How do you know God exists?

Question

I was a practicing Catholic for 35 years and recently lost my faith.

1. Don't say "because the Bible says so!" That is an illusory argument. The Bible was compiled by Constantine I based on several earlier versions of various Bibles. Even assuming that the earlier Bibles were genuine, we have no idea if they were accurately transcribed. Further, Constantine's decision to convert appears to be purely political; an effort to preserve his rule.

2. Major events described in the Bible are not supported by scientific analysis. The geological evidence does not support events such as the great flood. Further, archaeological investigation has found thousands of dinosaur skeletons yet has found little described in the Bible. DO you really think Noah built an arc large enough to house a zoo? Please don't argue that the scientific investigations are part of a conspiracy. That would assume a world wide, orchestrated fraud by a civilization incapable of coordinating something as simple as adopting a universal programming protocol.

3. What existing today cannot be explained rationally. The mapping of the genome shows us that genetically we are almost identical copies to apes. The Big Band Theory, quantum mechanics, and astrophysics describes macro systems (the universe) and micro systems (atomic inter-dependencies and string theory). I am a physicist. People ask "How do you find that interesting?" I would reply by studying astrophysics and the workings of the universe we are gaining insight into the mind God. To our understanding, we live in a universe bound by defined dimensions. The universe is constantly expanding since the Big Bang. If God does exist and the university of constantly expanding would not God eventually be encompassed by that which he created?

4. It is possible (even probable) that a person named Jesus did exist and was crucified. Is it possible the whole rising after death scenario was created much later as a parable?

5. If I don't believe in God but live my life in accordance with the commandments is God so petty that I would be denied eternal salvation while someone who lived completely immorally but "was born again" on his/her deathbed would be granted eternal salvation? If God is just how can this be? So some dirt farmer in Nepal who grew up Buddhist is screwed but some child-molesting priest is good?

6. Lastly, if my leg is amputated here on earth will it be waiting for me in Heaven?

Answer 1

No one knows whether or not God is real. That is where faith comes into play.



That is also where I walk out.

Answer 2

This is the way i see it. I will NOT be using ANYTHING biblical, but rather mathematical and scientific.



Think about life as we know it. In many ways it seems complicated, but there are also many very simple aspects of it as well which i will touch on.



What makes life complicated, is the fact that we as people have the ability to make choices and these choices affect others as well as ourselves. We have the ability to sympathize, emphasize, bend the meanings of words and emotions because we are different, we see things different. And in fact, this concludes to that all our actions, thoughts and such live in the abstract. This abstractness is what makes life complicated.



However, what we don't see is the simpleness of the things around us. What we don't realize is that everything physical around us moves at a systematic and defined rate. Assume we take out all of animal and human activity and consider the phenomenon of physics. What we don't realize is that we live in an organized world.



Give me an apple, let me drop it. I can tell exactly how long the apple takes in order hit the ground, and this is because of physics.



Sir Isaac Newton developed calculus which mathematically proved that gravity exists and which gave birth to physics. A Persian (i think) developed algebra which enabled him to build architectures in such a way that each one he built would be identical to the blueprint that he made.



The point Im trying to make is that there is no way it can be a coincidence in which we can measure EVERYTHING physical. Think about it. How can life be so organized? We can measure the gravitational force on Earth by the Sun. Using that same formula we can measure the force between two atomic particles. We can measure time and predict exactly what the next day's weather would be exactly 24 hours later (assuming that there are no storms or anything). We can shoot a gun and predict exactly where the bullet will land at the furthest distance. We can predict the distance from our planet to stars far far away, even one outside our own galaxy. You need to understand that what i am saying is true. Everything is organized.



How can life be so complicated and yet so organized? the answer is it can't. There MUST be some kind of higher power that instituted this entire setting we live in. There is no way that all of this just a coincidence. Coincidences occur when the less like thing to happen happens, yet we are able to define exactly what will happen given an action.



The only thing that disrupts this entire field is the integration of human activity. Otherwise, everything in life would be solely organized.



Theres a field in physics called quantum physics where it states that there is only a probability of certain reactions to occur given an action. Yet, each time we perform a test the outcome is the same.



So in short.

Claim: There exists a God

Proof:

Assume that humans and animals did not exist (at the current moment), then there only exists a universe. Since that universe has physical properties, and galaxies are elements of that universe so all galaxies of that universe has physical properties. Since this is true, and since planets are elements of galaxies, then planets have physical properties. We denote our planet by Earth, since planets have physical properties then everything physical can be measured. Since every physical aspect on Earth can be measured, then for each action there can be a predicted reaction. But since we can predict actions on earth, then there exists no coincidences. Since there exists no coincidences, then there must exist some force in which created the physical universe. We know from texts that God created the universe, hence there must exist some God.

End of Claim.



If for whatever reason u feel "why me" or something, remember that it is the abstractness of your livelihood and others that makes life difficult. And i truly feel sorry for your lost leg.

Answer 3

You were a practicing Catholic for 35 years and you are now this far from God? I find that hard to believe. A practicing Catholic believes in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, how can you go from that to such typical atheist questions?



Anyway, yes God exists but he cannot be defined and boxed by the finite mind of man. Faith is necessary in order to know God. When you see the world through the lens of faith, it does make sense. But when you take faith away and try to make it all fit, it won't.



And no, being a good person does not save you. Yes a good person who has rejected God may go to hell, and a child molester who has repented of his sin, may go to heaven, after a long stint in purgatory.



Salvation is not based on human terms and understanding but on divine. For you to say God is "petty" because he does not meet your requirements for the treatment of good and evil, is short-sighted.



We can trust that God is perfect. Perfection can not do anything unjust. No one who deserves hell will be in heaven and no one who should be in heaven will be in hell. God cannot be "petty" he can only be perfect.

Answer 4

@JurasicAge

It's nice that your God could intervene in the world to save a priest...but what about genocide, starving children, AIDS, terrorism, hurricans, floods, earthquakes, droughts, rape, war, etc.? Was God so worried about this priest that he somehow forgot about the rest of the world?



Somehow the fact that a priest doesnt get hit by a car is a miracle and proof of God yet all these evils in the world don't disprove him?

Answer 5

Nobody knows if any gods exist. There is no rational claim to believing in them: It's all based on pure faith, uncertainty and superstition.

Answer 6

You don't, there is absolutely no evidence for any deity. Science on the other hand can prove that we evolved from lower life.

Answer 7

I certainly would marry you If you ever asked...



Question number 6 made my "God-damned" day.