How i know that God does exist.

[Wiccan_Child]

When The Holy Spirit comes in to someones heart they will know.

How? How will they distinguish between:
1) A genuine visit by the Holy Spirit, and a psychological illusion?
and
2) A genuine visit by the Holy Spirit, and a genuine visit by a deceiving entity (e.g., Satan)?

The Holy Spirit changes us inside.

How, exactly?

We will be praying for you. With love and hugs.

Please don't. I find it creepy, and slightly insulting.

 

[DailyBlessings]

Please don't. I find it creepy, and slightly insulting.

It strikes me as odd that you would find intercessory prayer creepy and insulting. Are you a practicing Wiccan? If so, how is such prayer different from any other sort of intentional magic?

 

[Wiccan_Child]

It strikes me as odd that you would find intercessory prayer creepy and insulting. Are you a practicing Wiccan? If so, how is such prayer different from any other sort of intentional magic?

Because I ask permission first. I'm aware that some people might not want be casting spells and whatnot on them.

 

[FishFace]

Every born- again christian will believe in God, and will KNOW that God exists, as God is living in their heart by The Holy Spirit.

How do you explain born again Christians who "deconverted?" Like me, for example.

 

[drifter5]

How do you explain born again Christians who "deconverted?" Like me, for example.

Only God knows our hearts.

 

[drifter5]

The Holy Spirit changes us inside in a positive way . The Holy Spirit helps us to live for God. Satan wants to bring us down ,and harm us. Satan hates everyone. God is The opposite , and loves everyone with a perfect love , always wanting what is best for us.

 

[FishFace]

Only God knows our hearts.

Forgive me - I asked for an explanation and this is not one. Do you have one or not?

 

[UncleHermit]

The Holy Spirit changes us inside in a positive way .

How do you know that, if only God knows our hearts?

 

[Patashu]

When The Holy Spirit comes in to someones heart they will know. The Holy Spirit changes us inside. We will be praying for you. With love and hugs.

Ah, how wonderfully tautological. You'll know when you know.
But won't I also know that I know when I am deluded into thinking the holy spirit is within me? If I have not experienced actually having the holy spirit within me then I cannot judge for myself, so here is the question:

Let's say that I think the holy spirit within me but that I also have reason to think that this is a delusion and that I do not really have the holy spirit within me. How could I confirm the holy spirit's presence or lack of presence within me given that I cannot lay complete trust in my thoughts and feelings?

 

[drifter5]

How do you know that, if only God knows our hearts?

Others (and we) start to see positive changes in us, both outwardly, and inwardly. We pray that God will show us our hearts, and guide us.

 

[drifter5]

Forgive me - I asked for an explanation and this is not one. Do you have one or not?

Either you were not a born- again christian, filled with The Holy Spirit, or you have backsliden as a Christian. "Adverse and foolish , often i strayed and yet in love He( Jesus) sought me, and on His shoulders gently lay , and home rejoicing brought me. " God says that we should pray that He will show us our hearts.

 

[drifter5]

Ah, how wonderfully tautological. You'll know when you know.
But won't I also know that I know when I am deluded into thinking the holy spirit is within me? If I have not experienced actually having the holy spirit within me then I cannot judge for myself, so here is the question:

Let's say that I think the holy spirit within me but that I also have reason to think that this is a delusion and that I do not really have the holy spirit within me. How could I confirm the holy spirit's presence or lack of presence within me given that I cannot lay complete trust in my thoughts and feelings?

The Holy Spirit gives us assurance of our Salvation. Jesus leads and guides His sheep- (Christians) God reveals Himself to Christians, by The Holy Spirit.

 

[drifter5]

When a wife loves her husband , other folk take her word for it, they do not ask her to take a test to prove that she loves him. They can see that she loves him outwardly by her actions. True faith is a gift from God, and it is a faith that includes actions. We do not put our faith in how we are feeling- feelings can change, or our circumstances. We put our faith in God's word to us, The Bible . Every Word of God is trustworthy. God can not lie. Jesus is unchanging.

 

[DoubtingThomas29]

Perhaps religion is man made, but this psychological need for a God is part of the human condition perhaps given to us from a creator? Maybe religion is humans' attempt to understand God?

We may think we have been convienced by God that he exists, but how do we know for sure? How can we verify our personal experiences? We can't really.

I personally am agnostic, if there is a God he hasn't shown himself to me, or he has convienced me to not believe in him. He is really hiding good.

I feel it is a matter of faith to believe or to not believe, and it doesn't matter what you believe, because you can't prove it is true. You can believe whatever you want the trick is, is it rational?

 

[Wiccan_Child]

When a wife loves her husband , other folk take her word for it, they do not ask her to take a test to prove that she loves him.

Naturally. It does not matter whether or not the husband exists. God, however, does have implications if his existance is real.

They can see that she loves him outwardly by her actions. True faith is a gift from God, and it is a faith that includes actions. We do not put our faith in how we are feeling- feelings can change, or our circumstances. We put our faith in God's word to us, The Bible . Every Word of God is trustworthy. God can not lie. Jesus is unchanging.

Faith is the ultimate cop out. It teaches you to be silent and obediant, rather then inquisitive and willing to learn.

 

[FishFace]

Either you were not a born- again christian, filled with The Holy Spirit, or you have backsliden as a Christian. "Adverse and foolish , often i strayed and yet in love He( Jesus) sought me, and on His shoulders gently lay , and home rejoicing brought me. " God says that we should pray that He will show us our hearts.

Well, if you say that anyone who stopped being a born again christian wasn't one in the first place, then you can't tell whether you are one, since you don't know whether you're going to deconvert.
A "backslidden" christian still leaves the question unanswered - if God was giving me all the reason to believe in him I needed, why did he let me stop?

 

[Patashu]

The Holy Spirit gives us assurance of our Salvation. Jesus leads and guides His sheep- (Christians) God reveals Himself to Christians, by The Holy Spirit.

No, no, no, that doesn't answer a thing.

How do I know I am not being deluded into thinking the holy spirit is giving me reassurance of the holy spirit's presence in me?

 

[drifter5]

No, no, no, that doesn't answer a thing.

How do I know I am not being deluded into thinking the holy spirit is giving me reassurance of the holy spirit's presence in me?

God gives to us a sure and certain hope and faith. God makes Himself known to us. God hears and answers our prayers very clearly, according to His will. God shows His love to His people in so many different ways.

 

[FishFace]

God gives to us a sure and certain hope and faith. God makes Himself known to us. God hears and answers our prayers very clearly, according to His will. God shows His love to His people in so many different ways.

So if we have all of this, how is it possible for people to deconvert?

 

[drifter5]

if you are a born- again christian then you can not lose your salvation. Once you are saved, you are always saved.