Hi, seriousseeker! I split your post up into three sections, which I will address separately. I realize that this is an incredibly long post, so if you don't want to read through the whole thing, please at least read the first part after each quote, and the text that follows will support what I am saying.
How do we know God exists if he does or not? what proof can we see?
I can't prove that God exists. Can you prove that you exist? The Chinese philosopher, Lao-tse, asked, "If, when I am asleep, I am a man dreaming that I am a butterfly, how do I know that when I am awake, I am not a butterfly dreaming I am a man?" The answer to his question focuses upon reasonable evidence. Very few things have absolute proof (although those things may be absolutely true), people base their lives on reasonable evidence.
I believe there is reasonable evidence for God's existence, based on the origin of the universe, the design of the universe, man's sense of morality, the cry for meaning, the life of Christ, and the marvel of Scripture. Below, I will list a few things on each of those evidences for God. This is what has convinced me, but I don't know if it will convince you. It's just me trying to explain what I know to be true.
1) The origin of the universe.
I'm going to talk about some probabilities here, concerning an "unintentional universe." Keep in mind that the French scientist Emile Borel and other theoretical mathematicians that deal with probabilities have said that anything above 10^50 will never occur
no matter how much time is given.
- The probability of the universe, solar system, and the earth is one in 10^10^123 (Ten to the tenth power taken to the 123rd power)
- The probability of protein molecules is one in 10^160
- Probability of human cells: 1 in 10^119,000
- Probability of the simplest form of life: 1 in 10^137,915
Since it is incredibly improbable for the universe to come about on its own by chance, this seems to point that there was a Creator who put it all into place.
2) The Design of the Universe
- There is a delicate balance in the way living organisms are arranged in such a way as to keep a check and balance in the world.
- The nature of DNA is so complex, that each human DNA strand contains enough specific information to fill 600,000 pages. Some simple amoebas have as much information in their DNA as 1000 volumes of the Encyclopedia Britannica.
- There is an irreducible complexity of sells. Each cell consists of complex systems that will not function unless all the systems are functioning. A cell could not evolve step by sstep through successive modifications because it would be useless without all the systems functioning. (Check out Michael Behe's book, Darwin's Black Box for more info on this.
- The human body is intricate. Check out a physiology book for more info here.
- There is an elaborateness in nature. Even the smallest creatures exhibit complexity. Go to a garden and have a look.
3) The meaning of life
- The Christian worldview provides a reasonable explanation for the cry in man's heart for significance and purpose. Why does man search for meaning? Animals and fish exist, but man is not satisfied with mere survival. The irony is that, in the naturalistic worldview, man has evolved to a point where he is now unsatisfied with mere existence. He has "evolved" to despair.
- Can a naturalist have real dignity with his/ her worldview? Not really. In naturalism, everything is simply matter or matter in motion. When a person dies (according to naturalism), that person merely becomes fertilizer and then cosmic dust.
- Can a naturalist have real meaning or purpose in life? Sartre, in Nausea wrote that the answer to life is absurdity- the lack of any rational reason for existence. No wonder he was nauseated.
- Can a naturalist live out the belief that he/ she is simply matter in motion? Can a person really embrace the pointlessness as described by Sartre? Sartre was quoted as saying, "Man is absurd, but he must grimly act as if he were not." Is that any way to live? To believe one thing but pretend that you don't?
4) Moral sense of duty
- Within a person, there is a moral law that is intuitively known: the knowledge of justice, fairness, honesty, and respect for human life.
- Morals didn't come from evolution. The strongest instinct (self preservation) can be overriden in order to do something else (like save a drowning child in a turbulent ocean). This shows that there is a moral sense of duty that preempts instinct. Also, if a person is the product of evolution, why would a society enact moral laws that hinder the survival of the fittest?
- Morals didn't originate with humans. If so, this leads to moral relativism, the belief that there are no absolute, eternal morals. If this is true, what morals should be embraced and what would the justification of that choice be? If there are no standards, then whose system is right? How can one culture judge another culture's morals if each culture creates its own?
Morals orriginateing through evolution or through society (humans) raise quite a few questions and contradictions. Therefore, I personally believe that morals in humanity are a reflection of God's character when He made us.
5) The Bible...
- has a rational doctrine about man. It captures both man's nobility and wretchedness, documenting the origin of both. It says that man has spiritual and psychological needs because he was created to have fellowship with his Creator. Man's dignity comes from God and his depravity comes from sin.
- answers hard questions, such as the origin of the universe, the meaning of life, and the character of God.
- has unity among diversity. Although the Bible is composed of 66 books written in 3 different languages, uses 6 literary forms, and was written by 40 authors over a period of 1500 years in countries on 3 continents, the Bible still has doctrinal and structural unity.
- is historical and accurate. It has an evidential foundation. Instead of being based on philosophy, it is based on fact. Its historicity is confirmed by archaeology. Sir William Ramsay, the famous Oxford archaeologist, who was once a skeptic said, "Christianity is the religion of truth; it is founded on truth, absolute and perfect truth."
- is simple and profound. It can communicate, encourage, comfort, convict, and challenge the simple minded and the learned.
- is relavant, even today.
- has endured. Many have tried to wipe the Bible from the face of the Earth, and many have attacked its claims. Well, the Bible's still around. It is estimated that only one half of one percent of all books published survive even seven years, but th eBible's popularity has steadily grown throughout history.
- has a high ethical standard. Jesus taught that purity starts with the heart and then outflows to behavior. Good deeds without a changed heart is only cold legalism. The Bible emphasizes the need for a right attitude and possesses a moral uniqueness that far surpasses the flashes of high moral teaching in other books.
- has proven prophecy. It has repeatedly and accurately foretold many events. One example: Ezekiel 26 prophesied the destruction of Tyre, and in 586 BC Nebuchadnezzar attacked and destroyed the mainland. Daniel 2 describes another attack, and in 332BC, Alexander the Great attacked and destroyed the island.
6) Jesus Christ...
- was a historical figure. This is confirmed by the writings of Christians, Jews who opposed Christians, and Roman historians.
- has worked in my personal life and the lives of countless other people.
I don't even know if there is a god to forgive me, so how do i know god will forgive me?
Once you believe that there is a God, I can assure you that He will forgive you if you accept His forgiveness. Why? Because the Bible says so. Since I believe the Bible to be divinely inspired, this means that God says so. God has said that He will forgive you if you will accept it.
Why I believe the Bible is divinely inspired:
- Its historicity (It has an evidential foundation that can be tested.)
- Its accuracy (Its history is corroborated by 25,000 archaeological sites)
- Its unity amid diversity (Although it was written over a 1500 year period in three languages, on three continents, by 40 authors who had various occupations, it maintains the themes of the kingdom and glory of God and the lostness and redemption of man throughout.)
- Its doctrines about man (Its description about man's nature - both his nobility and wretchedness- coresponds to reality.)
- Its relevancy (It relates to man's needs in every age and location.)
- Its endurance (It has withstood the passing of time and the attack of man, but only 1/2 of 1 percent of all books survive even 7 years. The Bible has lasted 2000 years and will continue to endure.
- Its prophecy (It accurately foretold about people, cities, nations, empires, and the Messiah- Jesus Christ.)
Sin separates us (humanity) from God.
You and I are sinners, so we want to have our own way instead of God's way. Wanting our own way is sin. Doing, or saying, or thinking bad things is sin. Sin is disobeying the rules God has given in His book, the Bible. Sin causes sadness in our world. God's Word says. "For all have sinned" (Rom. 3:23). All means every one of us, including you and me. Sin separates you and me from God because He is perfectly right--without any sin at all. God cannot allow sin where He is. God has said sin must be punished. The punishment for sin is death--to be separated from God forever (Rom. 6:23). God knew there was nothing we could do to get rid of our sin. He knew we could not be good enough to please Him. But He loves you and wants you to be His child. So He made a way for you to be forgiven. That's why Jesus died on the cross.
