Can Christians prove most gods don't exist?

[Artie]

In the thread "Justify the belief that gods do not exist" dianaiad says and I quote: "The challenge from me...and indeed, from the title of the post, was to prove that gods do not exist."

Strong atheists believe that gods do not exist. The challenge from me is for dianaiad and other Christians to prove that the vast majority of gods don't exist.

Can you do that?

[DanieltheDragon]

[Replying to post 1 by Artie]

I think a specific god can be disproved, but it has to be very specific. An ambiguous vague god of some unspecified nature probably can't be disproved. It all depends on the specificity. Although I am more inclined to trans-dimensional hyper sentient computers as the creators of all things they are also hive minded. Try disproving that claim

[Artie]

[Replying to post 1 by Artie]I think a specific god can be disproved, but it has to be very specific. An ambiguous vague god of some unspecified nature probably can't be disproved.

Some Christians demand that strong atheists should prove gods don't exist like in the OP. I think it's only fair that one should demand the same of them. Can Christians prove that no gods exist except theirs?

[DanieltheDragon]

[Replying to post 3 by Artie]

That is sort of the problem with taking a strong atheist position. You can't disprove in general the existence of the supernatural. Even if everything points to it not being the case without having all knowledge of the universe its impossible to say without certainty. Just like the example I gave of trans-dimensional hyper sentient computers. Not that I don't disagree with the strong atheist position I am 99.9999~% convinced there are no gods or supernatural stuffs but I can't prove that is the case.

I similarly see Christians suffering the same problem as you astutely pointed out. Now not all strong atheists deny the existence of all possible iterations of a god entity instead focusing on a specific set of god or gods. So maybe it is a bit unfair for a christian to demand that a strong atheist disprove all gods rather than the specific god that is subject to debate.

[Wordleymaster1]

In the thread "Justify the belief that gods do not exist" dianaiad says and I quote: "The challenge from me...and indeed, from the title of the post, was to prove that gods do not exist."

Strong atheists believe that gods do not exist. The challenge from me is for dianaiad and other Christians to prove that the vast majority of gods don't exist.

Can you do that?

No one, christian or not, can prove any god exists or not if by proof we're talking in scientific terms.
If we're talking proof like individual acceptance, then sure - anyone can prove anything to anyone they want. Will they? That depends on the people invovled

[bishblaize]

[Replying to post 1 by Artie]

[Replying to Artie]

In something like this, the threshold of 'proof' is subjective and can change. Its not like mathematical proof where, by definition, it excludes any other alternative. Proof in this case is more akin to proving something in court. It doesn't exclude any other option, its simply that the evidence has enough weight behind it to convince a particular person or group of people.

However that threshold is likely to change from person to person. There is more likely than not going to be a gap between what a Christian accepts as proof of a Christian God, a pagan accepts as proof of a Christian God and an atheist accepts as proof of a Christian God.

(interesting thought - would a pagan or an atheist be harder to convince of the existence of a christian god?)

Therefore its entirely possible that there is 'proof' to a Christian, but not to a non-Christian. Proof is in the eye of the beholder.

A Christian may pray to God during a difficult time in their life and gain the strength to carry on. That's enough for them. Asking them for more proof is like asking them to prove they like chocolate. Once you know, you know.

For a strong atheist, particularly a lover of reason, such an argument would be bizarre. They're going be giving up a lot of their beliefs to accept in the existence of God, particularly a very specific God like the Christian one, who seems to have the foibles of man. They're going to want see God's passport and drivers license before they accept who he is.

So I doubt very much that a Christian would be able to prove the existence of a Christian God to anyone else because of this fundamental difference in opinion as to what proof actually means. Maybe if we all agree what proof would be acceptable for all parties we can go from there?

[DanieltheDragon]

[Replying to post 6 by bishblaize]

A Christian may pray to God during a difficult time in their life and gain the strength to carry on. That's enough for them. Asking them for more proof is like asking them to prove they like chocolate. Once you know, you know.

So if I believe in Trans-dimensional hyper sentient computers that are hive minded I have proof they exist? After all once I know they exist I know right? Not so sure it flows as well when I don't use gods. As for chocolate that is really easy to prove why I like chocolate. The chemicals in the composition of chocolate cause my brain to release copious amounts of serotonin. Easy verifiable proof as for god not so sure its that easy.

[ttruscott]

...

The challenge from me is for dianaiad and other Christians to prove that the vast majority of gods don't exist.

Can you do that?

I contend that spiritual things cannot be proven except by personal experience which is not accepted as proof by others.

Nor would I care to try because I think they do exist but are false gods, strong angels committed to the destruction of YHWH and HIS church but not gods.

Peace, Ted

[Artie]

No one, christian or not, can prove any god exists or not if by proof we're talking in scientific terms.
If we're talking proof like individual acceptance, then sure - anyone can prove anything to anyone they want. Will they? That depends on the people invovled

Good point. Which criteria should we use to determine whether god(s) should be considered proven to exist or not?

[Wordleymaster1]

No one, christian or not, can prove any god exists or not if by proof we're talking in scientific terms.
If we're talking proof like individual acceptance, then sure - anyone can prove anything to anyone they want. Will they? That depends on the people invovled

Good point. Which criteria should we use to determine whether god(s) should be considered proven to exist or not?

Scientific tests I suppose would be a start. But first we need to determine if they exist to know what to test for. Thus the reason why it will never happen unless we use ourselves as a basis. Still, it would be very limiting.