Bertrand Russell, on his deathbed, was visited by a friend who asked him, "You've been the world's most famous atheist most of your life, and now you're about to die. What if you were wrong? What would you say to God if you met him?" ... Russell replied: "I think I should say to him: Sir, it appears that my atheistic hypothesis was erroneous. Would you mind answering me one wee little question? Why didn't you give us more evidence?"
From time to time, I think all of us wish we had more proof for our belief in God. What do you consider the most significant proofs that help you to have faith in God? How should we respond to people who share Mr. Russell's attitude?
5 comments:
brandon- I think that one of the most significant proofs that there is a God is the changed lives of those who believe in Him. The things people have come through and the difference in the way they live they're lives shows Gods power. There are a lot of addictions that people are powerless to get through by themselves. and also the true joy and peace that followers of Christ have despite circumstances. These things only point to God.
yes i got it to work!!!!! -anonymous
How can you not know there is a God when you go through times of hardship and it feels like you can't go on and then there is a glimse of hope. Or when you gaze at a sunset and feel a breeze or hear the frogs. Who else would have made that...except for God himself? it is through the times of trial when you persevere that god shows himself to me. Because throught those trials he gives hope and comfort and understanding of why things happen and how through that trial I further his kingdom.
We gotta keep in mind that there is an increasing rift between our worldview and the majority of people around us. Most of us (and many of our parents), particularly because we're in Canada and in Saskatchewan, have been raised with the assumption that God (specifically the Judeo-Christian God) exists. So when we see something beautiful or something good, we name God as the cause/creator. But our generation, and the upcoming campers' parents (and even current campers and their parents) are working on a different assumption.
I believe that an increasing amount of people work with the assumption that God does NOT exist. That is either how they have been raised or how they have chosen to live. So they have different explanations for the many of our evidences for God. For many religion (and God) is simply a social construction. As many of you enter high school and then university, you will find that the assumption is that if you are thinking, intelligent human being, you've thrown off the "chains" of religion. Many may still believe in a god, or a divine force, others just in fate, or luck, or natural order. Others may have no spiritual reason for any parts of their lives. So when they see something beautiful, or good, they do not say "Oh that's a God thing." That is the farthest thing from their minds. So how do we respond to that? We might say, "oh but we sense the presence of God and feel his peace." But a Buddhist monk may say the same thing and a person meditating on the "collective consciousness" may insist he/she is connected to the greater life force. And while many of us use goodness and beauty as evidence of God, many others will use the bad stuff in life to insist on either the non-existence of God, or the indifferent/non-loving nature of this "god." Evil, pain, suffering, etc. are issues that Christians and non-Christians alike have wrestled with.
But I think that Brandon and Melissa make good points. People want to hear about your lives. Because in the end, they want to know why they should care about God at all. If he's just an idea, than they maybe don't want to bother. But our lives can testify to the real, personal, and interactive nature of our God.
But remember the assumptions and worldviews of people that you talk to. They may be in another place completely.
-Alexa
I have struggled with this recently and it is an extremely hard question to answer. I agree with Brandon, the change we as individuals go through and the Christians around us provide us with some proof. Once we know God on a personal basis and allow Him to bring up fruit in us, we notice a huge change. Some how we now have patience to get through the traffic on circle drive, we are happier with our lives despite our situation and we feel a purpose in the life we live each day. There is a verse in the New Testament, which talks about knowing who God is through the trees and skies. (If you know, the reference let me know.) That alone should be proof enough that he exists. I am also amazed at the human body and the capabilities it has, its intricacies are nothing that the big bang could have created. God is there and He is real, we just have to be willing to give of ourselves to Him.
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