# Atheists , how could God prove to you he exists? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 5, 2019, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-how-could-god-prove-to-you-he-exists/833518 "2019-05-05T19:08:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2019, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-how-could-god-prove-to-you-he-exists/833518/1 "2019-05-05T19:08:01Z")
to start I am pretty much an agnostic. Let’s say someone shows up at your door and says he’s God and wants to prove it. Then he says “I can snap my fingers and any car you want will appear right here. In fact I can bring any 5 cars of any cost - Mercedes, Rolls Royce, Lambo, Ferrari , etc. , or if you prefer I will give you $1 million in cash.” and then does which one you pick. Would you think this person is God or would you think there is some kind of trick going on? To me that would prove this person is God. What about you? ---
**Author:** ![eburacum45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eburacum45/32/8690_2.png) [@eburacum45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eburacum45)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2019, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-how-could-god-prove-to-you-he-exists/833518/2 "2019-05-05T19:13:34Z")
Oh Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz? My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends. Worked hard all my lifetime, no help from my friends, So Lord, won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz? ---
**Author:** ![rsat3acr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@rsat3acr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsat3acr)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2019, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-how-could-god-prove-to-you-he-exists/833518/3 "2019-05-05T19:13:52Z")
Transport me back in time so I can watch my younger self doing something only I know. Transport me around the universe without speed of light limitations. Raise someone from the dead, my choosing. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2019, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-how-could-god-prove-to-you-he-exists/833518/4 "2019-05-05T19:14:12Z")
That person would have a lot of power, money, or good magic tricks. I see no reason to believe he is a god, as the term is usually understood. Did he create the universe? Is he all-knowing? Is he immortal? Is he divine? ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2019, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-how-could-god-prove-to-you-he-exists/833518/5 "2019-05-05T19:15:14Z")
> [@rsat3acr](#): > > Transport me back in time so I can watch my younger self doing something only I know. Transport me around the universe without speed of light limitations. Raise someone from the dead, my choosing. I thought about using those type examples too. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2019, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-how-could-god-prove-to-you-he-exists/833518/6 "2019-05-05T19:18:38Z")
Several possibilities: 1. I’m hallucinating. 2. I’m the target of a very elaborate prank, or other form of deceit. 3. I’m being addressed by a powerful entity that is not actually omnipotent and omniscient, but is very powerful and knowledgeable just the same. 4. I’m being addressed by an omnipotent, omniscient deity. 1 or 2 sound a lot more likely than 3 and 4, logically speaking; and even 3 seems a lot more likely than 4. Something like this analysis can be used for pretty much every single claim of supernatural power/events. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2019, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-how-could-god-prove-to-you-he-exists/833518/7 "2019-05-05T19:19:31Z")
So that is what Coyote is up to now… Or to just mention it: what God are we talking there? And… I’m agnostic myself with a bit of Deism tossed in, to me it would be a persistence of he/she/it demonstrating those feats to any one coming to check those powers \*\*and not making a disappearing act \*\*when researches come to take a look behind the curtain. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2019, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-how-could-god-prove-to-you-he-exists/833518/8 "2019-05-05T19:21:01Z")
lots of regular people can give you $1 million but not at the snap of a finger and make it appear out of thin air , same for the cars. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2019, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-how-could-god-prove-to-you-he-exists/833518/9 "2019-05-05T19:26:08Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > lots of regular people can give you $1 million but not at the snap of a finger and make it appear out of thin air , same for the cars. Yeah, but usually in cases like that we get a trickster move like the leprechauns, as soon one accepts it turns into something else that discredits the believer in the eyes of others, or the cars turn into a Gremlin, a Pinto, and a Yugo. ---
**Author:** ![Unreconstructed\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/76d3ee/32.png) [@Unreconstructed\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unreconstructed_Man)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2019, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-how-could-god-prove-to-you-he-exists/833518/10 "2019-05-05T19:34:07Z")
I’ve just typed a list of 20 completely random words into the notepad app on my phone. If I get a DM in the next 24 hours listing all those words I will immediately convert to the sender’s religion. ---
**Author:** ![eburacum45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eburacum45/32/8690_2.png) [@eburacum45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eburacum45)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2019, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-how-could-god-prove-to-you-he-exists/833518/11 "2019-05-05T19:40:42Z")
If a person who claims to be God tries to prove it by working miracles, that could mean they are just an alien with sufficiently advanced technology attempting to use the ‘god gambit’. ---
**Author:** ![tastysandwiches](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@tastysandwiches](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tastysandwiches)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2019, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-how-could-god-prove-to-you-he-exists/833518/12 "2019-05-05T19:57:31Z")
He can just snap his fingers and make me sincerely believe that he’s God. That would convince me for sure. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2019, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-how-could-god-prove-to-you-he-exists/833518/13 "2019-05-05T19:58:30Z")
> [@tastysandwiches](#): > > He can just snap his fingers and make me sincerely believe that he’s God. That would convince me for sure. So much for free will. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2019, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-how-could-god-prove-to-you-he-exists/833518/14 "2019-05-05T20:02:01Z")
Is the intent of this thread: “See, there’s no proof you atheists would take to prove God exists! You’re closed minded! You could pick apart anything! You ignore the proof of God you already see!” Or is it “If someone came to you with apparent supernatural powers, how would you go about determining if they were God, some other supernatural entity, aliens with technology indistinguishable from magic, you’re in the Matrix and the controllers are screwing with you, etc.?” Because those are fairly different debates. It might help to identify which one you’re after to get the answers you want. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2019, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-how-could-god-prove-to-you-he-exists/833518/15 "2019-05-05T20:02:45Z")
Yes, the person could have just proven themselves to be _a_ god. Alternately, they could have just proven the existence of [advanced aliens](https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Devil%27s_Due_(episode)), or advanced human time-travelers. Or wizards. Or I could be going batshit insane, or be asleep. Extraordinary claims, extraordinary proof. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2019, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-how-could-god-prove-to-you-he-exists/833518/16 "2019-05-05T20:09:21Z")
I don’t think atheists are close minded. Does not bother me if people are atheist. To me ,if you say the person with supernatural powers could be an alien to me that’s just giving a different name for God. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2019, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-how-could-god-prove-to-you-he-exists/833518/17 "2019-05-05T20:11:43Z")
> [@eburacum45](#): > > If a person who claims to be God tries to prove it by working miracles, that could mean they are just an alien with sufficiently advanced technology attempting to use the ‘god gambit’. I realize the OP was addressed to atheists; but I just wanted to mention that, as I understand it, the Bible contains a nifty story where Moses tries to impress Pharaoh with some wonder-worker stuff — turning a stick into a serpent, turning water into blood, raining frogs down from on high — and, each time, the Pharaoh just keeps on keeping on once his magicians do likewise with their enchantments, be it serpents or blood or frogs upon the land of Egypt. That’s not exactly a Mercedes and a Ferrari and a million in cash, but the idea sure seems to be the same: what, _exactly,_ would such a feat prove? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2019, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-how-could-god-prove-to-you-he-exists/833518/18 "2019-05-05T20:15:10Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > I don’t think atheists are close minded. Does not bother me if people are atheist. > > To me ,if you say the person with supernatural powers could be an alien to me that’s just giving a different name for God. To that alien, you’re an alien. Are you this God person I’ve heard so much about? ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2019, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-how-could-god-prove-to-you-he-exists/833518/19 "2019-05-05T20:19:38Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > I realize the OP was addressed to atheists; but I just wanted to mention that, as I understand it, the Bible contains a nifty story where Moses tries to impress Pharaoh with some wonder-worker stuff — turning a stick into a serpent, turning water into blood, raining frogs down from on high — and, each time, the Pharaoh just keeps on keeping on once his magicians do likewise with their enchantments, be it serpents or blood or frogs upon the land of Egypt. > > That’s not exactly a Mercedes and a Ferrari and a million in cash, but the idea sure seems to be the same: what, _exactly,_ would such a feat prove? I don’t think the Bible says the Pharaoh did the same things as Moses for the 10 plagues. Are you thinking of the scene in the movie the ten commandments? [Plagues of Egypt - Wikipedia](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plagues_of_Egypt) ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2019, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-how-could-god-prove-to-you-he-exists/833518/20 "2019-05-05T20:21:09Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Yes, the person could have just proven themselves to be _a_ god. Alternately, they could have just proven the existence of [advanced aliens](https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Devil%27s_Due_(episode)), or advanced human time-travelers. Or wizards. Or I could be going batshit insane, or be asleep. Extraordinary claims, extraordinary proof. If it’s an alien claiming to be God, you could ask about his starship. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-how-could-god-prove-to-you-he-exists/833518.md?page=2)