Is there any test...?

[Willum]

So is there any test that can be made to distinguish God from an imaginary friend of the same name?

An imaginary friend with a popular name, of course.

Any way at all?

The debate topic is: There is none.

[Tcg]

[Replying to post 1 by Willum]

Wikipedia reports this about imaginary friends:

"Imaginary friends (also known as pretend friends or invisible friends) are a psychological and social phenomenon where a friendship or other interpersonal relationship takes place in the imagination rather than external physical reality. Although they may seem very real to their creators, children usually understand that their imaginary friends are not real."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imaginary_friend

So it seems that most children understand that imaginary friends are imaginary. The same can't be said of those, children and adults alike, who believe in God. Of course that fact can't be used to create a foolproof test to differentiate between a God and an imaginary friend.

[Willum]

[Replying to post 2 by Tcg]

Most.
This means that the ones we are talking about fall into the category of children who believe their imaginary friends are real.

And so, moving on...

[Tcg]

Deleted reply.

[William]

[Replying to post 1 by Willum]

So is there any test that can be made to distinguish God from an imaginary friend of the same name?

What you are asking is simply "Is GOD real or imaginary, and if real, what tests can be done to establish this?"

Are you meaning scientific based tests?

In the mean time, if I think "GOD" is my friend and also not imaginary, surely I at least must be convinced of this through the subjective experience of my individual life, otherwise what would be the point to it?

What convinces me is not holy books or spiritual 'how to' books, or arguments from those belonging to religious orgs etc...but actual experiences I have had which no 'tests' I know of can reliably, genuinely, faithfully replicate.

Not that I require these 'tests' in order to make "GOD" a real friend to me. It is what it is.

So you are right that 'there is none' and wrong that it is a topic which can be debated, far as I can tell.

[Willum]

[Replying to post 5 by William]

No, the topic means what it says it does:
Can a test be devised that distinguishes God from an imaginary friend of the same name?

I don't want to test if God is imaginary, I want to see if there is any possible way to distinguish between God and an imaginary friend of the same name.

[JehovahsWitness]

No, the topic means what it says it does:
Can a test be devised that distinguishes God from an imaginary friend of the same name?

Yes, I believe there is "a test" and that is ... prayer!

If as sincere person that loves truth, humbly prays asking God if he exists to help him (the seeker) find him, and if that person is seeking God with the express purpose of being able to serve that True God no matter what the cost, then as long as the person doesnt give up and keeps praying, I believe his prayer that will certainly be answered.


JEHOVAH'S WITNESS




Further reading: Will God Hear My Prayers?
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/102001448

LEARN MORE I Gave Up on Religion
https://tv.jw.org/#en/mediaitems/VODInt ... 40_1_VIDEO

[Tcg]

No, the topic means what it says it does:
Can a test be devised that distinguishes God from an imaginary friend of the same name?

Yes, I believe there is "a test" and that is ... prayer!

If as sincere person that loves truth, humbly prays asking God if he exists to help him (the seeker) find him, and if that person is seeking God with the express purpose of being able to serve that True God no matter what the cost, then as long as the person doesnt give up and keeps praying, I believe his prayer that will certainly be answered.

You've provided no evidence that prayers to an imaginary friend would be any less effective. Short of that, you've provided no means to test any difference between the two.

[JehovahsWitness]

[Replying to post 8 by Tcg]

The OP didn't ask for evidence, he asked if there was a test.

So is there any test that can be made to distinguish God from an imaginary friend of the same name?...

I answered the question to the best of my knowledge based on biblical theology and personal experience. In short I provided information in response that points in the OP as to what I believe to be a means to test out the reality of God’s existence.



JW

[Tcg]

[Replying to post 8 by Tcg]

The OP didn't ask for evidence, he asked if there was a test.

I'd suspect however that Willum would expect to be given a valid test. For the obvious reason I have stated, your test isn't. If Willum states that he accepts useless tests, then I'll withdraw my objection.

So is there any test that can be made to distinguish God from an imaginary friend of the same name?...

I answered the question to the best of my knowledge based on biblical theology and personal experience. In short I provided information in response that points in the OP as to what I believe to be a means to test out the reality of God’s existence.

The OP didn't ask about a test to determine "the reality of God’s existence". It asked, as you quoted above, "So is there any test that can be made to distinguish God from an imaginary friend of the same name."