Is there evidence for the existence of the Christian god?

[Haven]

If you can't prove the first step, which is the existence of God in a manner that can be replicated and peer reviewed, we're literally forced to view it as it appears. It's of no value to an Atheist.

Debate question: can we demonstrate the existence of God with empirical evidence?

(Let’s assume “God” refers to the Christian deity here, since OOP is an evangelical Christian theist).

[POI]

If you can't prove the first step, which is the existence of God in a manner that can be replicated and peer reviewed, we're literally forced to view it as it appears. It's of no value to an Atheist.

Debate question: can we demonstrate the existence of God with empirical evidence?

(Let’s assume “God” refers to the Christian deity here, since OOP is an evangelical Christian theist).

I'm willing to guess all responses will (instead) be related to the topics of: vibes, faith, personal experience(s), indoctrination, geography, fallacious reasoning, and/or credulity. Weee!

[1213]

Debate question: can we demonstrate the existence of God with empirical evidence?

To me Bible and that things go as told in the Bible, demonstrates the existence of God. But I am quite sure that for an atheist, nothing would.

[philosopher4hire]

[Replying to Haven in post #1]

You ask a wrong question here. The term “evidence” in the context of God and reality makes no sense. So, the question as such is simply childish. Consider for example:
“Is there evidence for the existence of our reality?”
Hint: Someone tells you: - You exist in The Matrix!

I would ask: Can you explain reality in a way acceptable for a rational, sane mind WITHOUT God?
Hint: the fact that many people think it is easy and obvious does not mean they are right. There were times, when everyone thought the earth is flat. It was obvious. Only a fool could say otherwise.

[Difflugia]

There were times, when everyone thought the earth is flat. It was obvious. Only a fool could say otherwise.

I'm trying to follow your logic here. What science tells me the universe was created by a magic man that hates bacon and gay sex?

[EarthScienceguy]

[Replying to Difflugia in post #5]

If you are defining empirical evidence as "information gathered through direct observation, experimentation, or experience, and is the foundation of scientific knowledge, used to support or refute hypotheses"

Then nothing that exists outside of this universe can be proven empirically. However, if this universe had a beginning, then something has to exist outside/independent of this universe, and it would be unknowable by empirical research.

[Difflugia]

Then nothing that exists outside of this universe can be proven empirically.

Is that where the magic people live that hate bacon and gay sex?

However, if this universe had a beginning, then something has to exist outside/independent of this universe,

Show your work.

and it would be unknowable by empirical research.

As long as it doesn't interact with this universe, either. Does Jesus interact with this universe?

[Haven]

[Replying to Haven in post #1]

You ask a wrong question here. The term “evidence” in the context of God and reality makes no sense. So, the question as such is simply childish. Consider for example:
“Is there evidence for the existence of our reality?”
Hint: Someone tells you: - You exist in The Matrix!

I would ask: Can you explain reality in a way acceptable for a rational, sane mind WITHOUT God?
Hint: the fact that many people think it is easy and obvious does not mean they are right. There were times, when everyone thought the earth is flat. It was obvious. Only a fool could say otherwise.

I’ll admit there is something childlike in the scientific / pragmatist approach to existence, though I don’t see it as a bad thing. Like curious kids, empirical pragmatists approach the world without preconceived notions or just-so stories, and use learning (through evidence gained through experience) to arrive at truth. This is also called the “scout mindset,” and it’s healthy when approaching big questions (such as “what ultimately explains reality?”).

Evidence does make sense in the context of the evaluation of Christian claims. The creation story, divine intervention, miracles etc. would leave evidence behind if they in fact occurred. The fact that we don’t find any evidence to support these things, and that we find strong evidence against them, is justification for failing to reject the null hypothesis of atheism.

The evangelical answer of “a big invisible superman in the sky must have done it” is a hand-waving just-so dismissal of all contrary evidence based on bias and dogma. It is similar to the attitude a brainwashed adult takes when they praise the ‘elaborate clothing’ of a certain emperor…

And btw, your thinly veiled presuppositionalism isn’t a path to truth. You’re simply reversing the burden of proof here. The positive claim is that God (referring to the god of classical Christian theism in this thread) exists and is responsible for the existence of everything. You need to support that statement.

Btw, quantum mechanics, big-bang cosmology and physics (both theoretical and empirical) more broadly explain existence. Geology and biology explain human existence specifically. A god is not necessary to describe the emergent properties of natural systems.

[Haven]

Debate question: can we demonstrate the existence of God with empirical evidence?

To me Bible and that things go as told in the Bible, demonstrates the existence of God. But I am quite sure that for an atheist, nothing would.

Why do you believe the Bible is true?

[Haven]

[Replying to Difflugia in post #5]

If you are defining empirical evidence as "information gathered through direct observation, experimentation, or experience, and is the foundation of scientific knowledge, used to support or refute hypotheses"

Then nothing that exists outside of this universe can be proven empirically. However, if this universe had a beginning, then something has to exist outside/independent of this universe, and it would be unknowable by empirical research.

Christianity claims that God has interacted with the universe repeatedly in the past, and that he continues to interact with the universe today. If this is the case, evidence of these interactions would exist. And if God doesn’t interact with the universe in any possible way, then he functionally does not exist and claims about him are empty of truth-aptness, meaningless.