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?

[justifyothers]

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?

I agree with you - this IS the single most important question. I'm not sure I can explain well why I think there is a God, but since I am a glutton for punishment, I will try again

When and if God is first introduced to us, and we consider it a real possibility, we ponder it for a while. We may dabble in prayer - asking for certain things to see if God answers, etc. This type of testing is natural, I think.

Whether God answers in a 'still, small voice' or arranges certain situations to come about that can be answers seems to be different for everyone. But, for me, it seems to be a combination of the two. In the beginning, I didn't always trust these 'answers', or I chalked them up to coincidence. (which some may have been) But over time, these 'coincidences' really stack up to a point you must reevaluate your view of them. And the possibility grows that it may really BE God.

Then we can experience a kind of paradigm shift, once we are open to the very real possibility that He is there. It is hard to articulate, no doubt, but God can slowly become more and more of a real possibility. Combine this openness in your mind with coincidences that continue to occur, and the possibility becomes something else. It moves into a new thought - "I think God is real"

Soon changes can occur in your life - a new way of looking at the world and His creation begin to become very 'real' to you. At this point, prayer may begin to seem a little more natural and sometimes even done without thinking about it. This communication becomes part of your inner thoughts and may soon just be an on-going open ended way of going through your day. A big change in myself was a compassion that overwhelms me at times. I was always 'nice enough', but I have moved on to a level of really putting myself in the shoes of others, and giving so much consideration to their lives. I can only attribute this to God. ( I know there can be other reasons that this may happen, but this is compounded with other things, some of which I mentioned). It isn't like one day you're this and the next day you're that - but changes happen over time and through following Him.

What is following Him? Listening, I guess you could say, to what has become His will aligned with yours. Where you can really put others before yourself. It's not really 'human nature' to be unselfish - but rather God's will for us. I'm not in any way saying others cannot be unselfish - just that I noticed a different level of this in myself. Soon, things begin to validate what has become your belief and then I think we move on to 'knowing', although, with knowing, I will say there is still for me an amount of "hoping". I'm not sure if this ever goes away.

To answer your 'second most important question' - I think God will put in your life what He wants from you. Opportunities will be there - we just have to act on them. Also, I don't know if God requires it or not - but I think gratitude and acknowledgement will come naturally at a certain point in our belief. I think God appreciates these things. If you were God, wouldn't you? He also may enjoy conversation.

I'm not sure if a 'testimonial' is what you were looking for - but I wasn't sure how else to answer. Anyway, I enjoyed talking about Him

[CONVERTED TO ISLAM]

just use your head and think about it
ask your self these questions

- if there is a god ,, why does he created us ??
- who created the first person?
- who created the first animal?(chimpanzees , lions ...etc)
- who created the first jinn ?
- who created the sun and the moon and the sky ??
somebody created these things but who is that !! ?? and why he did that !! ??

so when you ask these questions your self go and read quraan to know the answers

best wishes
brock

[twobitsmedia]

How can I know that there is a God?

Its the question philosophies are often made of. I can only say "I know" from experience. But since you personalized it to how do YOU know there is a God, the answer is an absolute "I don't know." There's two important parts of the question I don't know enough about: 1) who "I" (you) are and 2) I don't know how God decides to give some this sense when others seem void of it.

[bernee51]

just use your head and think about it
ask your self these questions

- if there is a god ,, why does he created us ??
- who created the first person?
- who created the first animal?(chimpanzees , lions ...etc)
- who created the first jinn ?
- who created the sun and the moon and the sky ??
somebody created these things but who is that !! ?? and why he did that !! ??

On what basis can you claim any othe these required 'creation'?

Who created the creator?

[Cephus]

The simple reality is that you cannot "know", you can only believe. Knowledge requires evidence, it requires facts, it requires logic and reason. Belief requires none of these things and in fact, usually only exists in the absence of those things.

Any Christian who claims to *KNOW* that God exists had better pony up some objective evidence to that claim or stop lying to everyone.

[McCulloch]

I'm not sure I can explain well why I think there is a God, but since I am a glutton for punishment, I will try again

Thank you, but you are off topic. I did not ask why you think that there is a God. The question is,
How can I know that there is a God? I am not interested, except perhaps as a starting point, why you might be of the opinion that there is a God. I want to know if you know that there is a God. Are you sure?

Whether God answers in a 'still, small voice' or arranges certain situations to come about that can be answers seems to be different for everyone. But, for me, it seems to be a combination of the two. In the beginning, I didn't always trust these 'answers', or I chalked them up to coincidence. (which some may have been) But over time, these 'coincidences' really stack up to a point you must reevaluate your view of them. And the possibility grows that it may really BE God.

So if you experience happy coincidences, you attribute them to God. And those people who's life is not full of happy coincidences, really have no reason to believe.

Then we can experience a kind of paradigm shift, once we are open to the very real possibility that He is there.

I am not interested in belief. I am interested in fact. Indisputable fact. What do you know of God's existence?

[justifyothers]

I'm not sure I can explain well why I think there is a God, but since I am a glutton for punishment, I will try again

Thank you, but you are off topic. I did not ask why you think that there is a God. The question is,
How can I know that there is a God? I am not interested, except perhaps as a starting point, why you might be of the opinion that there is a God. I want to know if you know that there is a God. Are you sure?

Whether God answers in a 'still, small voice' or arranges certain situations to come about that can be answers seems to be different for everyone. But, for me, it seems to be a combination of the two. In the beginning, I didn't always trust these 'answers', or I chalked them up to coincidence. (which some may have been) But over time, these 'coincidences' really stack up to a point you must reevaluate your view of them. And the possibility grows that it may really BE God.

So if you experience happy coincidences, you attribute them to God. And those people who's life is not full of happy coincidences, really have no reason to believe.

Then we can experience a kind of paradigm shift, once we are open to the very real possibility that He is there.

I am not interested in belief. I am interested in fact. Indisputable fact. What do you know of God's existence?

Well, I must admit, I'm confused...........you are well aware that there is no proof of God. There is no scientific data supporting the substance of 'spirit'.

Yes, I think/believe/hope there is a God. But you and I both know that's all there is to that. Are you leading into something ?

[McCulloch]

Yes, I think/believe/hope there is a God. But you and I both know that's all there is to that. Are you leading into something ?

Sorry to disappoint. There is no hidden agenda. Some Christians claim that they are sure that God exists. I want to know why. As an agnostic, don't you?

[rusty]

justifyothers wrote:
I agree with you - this IS the single most important question. I'm not sure I can explain well why I think there is a God, but since I am a glutton for punishment, I will try again

Another excellent post from justifyothers. Let me encourage you by saying that your sensitivity to His presence is very admirable.

Let me exhort you to read the Word as often as possible and to seek confirmation of the Word. The confirmations come as easily as the "coincidences." This increases your spiritual growth and understanding.
Blessings,
rusty