Can you give an example of such a test that you've done (or point me to it if you've already posted one) ?
I understand that there is a book of scripture with stories and claims that can (potentially) be validated, e.g. historically, culturally, politically, or scientifically verified. But how does testing the claims in a book confirm the existence of a deity? Are there verifiable statements of fact that were not conceivably knowable by the people of the time?
The first list comes from Galatians 5...the fruit of the spirit. But before we get into this, let's back up a bit.
What we want to test is the claims the primary authority for the deity claims as evidence of that deity. In this case, scripture is the primary authority for what is attributed to God.
God then claims (according to the authority on who God is) that He gives man a guarantee of salvation. IOW's when a man believes unto salvation they are given an down payment of sorts. That down payment is the HS. Most people stop here. They believe unto salvation, "feel" different, notice a change and then call it "faith" or evidence.
Personally, I am too much of a skeptic to leave it at that, I want to know exactly what that guarantee is and how I can see evidence of that guarantee or down payment. Look at it this way, if I buy a house, I would want a receipt for the down payment especially if it was made for me and not something I took from my own account, right? So, we need a receipt, or evidence that this is truth and not delusion. Scripture claims that evidence is the HS and we will know the HS by what He does, that is, the evidence of HIs existence.
There are many things the HS does in our life. Interestingly enough one is to guard us from delusion, but that isn't exactly measurable so we leave that off the list of testable things. As I said, the first and easiest list to find is from Galatians, the fruit of the spirit. The first of that fruit is Love. Now, the world's definition of love is a warm fuzzy feeling (short version obviously) but the Love talked about here is the Biblical Love found in I Cor. 13. This Love has specific characteristics that we can observe and or measure. The list of those characteristics is found in I Cor. 13. We can add some stuff to the list, but that will also come up in other of the fruit so we can hold off on it.
Without going into the whole list, since it would be off topic, let me give you the best definition we can come up with after deep study of what it is...Love is putting another above self in an act of humility creating covenant whose intent/purpose is reconciliation/restoration. Notice that without even listing the characteristics, it is much much more than just a warm fuzzy emotion. In fact, this Love consumes the whole man. It's core is humility, so without humility, there is no Love. It creates a covenant, without covenant you have no Love, it has a purpose, without that purpose, you have no Love. this is a specific Love with things that are observable and measurable and if you have never seen it, I will pray that you do, it's pretty amazing. Anyway, moving on...every one of the characteristics in I Cor. 13 has to be present in order for it to be considered LOVE....but, what is equally important is that according to the bible the source of Love is God Himself. that is why when we test for Love and find it only existing in people who are living in the HS as per other tests all evidenced none falsified, we can know that we are not delusional to conclude that it is NOT irrational to believe that God is.
Joy is the second one, it is not, even though someone on this thread tries to change it to happiness. Joy is a feeling of peace and contentment no matter the situation.
Have to run for a few brief moments, will wait for some of this to soak in before going any further.
