I Can’t Prove God Exists, But You Can’t Prove He Doesn’t

Summary

The article discusses the complexity of proving or disproving the existence of God, acknowledging that both belief and disbelief require a leap of faith.

Abstract

The author reflects on the challenges of proving God's existence or non-existence, emphasizing that belief in God is ultimately a matter of faith rather than empirical proof. The article suggests that while there is no definitive evidence to settle the debate, there are clues that point towards a divine creator, such as the existence of the universe, the human quest for meaning and purpose, the complexity of life, and the concept of good and evil. The author respects the atheist perspective but argues that atheists face an equally challenging task in disproving God's existence, as it would require negating a wide array of phenomena and experiences that have led people to faith. The author concludes by affirming their choice to believe based on personal experiences, transformative life changes, and historical testimonies, while also acknowledging the role of doubt and the importance of humility in the face of unanswerable questions.

Opinions

The author admits that proving God's existence is beyond empirical evidence and involves a step of faith.
Atheists are challenged to disprove a multitude of factors that contribute to the belief in God, such as personal transformation and eyewitness accounts.
The article posits that there are indicators suggesting God's existence, including the universe's origin, the inherent human search for meaning, and the scientific complexity of life.
The concept of evil is presented as evidence for the existence of good, and by extension, God.
Respect for differing belief systems is emphasized, with the author recognizing the limitations in proving one's own perspective.
The author chooses faith based on personal experiences, life changes, and the accounts of others, while accepting that doubt is a part of the human condition.
The article cites biblical references to support the idea that belief without sight can be considered blessed, and that doubt should not lead to absolute certainty of God's non-existence.
The author advocates for acknowledging human limitations in understanding and the value of admitting that not all questions have answers.

To prove there is no god, you need to prove a lot of things

A Muslim friend gave me this cross. She prays to Allah and I pray to Jesus, but we believe the same God hears our prayers. Photo by author

I read an extraordinary statement this morning. It was in the comment section of a post referencing the bible. The commentor said the bible reference was nonsense because there is no God.

Do you realize how much arrogance it takes to state unequivocally that there is no God?

I admit I can’t prove God exists. I can examine the evidence, draw on my own experiences and the experiences of others, and conclude that believing in God does or doesn’t make sense. But the final step is always a step of faith.

I can’t prove love exists, either, but I conclude that my emotions and experiences with love are valid.

I have never remarked that an atheist’s belief system is nonsense. I recognize that different experiences and interpretations of those experiences lead atheists to decide there is no creator.

I respect those differences and realize my limitations in proving my own point of view.

But by the same token, atheists should recognize their own limitations.

To prove there is no god, a person should be prepared to prove the gospel eyewitness accounts are lies, mystical experiences that have led people to faith are imaginary, God’s transforming work in our hearts is a result of something other than God, there is no such thing as a miracle, answered prayers would have happened anyway, the origins of life sprang from something other than a creator, there is nothing beyond the material universe, billions of people throughout history who have believed in a god have been wrong and deluded, and there has been no divine guiding force through the evolutionary process, despite the fact that most non-neutral mutational effects are deleterious.

It’s a tall order to prove these things, just like it’s a tall order for me to prove God’s existence. It takes a big step of faith, either way.

There are clues that God exists. The existence of the universe is better explained by the existence God. There is an instrinsic longing for meaning, purpose, and spiritual insight. Science reveals the amazing complexity of life. The existence of evil presupposes the existence of good, or else we wouldn’t be able to define evil.

The Apostle Paul said, “For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.” (Romans 1:20)

These things aren’t proof, but they are clues.

I choose faith based on my experience, the transformation in my life, and the eyewitness accounts and experiences of others. You might choose differently, but that doesn’t mean my beliefs are nonsense.

Doubt is nothing new. Jesus said to Thomas, who refused to believe until he had seen the nail marks in Jesus’s hands, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen, and have believed.” (John 20:29)

Doubt can lead to agnosticism, but doubt shouldn’t lead to the certainty that God doesn’t exist. Wouldn’t it be better to admit we don’t know everything and we don’t have all the answers?

I choose to believe. You choose to disbelieve. Both of us are operating on faith.