Welcome, Not_Now.Soon

<<... would any evidance for God do?>>

I’d prefer reliable evidence.

<<Personal experiences included?>>

Generally not. They're not very reliable given that there always seems to be rational explanations for them.

<<There are plenty of personal experiences with regard to prayer…>>

Prayer has been demonstrated to not have any effect beyond that of a placebo, and is useless if an omniscient god exists.

“Your will be done.”

<<... feeling God is near …>>

Yes, I had all the usual personal experiences like these, too, and would sometimes exchange stories with fellow congregation members, so I’ve heard about the personal experiences of many others, too. It's usually mundane and scientifically-explainable stuff such as the euphoric feeling Christians get at church, which they assume is the Holy Spirit.

<<... and some strange observations that look like miracles ...>>

I'd like to see evidence for that. It's hardly surprising that God won't heal amputees, don’t you think?

<<... answered prayers …>>

Yes, and if they’re not answered they they didn’t have enough faith or God is working in mysterious ways. It's set up so that the belief can never be challenged.

<<... finding someone with some kind of experience is usually less then a stone throw away.>>

How do they know it's God? If they'd never heard of God, would they interpret the feelings as being the work of God?

Incidentally, what kind of a god gives Paul a definitive revelation and then plays silly buggers with the rest of us like that?

AJ Philips,

<<Once again, how do you know the Bible is right? Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence, and there was nothing extraordinary about the evidence you provided before.>>

The extraordinary claims have been demonstrated by:

1. Those who have tested the reliability of Scripture and have found it to be accurate and authentic. Read Jason Jackson's, "Luke, the Beloved Historian" at: https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/1196-luke-the-beloved-historian.

2. Human history pivots on the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Why is it 2017 this year? Thanks to Jesus extraordinary feats.

3. Changed lives from druggies to saints, criminals to upright citizens have demonstrated the change that Jesus brings in a person's life. John Newton, William Wilberforce and Chuck Colson were radically changed through spiritual rebirth.

From that incredible life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Christianity has grown worldwide to 2.2 billion adherents.

I'd call these factors 'extraordinary evidence' but I don't expect you to endorse that assessment.

OzSpen,

None of your so-called evidence is particularly extraordinary. Certainly not extraordinary enough to believe that the miracles in the Bible actually happened as reported. That’s some pretty mundane stuff you’re provided me with, actually.

1. I saw nothing compelling here at all. Perhaps you could tell me what you thought was so compelling about it? Worse still, the page even appears to claim that the Gospel of Luke was actually written by Luke.

2. The fact that the numbering system for our years is based on the alleged birth of Jesus is not evidence of anything other than the fact that those who came up with the numbering system thought that his birthday would be a good reference point.

3. So, Christianity provides an emotional crutch? A lot of religions do. So what? A lie can still provide meaning to an individual’s life. That it does says nothing about the truth behind its claims. This is a non sequitur.

You’re right, I don’t find your evidence very compelling at all. Perhaps if your god would reveal himself to me in a way that a belief in him could be rationally justifiable, then you’d have a convert on your hands. Since he hasn’t, I can only conclude that either he doesn’t care to, or that he doesn’t exist.

Thank you for the welcome AJ Philips. I'm sorry you've had some experience that you've discarded. If I might, I have a thought concerning similar findings. There's a parable that I know as the parable of four soils. It's one of the parables that is given and then also explained to the disciples. But it gives four reactions to hearing the gospel. The first one is hearing the word, and not understanding it. In that parable the seed of the word falls on a hard path and is latter taken away before it can take root. If I'm not mistaken this is exactly what you've described. Discarding even your own experiences as well as those you've known from people you know.

On experiences I can tell you that I've found prayers to be real. But my experiences are of little value because you don't know me, so how could you trust me. On experiences I can tell you that God does act. Miracles and the such are real. Even mundane actions that reach us. I've found bits of both and heard the same from others, that had nothing to gain to share their experiences to me, so I assume there's no reason to lie or question their rational state of mind. I'm telling you this because I think there's danger in casual discarding other people's experiences (or your own). Especially if they are common enough occurrences.

Regarding unanswered prayer...

<<if they’re not answered they they didn’t have enough faith or God is working in mysterious ways. It's set up so that the belief can never be challenged.>>

I hate hearing the idea of unanswered prayer to be a measure of faith. Sometimes the answer is simply a "no." Not that God needs to give a reason or that the person praying lacks faith or otherwise has short comings. Those could be a reason, or they could simply be that God says no to the prayer.

AJ Philip as to your other points...

Regarding people having experiences in some way with God...

<<How do they know it's God? If they'd never heard of God, would they interpret the feelings as being the work of God?,

Incidentally, what kind of a god gives Paul a definitive revelation and then plays silly buggers with the rest of us like that?>>

I don't know God's reasons, nor do I know that one person's interpretations is God's last work in their lives or even if they are always from God. Because of this I actually hold experience as highly valuable, but interpretations of experiences are not always as easy to hold. I hope you can relate.

As for Paul, I'm not sure of how many people would want his life. From what the bible's says after his revelation he held his guilt heavily calling himself the worse of sinners. He was persecuted by leaders of towns both Jewish religious leaders and Gentiles who had a market to lose with their selling idols. Paul was stoned at least once, on the run several times, put to court at least once, and according to tradition eventually died by Romans. His revelation might have been there to strengthen him. But then again who knows.

AJ Philips,

<<None of your so-called evidence is particularly extraordinary. Certainly not extraordinary enough to believe that the miracles in the Bible actually happened as reported. That’s some pretty mundane stuff you’re provided me with, actually.>>

That's your personal, subjective opinion with no more authority than autonomous projections.