If God Asked You For a Dime, How Would You Know It Was Him?

Alternatively, if there is a god, why does he/she need to show him/herself?

 

How about all those self-appointed people who claim to be working for God. They don't have any proof of his existence except for Faith which can be defined as: the purposeful suspension of critical thinking. Anything that science does not explain is attributed to God.

Interesting video to watch!

 

"As you have done it unto the least of these, so you have done it unto me" quote attributed to Jesus.

He said that taking care of the homeless, the hungry, and prisoners was the same as taking care of him. So, if G-d asks for a dime on the street corner, holding a cardboard sign, then that's him for you, if you choose to give to that person.

I don't donate to help out G-d. I donate and help out causes I feel will help out our planet, other species, and our own species, because it is the right thing to do, and because if we all do something to help others, the world will get better. Every thing matters, every person matters, and life matters.

Cause and effect - do good, and good stuff happens.

 

I'm still waiting for all your dimes

 

We (well quite a few) hide Him.

 

"Honk if you're Jesus"
- a bumper sticker I made in the late 1970's and had on my 1968 Dodge Coronet 440.

 

That would explain why he never does his job, people kidnap and torture him all the time.

 

1968 Dodge Coronet 440, Nice. I had a 1968 Plymouth Satellite giving to me by an uncle in 1982 with 60,000 miles on it.

I think I will save the money and give it God personally when I meet him or her to avoid things like this!
Tele-Evangelist Lifestyles

 

Read Matthew 24 for reasons not to believe faces in the clouds with big booming voices as evidence of the existence of God. Also, 2 Corinthians 11:14 on fakes messiahs and Revelations 16 also talks about the servants of Satan performing miracles so as to appear as God. So perhaps a better question might be: "If an entity purporting to be God performed a miracle before you; how would you know it's not God?"

As to why he doesn't show himself? It's not just a contest between God and Satan or evil vs. good. There is a controversy involved wherein a challenge has been issued.

God created everything and as that creator it's seems to be a given that the creator or maker has a good idea how things should be run. He also created the beings in the universe with free will, i.e. He has power over them but has no power to make them do that which they choose not to do.

Satan, challenged God's way of doing things. Read Job for a good example of how this works. To make a long story short, Satan challenged God, in order to do that I'm sure some ground rules have to be established. Being the most powerful I'm guessing they don't favor God. IOW, you can't go flying around performing miracles, giving away free stuff and pretty much making people love you.

Which is false love and something God doesn't want anyway. He want's those who love Him to love for who He is, a loving Creator and for nothing else, especially not for being a sugardaddy. Besides, He's tried it many times in the past and it didn't work. Just my .02 cents.

 

Oh, look! It's time to trot out Epicurius again!

"Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able?
Then he is not omnipotent.
Is he able, but not willing?
Then he is malevolent.
Is he both able and willing?
Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing?
Then why call him God?

 

That's a good example of the "good vs. evil" philosophy of God's motives and acts and Epicurius' 'bread & butter' philosophy. Unfortunately, this philosophy usually devolves into "us vs. them" type of discussion. A useless endeavor and one I'd like to get beyond if possible. :amen: Hopefully, that's why you posted this fine example! :thumb:

 

The question, "Why doesn't God show himself?" is in fact, NOT a question, but a presumption.

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It's no more useless that the circular logic brigade that trots out the Bible as proof of their God.

 

They are both useless! Was that your point? :noidea:

Although I don't know of anyone that tries to prove the existence of God solely using the Bible as proof.

 

In relation to His existence? Yes. But as we all know trying to prove God exists or does not exist is also presumption. But I don't think that's the intent of this thread or least I hope it's not. I thought a truce was agreed upon over this particular point, I could be wrong and if I am I'm really not interested in further discussion. But if a different type of discussion is envisioned them I'm game!

p.s. The Apostle Paul's contention on this point was that God shows Himself in His creation but if'n you believe in evolution, well never mind.

 

The observation that that the question was a "presumption", does not reference a singular presumption. Referencing only one of the multiple presumptions necessarily indicates the other(s) may have been overlooked. The question comprises multiple presumptions:
A) God Exists
B ) God doesn't show himself
You must necessarily presume A) in order to presume B )
One can't presume both A) and B ) are necessarily both factual.

 

I presume that my sense of humor rubs some people the wrong way.

 

Don't let it bother ya Bra... if everyone was the same, there would be no advancement... I look around me and know that the creation wasn't meant to be all the same... if you believe it was created that is.

As for giving a dime to a beggar... I believe the creator also wants us to understand life is about choices, and chaos is normal and unplanned... if you cannot find the means to survive, you will be consumed... and that isn't a bad thing either, it's just the way of the universe.

 

Believe in the Bible? I've SEEN one!

When I see a God, I am ready to believe.

 

Being raised as an Evangelical Lutheran, I had the answer to OP of that your religion should be based solely on faith. Faith that there exists an interpretation of the Bible which is true and so on.

Now. If I saw the god or gods of some particular religion, then I would instantly convert to that religion. Why? Because that would be reasonable. As it is right now, no god has proven to be able to interact or influence with this world, which only makes it reasonable not to believe in any god.