What conditions would have to be in place for you to not believe a god exists?

[Steeno7]

How did you arrive at the belief that God did come as a man in the person of Jesus Christ?

When I encountered the living risen Person of Jesus Christ.

 

[Scott1979]

Christians: What conditions would have to be in place for you to not believe a god exists?

As a non-believer, there are certain conditions which if in place, would provide sufficient evidence for me to believe a god exists. I am willing to revise my beliefs if the evidence is in place. So I am curious if there are certain conditions which if in place would cause you to revise your belief that a god exists?

I believe you are asking a difficult question to answer because a person would have to lose or change there faith. As we all know there is not 100% proof that God exists. If there was there would be no need for faith. People look at what information or evidence if you will is available and make there own conclusions. I think once a person puts real and true faith into something it will take a lot to make that change.

 

[daporkchop]

How did you arrive at your belief that there is a god?

I'll bite. Through the Bible and word (pass down) of mouth from people before me. From witnessing events that cannot be explained. From the comfort I received through believing. From the logic that there is nothing perfect on earth, yet the thought that perfection does exist is still prevalent. From thinking that since we can create, why is it impossible that something created us.

Plenty of evidence for me. The Bible and word of mouth just let's me know who, personally.

As for the OP: if you could prove Jesus wasn't who he said he was, then I would no longer be a Christian. However, I would then be a deist. I don't know that there is a way to prove there was/is no creator.

 

[Everlasting33]

For this to happen, I would have a stony, proud, cold heart that worships creation and foregoes God's Word for my own opinion.

 

[TillICollapse]

For me it's not about what it would take for me to no longer believe God exists ... rather, there may be conditions that would change my view of what He is all about, capable of, attributes, etc.

 

[Jeffwhosoever]

Christians: What conditions would have to be in place for you to not believe a god exists?

As a non-believer, there are certain conditions which if in place, would provide sufficient evidence for me to believe a god exists. I am willing to revise my beliefs if the evidence is in place. So I am curious if there are certain conditions which if in place would cause you to revise your belief that a god exists?

Is this an honest request because you are interested in becoming a Christian?

 

[SavedByGraceThruFaith]

Christians: What conditions would have to be in place for you to not believe a god exists?

As a non-believer, there are certain conditions which if in place, would provide sufficient evidence for me to believe a god exists. I am willing to revise my beliefs if the evidence is in place. So I am curious if there are certain conditions which if in place would cause you to revise your belief that a god exists?

Well if the universe and living things never existed, then I would not believe that there was no God, because I would not exist.
But the universe, living things, and I do exist.


It is interesting that since you said that if evidence for God were shown to you, that you would change your mind. So you are not an absolute atheist. You are more an agnostic who if they had to chose would chose atheism. Technically it is logically contradictory to claim that there is no God. So you are more an honest agnostic in that you are not an absolute atheist.

Just some little thought experiments.

Suppose someone went to a large city like New York. The person observes all the complex, ordered and functional arrangement of buildings, streets, traffic lights, the movement of food, materials, waste disposal, etc.

Which would be a logical conclusion?
1. that it all came about by random chance over time without intelligence
2. intelligent beings designed and built the city

Suppose someone goes to a library. They pick up a book and look at the ordered arrangement of letters, chosen from a small alphabet. The letters are evenly arranged in exact rows and columns. The person decodes the language and then reads a wonderful story with plot, characters, scene descriptions, etc. They then read the other books. Some tell how to build airplanes, radios, gardens, etc.

Which would be a logical conclusion?
1. that it all came about by random chance over time without intelligence
2. intelligent beings made and wrote the information in the books.

The fact is that the things in the world, especially living things including mankind, are way more complex, ordered and functional than a city such as New York. The workings of a living cell is vastly more complex than New York. The information content in the DNA codes is more than that in a library of books and has the very instructions to run a cell and a living creature such as man.

Which would be a logical conclusion?
1. that it all came about by random chance over time without intelligence
2. intelligent being or beings made created it all.

Here is what the word of God says much more elegantly and it is the most awesome statement of science ever uttered.

Romans 1:19-20
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

One last point. The Holy Bible also predicts that the true implications of the vast complexity of life proving God beyond all doubt would be revealed precisely at our present time.

 

[Akureyri]

I would have to see strong signs that the world is becoming a loving place and one of unified peace... without the Gospel of Christ or the concept of God.

And when I say 'loving,' I mean just that. The world would have to start being filled with people who intuitively agree that we should just all get along, no matter what. So far, I don't see that the United this and United that is able to accomplish these things; in fact, it looks pretty hopeless.

Maybe humanity has some kind of moral malady or something that would literally require a miracle to ameliorate.

Are you saying when people disagree, it is a sign that a god exists and when people live harmoniously and with a lot of love, it is a sign that no god exists?

 

[Akureyri]

If the evidence showed that the universe was eternal and unchanging then it would leave the possibility open that God didn't exist but all the evidence points in the other direction.

What evidence is there that a god exists?

The evidence shows that the universe had a starting point and the energy within the universe is in decline.

What evidence is there that the universe had a starting point?

Something outside the universe which is eternal and all powerful brought it into existence. This is God.

What evidence do you have that the universe was brought into existence by a god?

 

[Akureyri]

That's a whole separate topic.

Is your belief in Christianity and that a god exists based on any evidence? If so, what kind of evidence is it based on?

 

[Akureyri]

He exists and has made himself known to me and millions upon millions of others... so you're posit seems void.

How do you know what "made itself known" to you is actually a god?

Please explain what occurred when God made itself known to you.

 

[Akureyri]

You chose a good word "conditions". I don't know any evidence that would contest the faith He gives me. The only way I could lose my faith is if He was to stop sustaining it. I appreciate that, and I wonder at why such a gift has been given to me!

Is your faith based on any evidence?

 

[Akureyri]

If Jesus never came then I wouldn't believe in God.

How do you know Jesus did come?

 

[Akureyri]

When I encountered the living risen Person of Jesus Christ.

That's very interesting. When & where did you encounter the living Jesus Christ?

 

[Jeffwhosoever]

That's very interesting. When & where did you encounter the living Jesus Christ?

Since you have responded to almost everyone except me, can I assume you aren't here to learn about Jesus, as I have asked you directly above? If not, why are you posting in this forum?

 

[oi_antz]

Is your faith based on any evidence?

Yes.

 

[Steeno7]

That's very interesting. When & where did you encounter the living Jesus Christ?

For the first time, 27 Years ago on the couch in my living room...and every moment and place since.

 

[Akureyri]

I believe you are asking a difficult question to answer because a person would have to lose or change there faith. As we all know there is not 100% proof that God exists. If there was there would be no need for faith. People look at what information or evidence if you will is available and make there own conclusions. I think once a person puts real and true faith into something it will take a lot to make that change.

Help me understand. It sounds like you're saying that faith is necessary whenever one doesn't have proof. Do you equate faith with belief?

If enough evidence were brought forward to change your viewpoint on something, would you drop your faith? Think about when you were a child. Perhaps you believed that Santa Claus and the tooth fairy were real. But then some evidence was brought forward so that you dropped your faith and/or belief. And think about countless people of different religions (Hindu, Muslim, Mormon, Buddhist, etc.) who dropped their belief and adopted a belief in the Christian God. Obviously something occurred to get them to drop their belief/faith.

 

[Akureyri]

I'll bite. Through the Bible and word (pass down) of mouth from people before me. From witnessing events that cannot be explained.

I'm very curious how you came to the conclusion that the occurrence of things that can't be explained means that a god exists.

From the comfort I received through believing. From the logic that there is nothing perfect on earth, yet the thought that perfection does exist is still prevalent. From thinking that since we can create, why is it impossible that something created us.

Plenty of evidence for me. The Bible and word of mouth just let's me know who, personally.

As for the OP: if you could prove Jesus wasn't who he said he was, then I would no longer be a Christian. However, I would then be a deist. I don't know that there is a way to prove there was/is no creator.

Why do you assume everything told in the Bible is an accurate account of history?

 

[Akureyri]

For me it's not about what it would take for me to no longer believe God exists ... rather, there may be conditions that would change my view of what He is all about, capable of, attributes, etc.

How do you know that God exists?