theophilus

I'm reluctant to start another thread since there is already one dealing with Evidence.

However, that thread, and others on the same subject, are directed toward Christians asking for 'evidence' for God.

Well, I'd be interested to know what evidence would convince an atheist that God does exist - the Christian God.

Before you post, I ask you to think seriously about your answer and consider what you criteria is for specifying such evidence and whether or not it has, in fact, already been provided.

Zadok001

I'd be quite satisfied with an OT-esque pillar of flame or smoke, clearly not adhering to the natural laws of dispersion, moving in a discernable pattern. This would not prove the existance of the CHRISTIAN God, but it would likely convince me that some supernatural entity is out there.

Accurate, demonstrable telepathy or telekinesis would work, as well.

If a God wanted to both prove his existance and his identity, the old "Speak into my mind" trick would work. Just say "I am the LORD Jesus Christ" non-audibly, such that I could percieve it. That would be quite persuasive.

I'm not expecting any of these things to occur in the near future, however. If God existed, I doubt you would claim he COULDN'T do these things. Since doing these things would presumably save my poor, lost soul, it would seem to be in God's best interest to do something. He's not, hence, I conclude that there is no good reason for me to believe in God.

Slavik91

Mark 16:17-18

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

--------------------------------------------------

If you can fulfill this, it will be a big step in the right direction.

Mageth

Well, I'd be interested to know what evidence would convince an atheist that God does exist - the Christian God.

My answer to this question - which comes up quite frequently around here - is that God, if it exists, would know the answer, i.e. would know what particular evidence would convince me of its existence.

So if I don't see evidence to convince me of God's existence, I'm left with the question: is it the case that God exists but does not wish to provide the evidence that would convince me, or is it the case that God doesn't exist?

I think it's clear which answer to the question I lean towards.

AJ113

Jesus says in the New Testament that we shall receive whatever we ask for in prayer.

This is clearly a great whopping lie, but if it were suddenly found to be true I'd be well on the way to being convinced.

Dargo

It would take many many times more evidence to convince me that biblegod exists now than it would have a few years ago when I had just started to doubt his existance. While I was losing my faith I begged god to give me some kind of a sign. I asked at times for specific things and I even asked for anything at all. It wasn't a matter of me arrogantly demanding proof of god, but years of disapointments and repeatedly unanswered prayers had shattered my faith. If god had simply answered a few important prayers it would have been enough.

I needed something more than a bunch of hollow promises in some dusty old "holy" book or stories of great things that "god" had done in other peoples lives. I needed something tangible in my own life so that whenever I got discouraged I could look back on and say "Yes that was god. He exists and he cares about me"

Like all the other ex-Christians on this board I received no sign and no evidence. Without Much as I hated to lose my faith, I simply couldn't keep praying to an empty sky.

Of course, you say god doesn't work that way. Why is it then that the bible claims that Thomas received undeniable proof to erase his doubts? Jesus didn't say to him because you were unable to believe without any evidence to back it up you will burn in hell for all eternity did he? Yet, you would have us belive that your god will condemn us to hell because he failed to provide even a shred of evidence to help ease our doubts.

As to what it would take to convince me today it would have to huge. I suppose the rapture occuring would be pretty convincing evidence. Our god appearing before the entire human race. Of course if it was the Christian god he would need to explain what exactly is the correct doctrine for Christians to follow. There are so many denominations, and each one claims that their interpretation of the bible is the correct one.

xian

the one and only event that will cause all unbelievers to believe is an event that will cause all to believe: your death.


Once a human dies, if there is any post-mortal existence, it will result in a believer- at least a believer in the supernatural.

that time will come for all of you.

Soma

or perhaps rebirth?

Biff the unclean

The exact same sort of evidence that you would use to prove that anything else exists…a specimen. It needn't perform any tricks it should be obvious enough from the specimen alone to tell what it was.

Family Man

Ah yes, when all else fails -- threaten.

How juvenile.