# Proof of the Existence of God **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 17, 2026, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-of-the-existence-of-god/1030149 "2026-05-17T16:24:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2026, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-of-the-existence-of-god/1030149/101 "2026-05-19T14:36:59Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > The thing about atheism is that the religious want it to be about denying the Existence of God (an ephemeral concept virtually impossible to prove one way or the other definitively) when it’s actually more like denying the Validity of Religion. To be fair, some atheists do deny the existence of any kind of deity, not just the traditional Gpd of established religions. The physicist Lawrence Krauss, for example, wrote a book called “A Universe from Nothing” – and a lecture based on it – which postulates that the known phenomenon of quantum fluctuations in a vacuum is evidence that matter and energy can come into existence from nothing, and claims (incorrectly, in my view) that this is analogous to how the entire universe came into being. That said, to my knowledge there are no atheists trying to meddle in the curriculum of public schools the way that the Christian right is always doing. That allegation is a politically motivated falsehood with no basis in fact. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2026, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-of-the-existence-of-god/1030149/102 "2026-05-19T17:27:35Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > After all, I wasn’t there **in the room** when Elijah did the fire challenge. I think tradition has it that the event occurred outdoors. (BTW, wrt that passage, whatever happened to “Thou shalt not put the Lord thy God to the test”?) ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-of-the-existence-of-god/1030149/103 "2026-05-20T05:31:27Z")
I know the thread has wandered, but coming back to the OP, I grew up as a highly devout Mormon in Utah in the 70s and 80s. Reflecting the commonly held belief, Joseph Smith has a revelation that explicitly quotes Gad as saying that the constitution was divinely inspired, and the founding fathers were raised up by God for the purpose of writing it. My obviously very Mormon AP History teacher couldn’t come right out and preach about it, but he came pretty close. As a devout Mormon, anything was a sign of divine intervention. If you haven’t ever been a believer, you wouldn’t understand. I was surrounded by really intelligent people who had blinders when it came to Mormonism. They would never be as unquestioning about other aspects of their lives, but they would accept the most ridiculous things. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-of-the-existence-of-god/1030149/104 "2026-05-20T05:36:13Z")
> [@TokyoBayer](#): > > As a devout Mormon, anything was a sign of divine intervention. If you haven’t ever been a believer, you wouldn’t understand. Extremely devout (even zealous) non-LDS Christians can be the same way. They see signs of God’s hand everywhere. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-of-the-existence-of-god/1030149/105 "2026-05-20T05:46:32Z")
Yes, I didn’t mean that only Mormons can be true believers (although they think so). I meant that devote believers of any faith can have a deep belief that goes well beyond any rational sense. ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-of-the-existence-of-god/1030149/106 "2026-05-20T13:50:10Z")
> [@TokyoBayer](#): > > Joseph Smith has a revelation that explicitly quotes Gad Is this a typo, or was he actually talking about the Biblical character Gad (one of Jacob’s twelve sons)? ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-of-the-existence-of-god/1030149/107 "2026-05-20T14:23:47Z")
Typo, Yes, Discourse ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2026, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-of-the-existence-of-god/1030149/108 "2026-05-20T14:58:47Z")
> [@TokyoBayer](#): > > Reflecting the commonly held belief, Joseph Smith has a revelation that explicitly quotes Gad as saying that the constitution was divinely inspired, and the founding fathers were raised up by God for the purpose of writing it. Kinda makes sense in a way. Unlike many religions, the LDS (like the US constitution) often amend doctrine to accommodate changing mores and circumstances. ---
**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 20, 2026, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-of-the-existence-of-god/1030149/109 "2026-05-20T18:55:32Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > It is an operating system, as I have said several times already, it requires a hard installation to work. If it is working properly, we behave a little better. End of story. I do firmly believe in God, but I think religion is about giving us a version we can work with. I have no concept of what God actually is. I’ve taught operating systems, and you have no clue as to what they are. There are of course many varieties, and they have evolved over time. Just like god concepts and religions. As for abortions, fanatical anti-choice politicians have caused doctors to flee states like Texas where practicing medicine to the best of their ability can get them arrested. Women with dangerous pregnancies - and dead fetuses - can be forced to go far longer than is safe. I don’t know how many women these people have killed, definitely some. As for godless societies no surviving - Japan is doing okay. Buddhist nations are fine. A lot of Europe is majority non-religion now. So, guess not. ---
**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 20, 2026, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-of-the-existence-of-god/1030149/110 "2026-05-20T18:58:09Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > Kinda makes sense in a way. Unlike many religions, the LDS (like the US constitution) often amend doctrine to accommodate changing mores and circumstances. I think lots of religions do that, though they claim it is from divine revelation and that the religion always taught that, but was just misunderstood by humans. Otherwise we’d still have slavery. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/proof-of-the-existence-of-god/1030149.md?page=5)