Attn: Theists - What would it take to prove you wrong?

[Theo Zacharias]

Hello,
I'm a new member in this forum.
I'm interested to join discussion in this topic.

So I've long dabbled in theological debate, and watched a number of them on youtube as well. One line of questioning has piqued my interest. Atheists know what would convince them that God is real. There is established criteria for which we could not deny the existence of God - his holy presence manifested in some unambiguous, obvious godly form, before a reasonable audience (easy thing to do if you, say, occupy the vast majority of the sky over the US, for example), performing any number of supernatural feats that defy the laws of physics. Maybe an upsidedown volcano in the sky that erupts and disappears before it touches anything. Maybe having it actually rain locusts globally, which turn into broccoli afterwards, etc. You know, supernatural business. Do something supernatural, and make it literally spectacular.

Or, shit, heal an amputee. But I digress.

Anyway, we have criteria which could convince us. Evidence could present itself. The possibility exists. We could be wrong. We'd have to accept it.

I think it's not that easy. If there is a phenomenon that seems supernatural, i.e. defy known laws of physic, I think most scientist will first say that either the data is probably flaw or there probably are some hidden variables that we don't know. Even if those 2 possibilities are shown to be wrong, most scientist will say that the known laws of physic is probably wrong and they will develop a new theory that will bring the seemingly-supernatural phenomenon back to natural phenomenon.

Phenomenon like "occupy the vast majority of the sky over the US" or "an upside-down volcano in the sky that erupts and disappears before it touches anything" are, in my opinion, not supernatural phenomenons even according to known laws of physics. An example of phenomenon that defy known laws of physics is faster-than-light communication. If such phenomenon is observed, repeatable and validate, will most scientist say that it is a supernatural phenomenon? Unlikely in my opinion. They will instead say that the current known laws of physics (special relativity in this case) is not correct and they will develop a new theory that will allow such phenomenon to exist under natural assumption. This will of course bring the faster-than-light communication back to natural phenomenon.

So you haven't really answer yourselves what would it take to prove that God exists. Can you give me just one phenomenon that if observed, repeatable and validate will convince you that God exists?

But do you have a similar set of circumstances, where it can be proven to you that God doesn't exist? Or at least that there's no reason to suspect that he does? What is it about our existence that demands that there is a god, which if you found a legitimate explanation for, you could let go? Would you be willing to accept that argument, if confronted with the evidence/reasoning/explanation?

Do you allow yourself the possibility that you are wrong? Do you have an out, or are you forever bound to the belief of religion, regardless of the evidence put forth against it?

I open to the possibility that I'm wrong.

If so, what would it be? What instance, or discovery, or scientific theory (much more than just conjecture - based on mounds of facts), would it take to free you from your faith? I hope you'll weigh in. I'm quite interested in the responses to this question. Thanks!

My belief is based on the following reasons:
1) There is no evidence that God does not exist
2) Belief in God brings an overall positive effect to me
If you can show one of the above to be wrong, i.e. evidence that God does not exist or belief in God brings an overall negative effect to me, then I will leave theism.