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.

[Cephus]

American slave masters had dominion over their slaves, but were never superior to them.

That's not what they said. In fact, they said that their slaves weren't really even human. In fact, even after freed, blacks were viewed as inferior to whites.

Try again.

[israeltour]

American slave masters had dominion over their slaves, but were never superior to them.

That's not what they said. In fact, they said that their slaves weren't really even human. In fact, even after freed, blacks were viewed as inferior to whites.

Buy they were wrong. And if they used Genesis to back it up, they were wrong for that, too. I think we actually have the same perspective on superiority here, and are just arguing over which view the Bible takes vs. the view Christians take.

[Cephus]

That's not what they said. In fact, they said that their slaves weren't really even human. In fact, even after freed, blacks were viewed as inferior to whites.

Buy they were wrong. And if they used Genesis to back it up, they were wrong for that, too. I think we actually have the same perspective on superiority here, and are just arguing over which view the Bible takes vs. the view Christians take.

According to your beliefs, of course. But you can no more prove that your belief is correct than they could. Identity Christians are racists today, they think the Bible clearly supports their racist views. So how do you prove that you're right and they're wrong or vice versa?

Or maybe the Bible can be used to back up just about any belief, which is most often the case.

[israeltour]

That's not what they said. In fact, they said that their slaves weren't really even human. In fact, even after freed, blacks were viewed as inferior to whites.

Buy they were wrong. And if they used Genesis to back it up, they were wrong for that, too. I think we actually have the same perspective on superiority here, and are just arguing over which view the Bible takes vs. the view Christians take.

According to your beliefs, of course. But you can no more prove that your belief is correct than they could. Identity Christians are racists today, they think the Bible clearly supports their racist views. So how do you prove that you're right and they're wrong or vice versa?

Or maybe the Bible can be used to back up just about any belief, which is most often the case.

I'm not sure your generalization is accurate. If it is however, I leave their salvation between them and God. If I'm in a position of teaching them, I'll teach what I believe is true, and back it up the best I can. Otherwise, if they don't ask, I mind my own business.

If you're asking how I prove things to myself, I look for consistency in scripture, and how well it jives with the Gospel and the God I know. I realize my interpretation could be wrong, but where the issue is not salvific or a stumbling block, I don't sweat it.

As for backing up any belief, people do use the Bible for backing up just about anything, just as I use it to back up my own beliefs. I think many interpretations are wrong, and I try my best to be right. I suppose one way to tell us apart is to see if we ever admit to being wrong about something. I've changed my interpretation of a few things before, so I hope I don't fall into the camp of those who only mold scripture to fit their personal agenda.

[azchurchmouse]

What would convince you that God doesn't exist?

If He told me himself.

[Hugh]

God that was created in the Bible can not be reconcile for its origin was from the compilation of hearsay long before the time of Mithraism where Christianity had evolved. It was then used as fear-factor of religious anathema.

Whereas in our generation, God is a psychological being to everyone, where to seek refuge in time of crisis and something to cling-on, a shelter of emotion when everything are down the limbo and desperation. God exist within the inner self of everyone and always within reach in time of needs to sustain emotional pain and depression, and at this particular mode, God will surely prop and boost wellbeing to overcome oddities and will cause to tackle everything with full strength and inspiration. In conclusive, God is everyone's strength and inspiration.

[The Happy Humanist]

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.

I think this could be one of the most important and instructive topics on this board. It is a favorite theme of mine, that believers have constructed such a self-protecting architecture around their God and their Bible that it is virtually impenetrable. There is no Bible passage so convoluted that it cannot be patched up with apologetics (never mind that they almost always lead to more convolution). What possible absurdity can be pointed out, that cannot be overcome with, "God is all-powerful so he can do that," or "The Lord works in mysterious ways," or "Who are we to question God?" And as a last resort, if the logic of the Bible ever gets backed into a corner, it has a built-in "Get Out Of Atheism Free Card": 1 Cor. 3:19. "For the wisdom of the world is foolishness in God's sight." Which basically means, the wiser the argument, the more the believer is entreatied to ignore it as foolishness.

The upshot of this is that the believer has closed all pathways to objective analysis of his belief. It could be one big fairy tale, and he could never possibly know it, since with such sophistry it can be made to appear 100% correct in all instances. In short, the answer to the question posed in this topic, to some believers, is "nothing." There is nothing that their apologetics cannot overcome. Which is why it is often an exercise in futility to debate such issues.

And before you hit the reply button, no, the same is NOT true for atheism. All we require to change our minds is one unambiguous miracle. Just one.

[Sender]

If atheist would stop talking about God, that would be a start. So much time and energy is spent trying to convince others(and themselves) there is no God, yet if you don't believe there is a God isn't it a waste of time? Oh that's right, you all do it in the name of helping others, I keep forgetting that. Most people would say even if there isn't a God, it still helps people to be better people. But again, the pompous attitudes of some pretending to help their fellow man by vehemently trying to get others to believe as they do is ludicrous. There is a ton of evidence pointing to the God of the Bible, but let's say there is none. Who was it who said the absense of evidence doesn't mean evidence is absense blah blah blah. Funny how you will use that for your own liking when it fits your theory.

[bernee51]

If atheist would stop talking about God, that would be a start. So much time and energy is spent trying to convince others(and themselves) there is no God, yet if you don't believe there is a God isn't it a waste of time? Oh that's right, you all do it in the name of helping others, I keep forgetting that.

Actually I do it for the enjoyment, the sport. I care not whether you believe or not. Or whether anything I have to say sways your opinion. I most certainly am not doing it to convince myself.

There is a ton of evidence pointing to the God of the Bible, but [let's] say there is none.

There is no evidence for the god of the bible - unless you believe the bible. Therefore it is a circular argument.

[Lotan]

If atheist would stop talking about God, that would be a start. So much time and energy is spent trying to convince others(and themselves) there is no God, yet if you don't believe there is a God isn't it a waste of time? Oh that's right, you all do it in the name of helping others, I keep forgetting that.

You shouldn't presume to know the motives of others. I just want to live in a world governed by reason, NOT by religious fanatics, be they Christian, Muslim or whatever.

But again, the pompous attitudes of some pretending to help their fellow man by vehemently trying to get others to believe as they do is ludicrous.

Are you talking about missionaries?