Is God really real or are people simply deluded?

[GrandizerII]

I'm sure if you really did know God was real, you would've explained to us how one can really know God exists as an absolute fact (and not just believe God is real).

But you don't really know for a fact he exists, do you? Come on, be honest.

You want honesty, here it is, God is real, He does exist there's no doubt, he proved to me He exists, His way for me.
What's the wrong with belief, how many scientist have used it to find truth. Since you seemed to have missed what I've explained several times on this forum, I'll do it again.
Faith is the first step, faith leads to belief and belief leads to knowledge, of coarse this takes some time, some trust and lots of prayer and involvement in God's work and you may have to ask several times and wait, but God will reveal himself to one when one's heart truly yearns for the knowledge. It's a process like other things in life.

GC

Faith does not answer the question. You can have faith in anything you want to have faith in, and then later say that you know this thing you have faith in exists.

What I'm asking is an explanation on how you know God is real when you are unable, as a limited human being, to sense his existence empirically and logic does not lead to any definite inevitable conclusion that he exists.

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Let me put it another way. The Mormons know the Book of Mormon is true. Are they full of shit or what?

[Smaug]

The reasonable way answer to this question would be that in the most general case the answer is just undefined. Speaking of popular faiths (not only abrahamic) it's mass self-delusion.

[RobertE]

So, what you are saying is that God punished them in the same way that the Canaanites were doing to other people? If this is true, then it is truly despicable. There is no way on earth, not even a God (as religions like to point out that he is some sort of gentle figure) who would condone such behaviour. From what I can gather, those who have read the bible in its entirety and thus believe it and think God was right, instead of criticising him for his actions, which are borderline Hitler-esque; they praise him to the heavens. These very same people who love God in spite of what he has done, are the very same people who are the first to condemn the actions of a murderer and ask for a lethal injection or electric chair to do away with the murderous fiend. As I have stated many times before, as far as I'm concerned, God no longer exists since he is dead. I am also certain that he was in fact real, he had flesh, had blood running through his veins, and the only difference between himself and the townspeople was the fact that he may have had an education, which gave him a distinct advantage over those who were unlucky enough to not follow an education.

Is it possible that God was in fact the 'natural father', of Jesus, and once word got out, they worshipped him simply because he was the "son of God." Pretty much like Prince Charles is to the Queen. Going back to the education part, and mind control and manipulation, it is very possible. We don't even have to go far to see this. We can look at how Hamas treats its people by asking them to hide weapons wherever they are. Why? Simply because they are gullible, possibly never had access to any form of education since Islam is strict about women and education as we have seen with the Taliban. Why not another example in North Korea? They play in the recent World Cup, and I bet the leader of North Kim-Jong Un spread the rumour that they won the World Cup, and guess what, almost 100% would believe it as fact simply because of a lack of education, lack of access to resources, and constant brainwashing from generation to generation. Education is the key here to getting rid of religion.

[Godscreated]

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You want honesty, here it is, God is real, He does exist there's no doubt, he proved to me He exists, His way for me.
What's the wrong with belief, how many scientist have used it to find truth. Since you seemed to have missed what I've explained several times on this forum, I'll do it again.
Faith is the first step, faith leads to belief and belief leads to knowledge, of coarse this takes some time, some trust and lots of prayer and involvement in God's work and you may have to ask several times and wait, but God will reveal himself to one when one's heart truly yearns for the knowledge. It's a process like other things in life.

GC

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Faith does not answer the question. You can have faith in anything you want to have faith in, and then later say that you know this thing you have faith in exists.

Faith can answer the question, through faith a person can if they will continue to seek, find God is real through His personal revelation to them.

What I'm asking is an explanation on how you know God is real when you are unable, as a limited human being, to sense his existence empirically and logic does not lead to any definite inevitable conclusion that he exists.

Why did you ignore the process I showed, you stopped at faith when I said faith is the beginning place (though many stop there), from faith comes belief through scripture study and prayer, watching for God's actions around them. Then one can have the knowledge of God by asking Him, staying faithful, working for others, praying and ect. God in His wisdom will reveal to a sincere person He is real, that He exists, He will do it in His special way, different for each person. You want absolute proof without seeking it, why, scientist start a search for truth and begin with a faith in what they believe to be real, they seek and come to believe they are on the right track to finding it. Then one day because they continued in their search they find the truth, regardless of what they find they find the truth. You want physical proof from a spiritual world from a God who is spirit not flesh and blood, that want happen IMO, at least I've not encountered this through all the Christians I've talked with.

Let me put it another way. The Mormons know the Book of Mormon is true. Are they full of shit or what?

You ever read the Book of Mormons, try it even if it's only partial and then try to find any history that is in that book. If your search reveals real history, then maybe you can consider it real, good luck with that though. I'm not saying that the Bible is a history book, especially one that proves God, the Bible was never intended to be a history book. The Bible does reveal some history through the telling of a single people that God chose as His own.

GC

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So, what you are saying is that God punished them in the same way that the Canaanites were doing to other people? If this is true, then it is truly despicable. There is no way on earth, not even a God (as religions like to point out that he is some sort of gentle figure) who would condone such behaviour. From what I can gather, those who have read the bible in its entirety and thus believe it and think God was right, instead of criticising him for his actions, which are borderline Hitler-esque; they praise him to the heavens. These very same people who love God in spite of what he has done, are the very same people who are the first to condemn the actions of a murderer and ask for a lethal injection or electric chair to do away with the murderous fiend. As I have stated many times before, as far as I'm concerned, God no longer exists since he is dead. I am also certain that he was in fact real, he had flesh, had blood running through his veins, and the only difference between himself and the townspeople was the fact that he may have had an education, which gave him a distinct advantage over those who were unlucky enough to not follow an education.

Is it possible that God was in fact the 'natural father', of Jesus, and once word got out, they worshipped him simply because he was the "son of God." Pretty much like Prince Charles is to the Queen. Going back to the education part, and mind control and manipulation, it is very possible. We don't even have to go far to see this. We can look at how Hamas treats its people by asking them to hide weapons wherever they are. Why? Simply because they are gullible, possibly never had access to any form of education since Islam is strict about women and education as we have seen with the Taliban. Why not another example in North Korea? They play in the recent World Cup, and I bet the leader of North Kim-Jong Un spread the rumour that they won the World Cup, and guess what, almost 100% would believe it as fact simply because of a lack of education, lack of access to resources, and constant brainwashing from generation to generation. Education is the key here to getting rid of religion.

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RobertE, if this was intended for me let me know and I will answer.

GC

[JesusHChrist]

And the bible is full of history that is flat out wrong. The exodus being a glaring example.

[Jenny A]

All I need to read to know what you've got is a big fat goose egg. The burden of proof is always on the person who claims to have evidence.

Christians are taught in the scriptures of God we are not required to prove God, each person has to find that true for themselves by listening to God. I've found the proof through God's truth, if you miss out then you have only yourself to blame.

Yes, but why claim you have evidence, when what you have is faith? I don't have faith, and frankly I see no reason to try to have it. Particularly not in the god of the Bible who is ridiculously unlikely given the errors, contradictions and other rubbish in his holy book, creeds, and doctrines.

For example: I sent you a million dollar cashiers check. I have evidence that I did. Try to prove I didn't. ----- Good luck with that.

You do not have my post office box number, I can give it to you, if you can prove you will send the million. Waiting patiently.

You missed the point. You have no evidence that I sent the check. I claim to have evidence that I did. Obviously the burden to prove I sent the check would be on me.

What you claim as evidence of god is the same. Pardon me if I think your god is as mythical as my check.

[Ravenshire]

You missed the point

You weren't surprised by this, I hope.

[IATIA]

"Is God really real or are people simply deluded?"

Deluded!

The problem is that they want there to be a god and will take whatever measures are necessary to confirm that belief. The fact that this is it, and oblivion is our final destination, is anathema to most people. Our existence is special to each of us and to believe that it is not special to the universe may perhaps take more faith than believing in the simple answer of "goddidit".