha. Buy "What"? You said "that", so what is "that"?

You have a prototype, and are scared the thing you want to be within that prototype to break it. So you are preemptively putting a stop to the future.

Its like a father who has a prototype of women who party and is holding back his daughter from going to the varsity in fear of "she will party like them".

Have a great day.

P1) Everything that exists is a miracle.
P2) X, which happens have a crack, exists.
C1) Therefore, X is a miracle.

My *** exists and happens to have a crack. Looks like my *** is a miracle too. I have got to wonder why it wasn't mentioned instead of the moon.

 

[firedragon]

P1) Everything that exists is a miracle.
P2) X, which happens have a crack, exists.
C1) Therefore, X is a miracle.

My *** exists and happens to have a crack. Looks like my *** is a miracle too. I have got to wonder why it wasn't mentioned instead of the moon.

Cute.

But lame. Cut and paste from Wikipedia instead because your character and your argumentation are both flawed. A quick googling and a Wiki page is much better.

Tell me. Why cant this be a Giant Impact? Do you in your imagine the moon splitting is a splitting in half like a cement ball? Shakkaa the arabic word does not mean that. So it could also mean the moon split up from something else.

Of course you dont seem to wish to understand or engage with anything but some of your feces arguments above and some rantings so some thoughts are water under the bridge for that type of characters.

Cheers.

 

[Hawkins]

This is for me a fascinating topic because I am a strong believer in the Prophets although I never met Them yet somehow within myself, I know they are true and sent by God.

The question is - how do we know a Prophet is from God? We have such scriptures as the Bible, the Quran which I accept and also stories about the Lives of Great Educators like Buddha, Christ, Moses, Muhammad, Krishna and Baha’u’llah.

But with no one yet able to describe God how do billions of people believe in Them?

First and foremost, a prophet knows how to communicate with God in an unambiguous manner. Though this is not detailed in the Bible, it is hinted, while a prophet should reckon the verse(s) right away for such a protocol of communication to work. This refers to how a message is sent in its simplest to its most complicated form.

So if a human doesn't how to communicate so (i.e., unambiguously), he's not a true prophet. If he knows then possibly he's a true prophet.

 

[Koldo]

Cute.

But lame. Cut and paste from Wikipedia instead because your character and your argumentation are both flawed. A quick googling and a Wiki page is much better.

Tell me. Why cant this be a Giant Impact? Do you in your imagine the moon splitting is a splitting in half like a cement ball? Shakkaa the arabic word does not mean that. So it could also mean the moon split up from something else.

Because there is no reason whatsoever to reach your conclusion other than the convenience of saving face.
It was supposed to be something so extraordinary that the mere sight of it would lead to the inevitable conclusion it had to be the result of a miracle or magic, rather than an ordinary daily event. The context is clear.

 

[Trailblazer]

An unverifiable god is about as meaningful as an unverifiable magical pixie.

A God that knowingly created a world where people suffer and does not do anything about it is about as loving as a magical pixie.

 

[QuestioningMind]

Hmm. So a magical pixie is uncreated.

What does it look like? Does it have parts?

A magical pixie is beyond human comprehension, so questions like that don't apply.

 

[QuestioningMind]

A God that knowingly created a world where people suffer and does not do anything about it is about as loving as a magical pixie.

How... nice?

 

[firedragon]

A magical pixie is beyond human comprehension, so questions like that don't apply.

If its beyond human comprehension, where did you get the name from? Pixie? What is it?

 

[QuestioningMind]

If its beyond human comprehension, where did you get the name from? Pixie? What is it?

It's the name of this incomprehensible being.

 

[firedragon]

It's the name of this incomprehensible being.

Where did you get the name from?

So you know the name of an incomprehensible being, and you showcase this being, call it Pixie with out having a clue what it is? Did this being speak to you personally? But you didnt see this being!!

 

[QuestioningMind]

Where did you get the name from?

So you know the name of an incomprehensible being, and you showcase this being, call it Pixie with out having a clue what it is? Did this being speak to you personally? But you didnt see this being!!

It must be magic... it is called a MAGICAL pixie after all. If the magical pixie wants me or anyone else to know this stuff then the magical pixie will make sure that we do.

So what has our 'thought experiment' revealed thus far?

 

[firedragon]

It must be magic

If its "Incomprehensible", how do you know that "it must be magic"?

 

[robocop (actually)]

Then extra caution is reasonable, no?

And what if God reveals Himself in a new form that's better and you have to recognize Him?

 

[loverofhumanity]

Let’s get back to the topic. I’ll start with Prophet Muhammad. When He returned from the cave where He claimed angel Gabriel revealed to Him the Words of God why did those around Him believe Him? At that time there was no Quran, that would come over a period of 23 years.

My question is what inspired the early Muslims to be willing to sacrifice their lives for Islam even though they were opposed, oppressed, tortured and killed and had practically no Islamic literature?

The same goes for Christ’s disciples. Why accept to be beheaded when they could have lived in comfort and ease?

Now Christianity and Islam have spread all over the world. Why? If the Prophets were just ordinary people like you and I then we should be able to replicate everything they did, change civilisation and acquire billions of followers. Can any of us do that? If so then do it and if not why not?