I don't see any convincing evidence for the existence of God.

finger print under magnifying glassby Matt Slick

Following are some of the approaches I use when dealing with atheists in conversations that deal with alleged lack of evidence for God's existence.  Now, no argument is fool-proof, and no single argument answers all the objections. Nevertheless, it is important to have thought out some of the implications of the statements and bring them up during conversations.  Of course, conversations rarely follow a logical format.  They usually take tangents and detours.  That is normal and good, but we need to be prepared as much as possible.

  1. I don't see any convincing evidence for the existence of God.
    1. That does not mean there is no God.
      1. Since you cannot know all evidence, it is possible that evidence exists that proves God's existence, or at least supports His existence.
        1. Therefore, it is possible that God exists.
          1. If it is possible, then faith has its place.
          2. If it is possible that God exists, then you should be an agnostic (an agnostic holds that God may exist but no proof can be had for His existence.)
    2. It is possible that there is no evidence at all for God.
      1. But this cannot be stated absolutely, since all evidence would need to be known to show there is no evidence.
        1. Therefore, since all evidence cannot be known by any one person, it is possible that evidence exists that supports theism.
    3. Then what kind of evidence would be acceptable?
      1. If you have not decided what evidence would be sufficient and reasonable, then you cannot state there is no evidence for God.
      2. If you have decided what evidence is sufficient, what is it?
        1. Does Christianity fit within that criteria?
          1. If not, why not?
    4. Is it possible that your criteria for evidence is not reasonable?
      1. Does your criteria put a requirement upon God (if He exists) that is not realistic? For example:
        1. Do you want Him to appear before you in blazing glory?
          1. Even if that did happen, would you believe He existed; or would you consider it a hallucination of some sort, or a trick played on you?
          2. How would you know?
      2. Does your criteria put a requirement on logic that is not realistic?
        1. Do you want Him to make square circles or some other self-contradictory phenomena, or make a rock so big He cannot pick it up?
        2. If God exists, the laws of logic would be a product of his nature since he is absolute, transcendent, and truth (logical absolutes are conceptual, absolute, and transcendent which reflect a logical, absolute, and transcendent mind).  He did not create the laws of logic.  We simply recognize them because God exists.  Therefore, God cannot violate those laws because He would violate His own nature -- which He cannot do.
    5. Are you objectively examining evidence that is presented?
      1. Granted, objectivity is difficult for all people, but are you being as objective as you can?
      2. But, do you have a presupposition that God does not exist or that the miraculous cannot occur?
        1. If so, then you cannot objectively examine the evidence.
          1. Therefore, the presuppositions you hold regarding the miraculous may prevent you from recognizing evidence for God's existence.
            1. If so, then God becomes unknowable to you, and you have forced yourself into an atheistic/agnostic position.
        2. Do you define the miraculous out of existence?
          1. If so, on what basis do you do this?
      3. If you assume that science can explain all phenomena, then there can be no miraculous evidence ever submitted as proof.
        1. If you made that assumption, it is, after all, only an assumption.

 

 

 

 
 
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