Why does God choose to remain invisible and undetectable?

[Smidlee]

I can't get him to understand what one looks like, but I can easily explain the mathematical and physical things that are going on so he understand the principles involved just fine.

You want to keep playing silly games?

Have you tried to explain a rainbow to a blind man? I have. He told me quickly he read everything there was about sight but he still have no clue what "red" is?
I'm not playing games.

 

[Kylie]

Have you tried to explain a rainbow to a blind man? I have. He told me quickly he read anything there was about sight but he still have no clue what "red" is?
I'm not playing games.

And he doesn't need to understand what "red" is in order to understand the mathematical principles behind the formation of a rainbow.

And yes you are playing games. You are pretending that experiencing a thing is required to understand how the thing works. I can tell you a lot of things that humans understand at least reasonably well that we have never directly experienced.

 

[Archaeopteryx]

A Thor worshiper turn to Christ is not the same as someone leaving Christianity for atheism. It is illogical for someone claiming they had a personal relationship with God then suddenly converted to claim there is no creator at all. It would make more sense if someone became a deist or another faith.
This is like someone claiming they saw a rainbow then turn around to claim they don't exist. This is why I doubts there is really such a thing as an atheist.

What is illogical about someone coming to the realisation that they were probably mistaken? Have you never made a mistake and later recognised it as such?

 

[Smidlee]

And he doesn't need to understand what "red" is in order to understand the mathematical principles behind the formation of a rainbow.

And yes you are playing games. You are pretending that experiencing a thing is required to understand how the thing works. I can tell you a lot of things that humans understand at least reasonably well that we have never directly experienced.

To really understand a lot of things you do need to experience them.

 

[Archaeopteryx]

To really understand a lot of things you do need to experience them.

Ok. Assuming that's true, how can you find epistemic fault with people who do not share your theological commitments?

 

[Smidlee]

What is illogical about someone coming to the realisation that they were probably mistaken? Have you never made a mistake and later recognised it as such?

Yes it illogical to claim I know someone, like my wife, then claimed she doesn't exist. Now it's reasonable I thought I know something about my wife and find out I was mistaken.

 

[Archaeopteryx]

Yes it illogical to claim I know someone, like my wife, then claimed she doesn't exist. Now it possible I thought I know something about my wife for example and find out I was mistaken.

It's not illogical if you never knew the person in question, but previously thought that you had.

 

[Smidlee]

It's not illogical if you never knew the person in question, but previously thought that you had.

I say I know someone then later came they doesn't exist than that would make me a liar.

 

[Archaeopteryx]

I say I know someone then later came they doesn't exist than that would make me a liar.

Or just mistaken.

 

[Smidlee]

Or just mistaken.

How can you be "just mistaken" when you claim to know someone then later deny their existence? That's illogical.

 

[ChristCameBackFromTheDead]

You know, it's extremely hard for people to understand the relationship between God and the individual. This type of relationship is rewarded to the truly faithful and those that keep his laws. If you look through the bible you can clearly see a defining pattern, God reveals Himself to the faithful and those who listen. Jesus even said those with ears let them hear.

Once you become faithful, I mean a true servant to Christ. He isn't just a "voice" in your heard, it's a voice clear as day that has very separate speaking styles. God's Word speaks to everyone, everyone in their heart knows He's there but deny Him. In the bible, God really does speak and hold relationships with those who are faithful. It's the exact same as today.

The atheist is an atheist because he has sprouted from a garden of non believers or luke warm Christians who doubt. Being sprouted around true people who really follow Christ, you're going to see miracles, no doubt.

Look at the underground China church, they are healing people. Legit, 100%, HEALING people. It's because there is a real faith there, one that completely buckles our own in middle/upper class societies.

The unbeliever will not know Christ because they refuse to listen. Just flat out, 100%, refuse. If you looked for God, you'd find him. But you can't expect to discover Him face to face through scientific discoveries, because you ignore His majesty imprinted on all of your finds.

So yeah, I'm sure it's been said in this thread many times, it's by faith.

 

[Ana the Ist]

Exactly. Jesus Christ "works".
OK.


A Thor worshiper turn to Christ is not the same as someone leaving Christianity for atheism. It is illogical for someone claiming they had a personal relationship with God then suddenly converted to claim there is no creator at all. It would make more sense if someone became a deist or another faith.
This is like someone claiming they saw a rainbow then turn around to claim they don't exist. This is why I doubts there is really such a thing as an atheist.

That's a poor analogy. Lots of people on this forum had "experiences" of Santa as children...yet I'd be willing to bet I couldn't find a poster here who still believes in Santa.

It's not that as children we didn't have those experiences... it's that we believed those experiences were caused by Santa. We got older and wiser and realized that those experiences were something other than Santa. I'd say that's a much more fitting analogy for atheists who were once believers who had "experienced" god.

 

[Archaeopteryx]

How can you be "just mistaken" when you claim to know someone then later deny their existence? That's illogical.

It's not illogical if you were mistaken about knowing someone.

 

[Archaeopteryx]

You know, it's extremely hard for people to understand the relationship between God and the individual. This type of relationship is rewarded to the truly faithful and those that keep his laws. If you look through the bible you can clearly see a defining pattern, God reveals Himself to the faithful and those who listen. Jesus even said those with ears let them hear.

Once you become faithful, I mean a true servant to Christ. He isn't just a "voice" in your heard, it's a voice clear as day that has very separate speaking styles. God's Word speaks to everyone, everyone in their heart knows He's there but deny Him. In the bible, God really does speak and hold relationships with those who are faithful. It's the exact same as today.

The atheist is an atheist because he has sprouted from a garden of non believers or luke warm Christians who doubt. Being sprouted around true people who really follow Christ, you're going to see miracles, no doubt.

Dan Barker "sprouted around true people who really follow Christ." Yet after 19 years of doing "God's work" he became an atheist. People can and do deconvert and abandon religion altogether.

The unbeliever will not know Christ because they refuse to listen. Just flat out, 100%, refuse. If you looked for God, you'd find him. But you can't expect to discover Him face to face through scientific discoveries, because you ignore His majesty imprinted on all of your finds.

You are confusing refusing to listen with being unconvinced by what is said.

So yeah, I'm sure it's been said in this thread many times, it's by faith.

If you are happy to go along believing by faith, then fine. Just don't pretend that others are being unreasonable by not sharing your theological commitments.

 

[talquin]

the answer is simple. our brains only recognize 4 dimentions. and so does our equipment.

That doesn't address the issue if people are saying they saw or heard God - which they do quite frequently.

 

[MoreCoffee]

Thread Question: Why does God choose to remain invisible and undetectable?
Answer: Because it annoys atheists a great deal

 

[Archaeopteryx]

Thread Question: Why does God choose to remain invisible and undetectable?
Answer: Because it annoys atheists a great deal

Are you suggesting that God is petulant?

 

[MoreCoffee]

Thread Question: Why does God choose to remain invisible and undetectable?
Answer: Because it annoys atheists a great deal

Are you suggesting that God is petulant?

That is not implied by my answer.

 

[timewerx]

I have seen God. But He appeared to me as a woman.

Ironically, She wore a black abaya and a black veil like a Muslim woman.

I think it must have meant something. Maybe He's sympathizing with Muslim women and see their struggle against persecution from men.

 

[com7fy8]

I have seen God. But He appeared to me as a woman.

Ironically, She wore a black abaya and a black veil like a Muslim woman.

I think it must have meant something. Maybe He's sympathizing with Muslim women and see their struggle against persecution from men.

Well, plenty of women are superior to men . . . especially to how I have been. I have needed to get a clue from Christian ladies, how I need to become humble.

And, according to my Bible translation, Paul likened himself to "a nursing mother" who "cherishes her children" > 1 Thessalonians 2:6-8.

So, I would say God's meaning would not be limited to something about Muslim women . . . also considering how many other women are also abused and only used.

And black takes in all the color wavelengths of sunlight. So, black could represent how we need to take in the light of God's love. We all need to be "clothed with humility" (1 Peter 5:5) so we are soaking in all the light of God's love

And, by the way . . . about "why" God is invisible . . . the light of His love is present, but my own selfish nature's blindness keeps me from sensing and responding to and growing in this love.

Sunlight is invisible, but doing so much more than people and things that are visible. So, it is good how sunlight is not limited to what we can see and how we can do things and see things.

2 Corinthians 6:12 > "You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections."

So, if we are limited to what we can see and want, this can be why we do not see God