How can we know that god exists?

[followerofchrist]

(ForYou;46069)
Okay you fellow people,I believe this topic has gone on to long. We have defended the christian side,and others have defended the secular side. Now here is my two cents. I feel like I should not be posting here since I think it has gone far enough but oh well. Listen all,How can we know God exists. It is like asking you "How can we know you EXIST" Well of course you would say because I have pictures,well could it not be a computer program typing this,and could it not give us fake pictures? But you know you exist and others who know you do to right. So I guess for me to say you exist would be to have FAITH. You will never find God until you search with love,and faith. You will never hear him until you listen. I know God real just as you know you are. Look at the world,with all the science and technology around,they can not prove the earth was created by a bing bang,and even funnier they can't prove there is not a God. So what happens,you have to believe in one of the other,one of which has no proof,the other which has the Bible. So to believe in one do you not have FAITH,so why not use that faith to realize God exist? God is as real as you and I,and the rest of the world,many fables are past down from one generation to the next always changed and changed,yet the word of God remains unharmed and is always there to protect. Do you not realize that even if you don't believe there is a God that exists and you don't believe in heaven or hell you will still go to Hell. I would really take a reality check. Until you can prove to me there is no God,then do not comment back. God is real. God exists. He will come back!
AMEN Duke!!!! That's my boy telling it like it is!

 

[RaddSpencer]

FOR CYBELLA AND INTERESTED ATHEIST (please read)

(InterestedAtheist;45862)
This is the same problem I'm having. There must be more substantial evidence for God than "He's there because of the complexities of the world we live in"I was hoping there were complexities which proove his existence by fact, not assumption.

This is actually a reasonable question, and I am glad you are asking it. There are philosophical arguments for the existence of a monothesitic God.[url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Existence_of_god]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Existence_of_god[/url]Some of my favorite arguments are:Argument from Morality (basically says that because we are moral beings, God gave us moral law)[url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argument_from_morality]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argument_from_morality[/url]Argument from Truth (also known as the Trascendental argument) (basically we are able to know truth because God exists --- God is the keeper of truth)[url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcendental_argument_for_the_existence_of_God]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcendenta...xistence_of_God[/url]Argument from Desire (which I can't find unfortunately) (because mankind desires to know God -- God must exist)Cosmological Argument (also known as the Prime Mover argument) (anything which had a beginning must have a cause)[url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmological_argument]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmological_argument[/url]Now, if you look at these links, there are arguments for and against. That is fine in my opinion (its wikipedia, they are trying to be objective). The argument over God's existence is rather old -- going back to the Ancient Greeks (with Plato and Aristotle) into the present time.There are many intelligent people on both sides, and I am not going to make fun of the atheistic side just because I disagree with it. One thing I don't like is that Atheists tend to think that Christians are dumb morons who have no remote understanding of reason and logic -- that simply is not so. History of Christian Scientists[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_l_jw3Dc7A]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_l_jw3Dc7A[/url]I like this one by Pascal:"If God does not exist, one will lose nothing by believing in Him, while if He does exist, one will lose everything by not believing."BTW, my favorite Christian Scientist was SIR ISAAC NEWTON."It is the perfection of God's works that they are all done with the greatest simplicity. He is the God of order and not of confusion.""In the absence of any other proof, the thumb alone would convince me of God's existence."The punch line is this. If you want to argue-away God's existence, you can. You can rationalize anything (that is basically what Dr. Richard Dawkins is trying to do as we speak). However consider the following:1. It requires more faith to be an atheist because: It is harder to prove that something does NOT exist than it is to prove something EXISTS. For instance, it is easier to prove that gold exists somewhere in the United States than it is to prove that gold does NOT exist in the United States. To prove the former, you simply find gold somewhere; to prove the latter, you have to dig up every square inch of ground, search every house, etc... to prove that no gold is present.2. You are at an "eternal" disadvantage As Pascal said, if Christians die and God does not exist -- so what. If an athiest dies and does not know Christ (and God does exist) -- well we all know what happens.3. You can always check to make sure (DANGER DANGER)

A Christian and an Atheist can argue all day long as to whether God exists. However, this argument is as pointless as two men arguing if a man is in the next room. The question can be settled if these guys will go and CHECK the other room! Now this is where many Atheists check out. Because frankly, according to the Bible, if you seek God -- YOU WILL FIND HIM!"9That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." 12For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."Romans 10:9-13Why not call upon the name of the Lord and see what happens -- that will answer your question for certain. (and no fake stuff either XD)

 

[Rudy]

Cybella,I am SO happy for you. Words cannot express how encouraged I was by your last post. You see, I've been praying for you every day, and especially every night (as I thought about you when I was ready to go to sleep, thinking that you might be, too, depending on your time zone). God answers prayer! Welcome to the family of God. {{Hug}}The Bible says, "Even the demons believe [that there is one God] and tremble." (James 2:19) Satan and his demons know that victory will come when we cry out to God. They knew that when you called on God, He would deliver you. They don't want you on God's side; they want you on their side. That's why they were tormenting you. (You are not alone; Satan attacks all God's people in one way or another.) But God said, "Yet in all these things, we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loves us." (Romans 8:37) It goes on to say that nothing shall be able to separate us from the love of God. Thank God for His deliverance! ray3:Now that you are a new creature in Christ, start reading the Bible every day. Start with the Gospel of John. Maybe read a chapter or two a day to start. Pray every day. You already know from that experience that God cares and He hears, and the Bible says in 1 John 5:15, "If we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him." If Satan tries to make you think that it is not worth it to pray, just think about that experience; it will keep you motivated. Also, when God answers your prayers, it helps to write them down so that when you get discouraged (and you will -- Satan tries to discourage everyone!), you can look back on answered prayer and encourage yourself. Reading the Bible and praying every day will help you to grow in God and will help you to develop a relationship with Him as you get to know Him better. Then apply what you learn to your life -- to your actions."The Lord WILL hear when I call to Him." Psalm 4:3“Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God WILL hear me.” Micah 7:7"Casting all your anxieties on Him because HE CARES FOR YOU!" 1 Peter 5:7"For He Himself has said, 'I will NEVER leave you nor will I ever forsake you.' So that we may boldly say, 'The Lord is my Helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?'" Hebrews 13:5-6If you have anymore questions, please don't hesitate to ask. We are here to help you. I will continue to pray for you.

 

[Jackie D]

(Cybella;45836)
So, what should I do now?
get in the Word, pray and praise...keep calling on Him, Cybella. I cannot tell you how over joyed I am with what you have shared and I praise the Lord God Almighty for your salvation....feel free to write to me anytime...I will PM you my private email address.Oh thank You Lord for what You have done!!!tears came but they are tears of joy and peace for you.ray3:...I will continue praying for you

 

[Cybella]

To Jacky and Rudy- Thank you so much for your support! If it were not for people like you on these boards, I doubt that I would have ever had the courage to do what I did. The dreams have stopped entirely, and I feel better now than I have in my entire life! *Hugs all around*

 

[Jackie D]

(Cybella;46571)
To Jacky and Rudy- Thank you so much for your support! If it were not for people like you on these boards, I doubt that I would have ever had the courage to do what I did. The dreams have stopped entirely, and I feel better now than I have in my entire life! *Hugs all around*
I am so happy and full of joy for you Cybella. God is so good!

 

[Rudy]

(Cybella;46571)
To Jacky and Rudy- Thank you so much for your support! If it were not for people like you on these boards, I doubt that I would have ever had the courage to do what I did. The dreams have stopped entirely, and I feel better now than I have in my entire life! *Hugs all around*
You are very welcome! All the glory goes to God! I am so happy for you! "There is more joy in Heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance." (Luke 15:7) ...The Heavens are rejoicing over your salvation.

What Jacky said goes for me, too -- if you ever need someone to talk to - to encourage/help you - I'm here, too. You can PM me any time. {{Hug right back to you!}}