What would convince you that God doesn't exist?

[abnoxio]

I'm interested what it would take for a Christian, Catholic, etc. to be convinced that God did not exist.
In other words what kind of proof would convince you. The discovery of Jesus's body? Alien invaders? that kind of thing.
Thank you for taking the time to read this.

[Diana Holberg]

Personal belief is also social as well as subjective. Case in point bernee51. He is capable of deep spiritual insight and feeling with out belief in God. He is a spiritual being as much as you are.

He is spiritual in that he cannot escape being created by God. God is the source of all things spiritual (indeed, He is the source of all things... period). One can only pray that some day he will express appreciation for/to his Provider...

Cathar, you are right that my faith is intensely personal. That is, in fact, why it is impossible to prove nonexistence of God... because He is a Person in my life. He can no more be disproven to me than you can... actually, I'd be a lot more likely to be convinced that you and Bernee don't exist than that God doesn't exist.

[Cathar1950]

Diana Holberg wrote:

He is spiritual in that he cannot escape being created by God. God is the source of all things spiritual (indeed, He is the source of all things... period). One can only pray that some day he will express appreciation for/to his Provider...

Cathar, you are right that my faith is intensely personal. That is, in fact, why it is impossible to prove nonexistence of God... because He is a Person in my life. He can no more be disproven to me than you can... actually, I'd be a lot more likely to be convinced that you and Bernee don't exist than that God doesn't exist.

I don't think his "Provider" needs his prayers or appreciation.
How do you know He/She is the source of all things? Did they tell you outside the Bible? He is spiritual because we are human...period.

It maybe possible to logically disprove Your ideas of God. I don't know if they can disprove God to you personally. Do you even know what a person is?
I would be interested in how and what would disprove Bernee's existence, and applied the same criteria to God. I don't want you to disprove me.
I would hate to pop out of existence.
You sound like sunday school.

[Diana Holberg]

I don't think his "Provider" needs his prayers or appreciation.

No more than a mother or a father "needs" the love of a rebellious teenager...

How do you know He/She is the source of all things? Did they tell you outside the Bible? He is spiritual because we are human...period.

Many religions affirm that God is the source of all things. We are spiritual because we are human... we are human because we are created by God.

It maybe possible to logically disprove Your ideas of God. I don't know if they can disprove God to you personally. Do you even know what a person is?

My understanding of a "person" is basically that of a "soul"... a distinct, living entity with thoughts, needs, wants. A "human person" is body and soul.

I would be interested in how and what would disprove Bernee's existence, and applied the same criteria to God. I don't want you to disprove me.
I would hate to pop out of existence.
You sound like sunday school.

I'll take that last as a compliment Is that how it was intended?

I don't want to disprove anyone's existence, but I have much less evidence of you and Bernee than I do of God. I have no record of your history, I have no witnesses to your actual existence as human beings, I have nothing tangible that I can associate with you as a human being. All I have is words on a screen.

I spent last week playing around with A.L.I.C.E.. She's pretty articulate... I dunno. Maybe you guys are just "artificial intelligence"...

[McCulloch]

I would be interested in how and what would disprove Bernee's existence, and applied the same criteria to God.

I don't want to disprove anyone's existence, but I have much less evidence of you and Bernee than I do of God. I have no record of your history, I have no witnesses to your actual existence as human beings, I have nothing tangible that I can associate with you as a human being. All I have is words on a screen.

I think that the question is, "What would it take to prove to you logically that Bernee did not exist?" Surely we all have enough imagination to come up with some list of facts, which if they were all proven to be true, would lead us to the conclusion that Bernee does not exist. Then apply the same logic to the existence of a god. We are not trying to say that the god does not exist (at least not yet). Just what would it take to prove to you that the god does not exist. If there were no witnesses to the god's existence, if there was nothing tangible associated with this god, if there were no recorded history of the god's interaction with humans, then would that convince you that God does not exist?

[Cathar1950]

My understanding of a "person" is basically that of a "soul"... a distinct, living entity with thoughts, needs, wants. A "human person" is body and soul

You all know these things about God personally?
Define for me the soul. Have you ever seen a soul?

I have no record of your history, I have no witnesses to your actual existence as human beings, I have nothing tangible that I can associate with you as a human being. All I have is words on a screen.

Do you think you have all these things about God?
What do you have that is Tangible?
Myself I am a Theist. I just find your beliefs unconvincing and lacking.
Kids have imaginary friends.
I don't find the Bible all that convincing either and it took them about 1,000 years to write the stuff.
Humans can believe all kids of things that are not true.
false memories can be acquired.
I would say that most of what you believe is social in nature. That is you acquired even the interpretation from others. This accounts for the usually party lines. Even the attributes of God are metaphorical.
You just took it personally.

[Cathar1950]

Poor bernee51. LOL
I hope he hasn't disappeared in a puff of logic.
McCulloch wrote;

If there were no witnesses to the god's existence, if there was nothing tangible associated with this god, if there were no recorded history of the god's interaction with humans, then would that convince you that God does not exist?

Well stated.
I think this is why "bible believers" argue for and from the Bible.
Marcus Aurelius belive in One God and he was a pagan.
What was the nature of that God or any God.
Even if we could show that God could logically exist. That does not describe the nature of God.
The Bible is not a clear, coherent, and consistent history or guide.
Although they say it is the evidence is lacking and seems to point to the opposite.
I don't think anyone could prove that God does or doesn't exist.
It seems that it is either a possibility or not a possibility.
I can't see finding a proof that God doesn't exist. At least that would be convincing to me.
Now maybe I could be convinced that God does exist. Such as talking to me. Showing me his feet might help.
Of course they may just put me on med.s if that happened.
Then we have to deal with Jesus. They seem to have made him God too.
Every view of God seems to come with some kind of baggage.

[universist]

I don't get a few things. First of all, The whole religion thing with God is said to be loving. If this is true, why are there so many people fighting and killing each other because of religion. One thing I want to know, How do they know that the Bible is real? Who died and came back to life and told all these stories.
Why do people have to depend on something, that they have no scientific evidence to back up, for help or guidance through life. Why can't they just depend on themselves.

[bernee51]

He is spiritual in that he cannot escape being created by God.

Oh yes I can - and I haven't disappeared in a puff of logic.

God is the source of all things spiritual

Naturally I am going to disagree.

This claim is deserving of a topic of its own - which all interested parties will find on this thread...Is god the source of all things spiritual?

That is, in fact, why it is impossible to prove nonexistence of God... because He is a Person in my life.

No, it is impossible (and futile) to try to disprove your belief in god.

It is likewise impossible for you to prove the existence of your god.

[Diana Holberg]

If there were no witnesses to the god's existence, if there was nothing tangible associated with this god, if there were no recorded history of the god's interaction with humans, then would that convince you that God does not exist?

In other words, if I had been born on a different planet in a different dimension with a different history, would I be convinced? Doubtful... unless I was created and sustained by a different god -- which isn't possible. And even then, you're just exchanging creators...

You can't get around the necessity of origins... and an Originator.

[Diana Holberg]

Now maybe I could be convinced that God does exist. Such as talking to me. Showing me his feet might help.

Have you ever asked Him to do these things in faith?

Of course they may just put me on med.s if that happened.

No... none of us Christians has been locked up just for being Christian yet... not in free countries, anyway. But it would change your life.

Then we have to deal with Jesus. They seem to have made him God too.
Every view of God seems to come with some kind of baggage.

True... that's why He said "count the cost".