Why knocking is so important.

[Drich]

So if I ask, seek, and knock and find Shiva, I have proven that Shiva doesn't exist because she never commanded me to A/S/K?

If you A/S/K for Shiva and find nothing, then nothing exists. If you A/S/K and Find something, then it is not Shiva because Shiva is not approachable by man.

I'm thinking that the only two ways to connect with god is if god contacts you and makes himself known, or if you attempt to contact god and he answers.

Indeed.

If a person claims that he sought out god and god responded, would you dismiss his claim because it wasn't a god that explicitly described how to get in touch with him?

no I would not dismiss Him. I would simply ask so questions on what God had said or done for him.

Or if a person claims that he believes in god because god proactively revealed himself, you would dismiss the claim because he did not bother to begin the process of finding god?

I would ask him the same questions as the other man.

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If I do not currently presuppose a god exists, how am I to 'examine and quest for the truth of God'?

If you have already come to a conclusion then why concern yourself with a process designed to help you come to said conclusion?

The biggest problem with your A/S/K 'method' is that no matter how much we tell you that we tried, you have a built in, ready to go reason why it didn't work.

Not my A/S/K Method. Read Luke 11 again this is what Christ perscribes.

"You didn't try for long enough"
"You weren't sincere enough"
Or whatever...

Since you are so convinced, it has to be something we are doing wrong, and nothing to do with the real possibility that you are simply wrong, and that you have been convinced for bad reasons.

What i understand is that A/S/K will show eventually Bring you to God. However in that process we all are asked to shed at least some of our ideas of who God is. The further away from scripture your starting religion is the less you will recognise God to be. That is why so many lose their faith completely.

Ive been through the process and I know what i have seen endured and been given over the last 20+ years. It is not easy, but well worth the effort.