How can I know that there is a God?

[McCulloch]

I've been debating many issues here for some time now, but the single most important one, in my opinion is this. There are those who claim that they know that God exists. How does one come to that knowledge? Do they really know that God exists or do they simply suppose or assume that God exists?

If your answer is that I cannot know, then you are as much of an agnostic as I am. If you answer is that some holy book says so, then you have only pushed the question onto that book. I also have what I think is the second most important question.

How can I know that there is a God?

[twobitsmedia]

Edit

[Cathar1950]

Some people just seem belligerent and arrogant no matter what they believe.
Some beliefs may not make you better but some can make you worse depending on what you were like before. I guess that is the danger in some absolutes.
Frankly I enjoy Easter and even Christmas, Passover and Hanukkah. I am sure given the chance I would like many others. Birthdays come to mind as do anniversaries.
Births, deaths and just about anything is a cause to remember and worth noticing…
Happy Easter to the East and the West, both Easter days, and a Peaceful Passover to all. What else goes on? Spring Equinoxes, any others?

[bernee51]

Some people just seem belligerent and arrogant no matter what they believe.
Some beliefs may not make you better but some can make you worse depending on what you were like before. I guess that is the danger in some absolutes.
Frankly I enjoy Easter and even Christmas, Passover and Hanukkah. I am sure given the chance I would like many others. Birthdays come to mind as do anniversaries.
Births, deaths and just about anything is a cause to remember and worth noticing…
Happy Easter to the East and the West, both Easter days, and a Peaceful Passover to all. What else goes on? Spring Equinoxes, any others?

I think 21 March was also Mawlid...the celebration of the Prophet Mohammed's birthday - which I think is actually the anniversary of his death.

[Cathar1950]

Some people just seem belligerent and arrogant no matter what they believe.
Some beliefs may not make you better but some can make you worse depending on what you were like before. I guess that is the danger in some absolutes.
Frankly I enjoy Easter and even Christmas, Passover and Hanukkah. I am sure given the chance I would like many others. Birthdays come to mind as do anniversaries.
Births, deaths and just about anything is a cause to remember and worth noticing…
Happy Easter to the East and the West, both Easter days, and a Peaceful Passover to all. What else goes on? Spring Equinoxes, any others?

I think 21 March was also Mawlid...the celebration of the Prophet Mohammed's birthday - which I think is actually the anniversary of his death.

That's cool.
How about Hindu or Buddhists? They must have something, and Native Americans.
I bet everyone has one this time of the year.

[Biker]

I've been debating many issues here for some time now, but the single most important one, in my opinion is this. There are those who claim that they know that God exists. How does one come to that knowledge? Do they really know that God exists or do they simply suppose or assume that God exists?

If your answer is that I cannot know, then you are as much of an agnostic as I am. If you answer is that some holy book says so, then you have only pushed the question onto that book. I also have what I think is the second most important question.

How can I know that there is a God?

How can I know that there is a God?

You can't!

We (atheists) don't want you pushing your God on us who don't want him.

So IMO your disingenuous and sophistic for even asking.
You choose IMO to express faith in atheist philosophical nonempirical science opinion instead of the more reasonable evidence laden Christian Theism.
Happy Easter, or more accurately Jesus Christ of Nazareth resurrection from the dead supernaturally memorial day.

Biker

Since you all seem so confused, let me reiterate for you.

How can I know that there is a God?

You can't, because...

We (atheists) don't want you pushing your God on us who don't want Him.

It seems you won't.
So it is not "can" but instead it seems that you "won't". Doesn't that more accurately define the matter?
So the question is more accurately stated: How "won't" I know that there is a God?

Doesn't it take faith in the evidence.
You know that same thing you seem to have in the unempirical construct, Darwinism.

Biker

[LittlePig]

Biker

Doesn't it take faith in the evidence.
You know that same thing you seem to have in the unempirical construct, Darwinism.

Do-huh?

First off, that construct you call 'Darwinism' is empirical. Get a dictionary and learn a little science before you start with your grand claims of atheist conspiracy again.

Secondly, you seem to say that because atheists (in reality it's not just atheists; theists are right there as well) place some faith in evidence that seems best explained by the 'Darwinism Construct,' theists in the same manner place faith in their evidence for the existence of God, and, therefore, belief in God is reasonable. I'm sure others have regularly called you on this bluff, but I will do it again. What evidence for the existence of god/s are you referring to? What evidence are you as a theist using as a basis of faith in the existence of God?

Of course your own statements imply that both the 'Darwinism Construct' and theism are basically empirical and that you don't seem to even understand the words that come out of your own mouth.

[Biker]

Some people just seem belligerent and arrogant no matter what they believe.
Some beliefs may not make you better but some can make you worse depending on what you were like before. I guess that is the danger in some absolutes.
Frankly I enjoy Easter and even Christmas, Passover and Hanukkah. I am sure given the chance I would like many others. Birthdays come to mind as do anniversaries.
Births, deaths and just about anything is a cause to remember and worth noticing…
Happy Easter to the East and the West, both Easter days, and a Peaceful Passover to all. What else goes on? Spring Equinoxes, any others?

I think 21 March was also Mawlid...the celebration of the Prophet Mohammed's birthday - which I think is actually the anniversary of his death.

That's cool.
How about Hindu or Buddhists? They must have something, and Native Americans.
I bet everyone has one this time of the year.

That's uncool.

From the historical record:
"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.' Philip said to him, 'Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.' Jesus said to him, 'Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves." John 14:6-11.

It is very simple, you don't believe!

Biker

[Aardvark]

.... There are those who claim that they know that God exists. How does one come to that knowledge? Do they really know that God exists or do they simply suppose or assume that God exists?

...

How can I know that there is a God?

I've skimmed through a number of the posted replies and not found one that addresses your question as framed.

There is however the argument that 'Food is for the stomach and the stomach is for food'.

Ask yourself: Why do we care so much about fair play? Even a small child will complain that 'it's not fair!' but where does that notion come from?
However diverse the answers to 'what is fair/right/wrong?' may be, certain patterns are universal. Nowhere do we find people justifying their actions because they believe them to be bad or evil. Much as we may demonise naziism, they did not and do not consider themselves evil. So what model/authority, consciously or otherwise, are we refereing to when we say something is wrong?

The human appetite for justice implies a food source.

[uncommonman]

I know that God exists as surely as I know that Man exists. I will take it one step further. I know that I exist. I may question your existence but I acknowledge that there are others outside of my own existence.

[Andyman2340]

When you ask whether God "exists", it would help if you define what "exist" means to you. By existence, do you mean you can sense it by touch, sight, smell, taste, or sound? It seems to me that your basis for "existence" is based solely on what your body is communicating to your brain. Would you acknowledge that microorganisms exist? Why? Because you read it in a book? Because someone told you they exist? You cannot hold God's "existence" based on senses, but then hold the "existence" of microorganisms because somebody told you so. See the double standard? Sometimes you just have to have faith in things, because you're not always going to be able to sense them.