# 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:** 7
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2019, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-how-could-god-prove-to-you-he-exists/833518/122 "2019-05-07T06:16:22Z")
I’d ask him to explain a David Lynch movie. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2019, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-how-could-god-prove-to-you-he-exists/833518/123 "2019-05-07T06:18:21Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > I’d ask him to explain a David Lynch movie. You’ll be wanting to talk to The Other Guy about that. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2019, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-how-could-god-prove-to-you-he-exists/833518/124 "2019-05-07T11:34:15Z")
> [@2Bits](#): > > If he/ she/ it’s finger-snapping put an end to all human suffering I’d be happy to call him/ her/ it “God.” Ah, the Thanos approach. Remember there are multiple ways to “put an end to all human suffering”. But I’m with the “If God is God, God will already know how to convince me He is God” crowd. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2019, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-how-could-god-prove-to-you-he-exists/833518/125 "2019-05-07T13:35:13Z")
> [@Horatio\_Hellpop](#): > > Snark aside, the Old Testament is full of examples of the Lord talking directly to ordinary humans. I’m not so sure. It looks to me like, even in the Old Testament, the vast majority of ordinary humans, and even some of the “special people,” never heard directly from God at all. ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2019, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-how-could-god-prove-to-you-he-exists/833518/126 "2019-05-07T14:31:07Z")
Violate the second rule of thermodynamics. ---
**Author:** ![Mirtha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/67e7ee/32.png) [@Mirtha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mirtha)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2019, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-how-could-god-prove-to-you-he-exists/833518/127 "2019-05-07T15:51:10Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > 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? First, I’d inquire if there are any strings attached to the gift because not all gods have good intentions - most notably the one who sent his son to earth to be tortured and killed. Then I would ask her, why she came over to my house. Eventually, I’d assume she was some kind of god having a bit of fun here on Earth, though. But if she’s thinking adoration is forthcoming, I’ll just have to say it happens already on the legal tender. However if she retorts that were using plastic now and it doesn’t read in God we trust, well, I’ll just to agree and appear sad about it. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2019, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-how-could-god-prove-to-you-he-exists/833518/128 "2019-05-07T16:04:29Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > 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? Nope. Only two things could convince me God was God: a) explain the concept of God [so that it made sense to me](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theological_noncognitivism); AND b) grant me \*all \*the same power they have. Omni-everything. Anything else just falls under the “merely a very powerful being” limitation. Hell, a small Culture GCU could do any of those _parlour tricks_. Or just make you think it had, it’s a bit of a grey area. ---
**Author:** ![KMS94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ad7895/32.png) [@KMS94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KMS94)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2019, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-how-could-god-prove-to-you-he-exists/833518/129 "2019-05-07T16:31:10Z")
I’m thinking of the “how many fingers am I holding up” scene in Bruce Almighty, culminating with seven fingers on Bruce’s hand. If I had seven fingers on one hand all of a sudden, the guy claiming to be God would have my attention. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2019, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-how-could-god-prove-to-you-he-exists/833518/130 "2019-05-07T16:38:28Z")
Quite easily. **Heal me.** Mind and body. Cure my mental illness, my physical damage, my diabetes, restore my lost teeth, fix my eyesight, remove my scars, everything. ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2019, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-how-could-god-prove-to-you-he-exists/833518/131 "2019-05-07T16:43:21Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Quite easily. > > **Heal me.** > > Mind and body. Cure my mental illness, my physical damage, my diabetes, restore my lost teeth, fix my eyesight, remove my scars, everything. That’d prove that they’re magically powerful, but it wouldn’t prove that they’re (the christian) God. Not that it would really matter at that point, though, right? You’ll have what you want. Same reason I started out asking for psychic powers - not because it would convince me that they’re some specific fictional dude, but because I want psychic powers. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2019, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-how-could-god-prove-to-you-he-exists/833518/132 "2019-05-07T16:51:21Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > What can he provide if asked for evidence that’d irrefutably do the opposite? > [@eschereal](#): > > So you would say, “_If you are in fact the God, prove that God does not exist_.” Excellent. So God responds by giving you irrefutable evidence that he is real. You say, “Wow, I’m impressed. You’ve convinced me you’re God. But you screwed up. You were supposed to convince me you don’t exist.” God would respond, “But you’d agree only one all-powerful God can exist, right?” “Yes, that’s logically undeniable.” Then God would rip off his mask and say “I’m actually Zeus.” Then he asks you to put on the swan costume he’s handing you. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2019, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-how-could-god-prove-to-you-he-exists/833518/133 "2019-05-07T17:07:07Z")
1. Take me to where he was before he created the universe. 2. Create another one. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2019, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-how-could-god-prove-to-you-he-exists/833518/134 "2019-05-07T17:19:21Z")
Another universe or another deity? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2019, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-how-could-god-prove-to-you-he-exists/833518/135 "2019-05-07T17:25:14Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > Another universe or another deity? Let’s keep it simple-just another universe. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2019, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-how-could-god-prove-to-you-he-exists/833518/136 "2019-05-07T17:30:29Z")
But can the all-powerful superbeing handle _two_ entire universes? Sounds like you want to get it all stressed out. It would kind of _have to_ create another deity just to take care of the second universe. ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2019, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-how-could-god-prove-to-you-he-exists/833518/137 "2019-05-07T17:34:03Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > Another universe or another deity? Ooh! This sounds fun!: _knock knock_ Me: Hello? Who are you, and why are you in a toga? He: I’m God. I am all powerful and can do anything. What miracle can I do that will convince you that I’m God? Me: Make an exact duplicate of yourself, who is not the same person as you, but who looks just like you, acts just like you, has all the same powers as you, has the same memories as you, and believes he’s you. Then rewind time ten minutes and instead of you coming to my door, have the copy come instead. He: But if I rewind time like that you won’t remember anything either; you’ll see the copy and think he’s me. Me: _looks at him meaningfully_ ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2019, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-how-could-god-prove-to-you-he-exists/833518/138 "2019-05-07T17:36:41Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > But can the all-powerful superbeing handle _two_ entire universes? Sounds like you want to get it all stressed out. It would kind of _have to_ create another deity just to take care of the second universe. I guess you and I have different definitions of “all-powerful”. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2019, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-how-could-god-prove-to-you-he-exists/833518/139 "2019-05-07T19:36:12Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Quite easily. > > **Heal me.** > > Mind and body. Cure my mental illness, my physical damage, my diabetes, restore my lost teeth, fix my eyesight, remove my scars, everything. Yeah. Faith healers always seen to be able to make the supposedly lame able to walk, but never grow back limbs. A god doing that without equipment would get my attention. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2019, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-how-could-god-prove-to-you-he-exists/833518/140 "2019-05-07T19:50:08Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Quite easily. > > **Heal me.** > > Mind and body. Cure my mental illness, my physical damage, my diabetes, restore my lost teeth, fix my eyesight, remove my scars, everything. “If I could do that - you wouldn’t need me anymore ---- \” ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2019, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-how-could-god-prove-to-you-he-exists/833518/141 "2019-05-07T20:19:55Z")
I’d be highly skeptical that a true god–the alpha and omega, mind you–would be concerned with proving to me his existence. Like, why? What does it matter? If God exists, he knows I wouldn’t appreciate someone showing up at my door unannounced. Now tack on this person promising a bunch of hocus pocus nonsense, and I’m already closing the door in his face before he finishes his spiel about making cars appear. I’ve got two kids under the age of 3 and a demanding professional life. Ain’t nobody got time for some shaggy dog story of a sales pitch or whatever this craziness is. God should know this. Also, if God exists, he would already know what would convince me; why isn’t he just doing it? There wouldn’t even be a need for him to tell me what he doing. And he would certainly know that I’m not a car person. Like, WTF do I need 5 cars for? God would already know there is no chance I’d pick this option. If God exists, he would also know that I’m not going to just believe some rando is God just because he claims it, even if he’s capable of doing seemingly supernatural things. He could be Satan or even a extraterrestrial being trying to dupe me. The car stuff would be evidence that I’m not dealing with someone who truly knows me like a true creator of the universe would. Bottom line, the only thing I’m going to be convinced of is that I’m dealing with a powerful entity that has ill-intentions because he’s lying. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-how-could-god-prove-to-you-he-exists/833518.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheists-how-could-god-prove-to-you-he-exists/833518.md?page=8)