[chrisawhitmore]

(Original post by Antichrist666)
It's impossible to test the lord,because the lord does not exist.For example, you cannot test the tooth fairy.

Not true. Numerous tests have been performed. Christian preachers would tell non-christians that God could protect you from harm, at which point the non-christians would test the claim out. That is where martyrs come from.

[chrisawhitmore]

(Original post by CJKay)
I did this on holiday last week. I heard someone's name called out, so I walked up to them and said, "Hey, <name>, I'm Chris". Does that make me a prophet?

All hail CJKay, herald of the coming of the Flying Spaghetti monster, all praise be to the name of the meatball laden one, for CJKay has been touched by his noodly appendage!

[linzico]

(Original post by Cephalus)
I wouldn't call homosexuality either of those things neither would I say terrorist attacks are 'the Will of God'. I find it incredulous that somebody would put something like that down to the will of God.

I didn't say you would, but I have religious friends who are against homosexuality for those reasons, and many terrorist groups have attempted to justify their actions as acts of God. Anders Behring Breivik is quoted saying that he considers himself to be a Christian knight dedicated to conducting acts against Islam. Not exactly the will of God so to speak, but definitely along those lines

[WhatsHisFace]

(Original post by CJKay)
I did this on holiday last week. I heard someone's name called out, so I walked up to them and said, "Hey, <name>, I'm Chris". Does that make me a prophet?

I think it does!

[Cephalus]

(Original post by linzico)
I didn't say you would, but I have religious friends who are against homosexuality for those reasons, and many terrorist groups have attempted to justify their actions as acts of God. Anders Behring Breivik is quoted saying that he considers himself to be a Christian knight dedicated to conducting acts against Islam. Not exactly the will of God so to speak, but definitely along those lines

Well you have to take it with a pinch of salt really. I think the reason why these aren't acts of God is because they aren't very efficient. Let's be honest, if God wanted to fight against Islam, he could do better than one man who managed to kill mainly non muslims. You can't know what God's will is, so as a believer I would tend to not say anything about God's will

[Nick100]

(Original post by Ineluctable)
I know of at least two people who have been spoken to by God when they were in a time of uncertainty, bringing their faith and commitment back. I'll give you an example. Someone I know quite well was on holiday in America and he heard a woman with a small child singing and praying. She came over to him and told him that God sent her to deliver a message to him, but addressed him by his name, despite having never met her before. They prayed together and afterwards his commitment and faith was redoubled. This is not the only time I know it has happened.

I think the only possible explanation for a stranger reaching out to somebody with doubts is because God is working through them and rekindling their faith.

Things like this happen to people of all religions - even scientologists, and those newage hippy clowns.

[Left Hand Drive]

(Original post by chrisawhitmore)
What is mysterious about lightning? As gods go, Thor is just about the least mysterious. If he likes you, no lightning hits you. If not, lightning. Simple.

Phuck you

[chrisawhitmore]

(Original post by Nick100)
Things like this happen to people of all religions - even scientologists, and those newage hippy clowns.

The number of recorded sightings of the Flying Spaghetti Monster is also rather impressive. http://www.venganza.org/images/wallp...e1240x1024.jpg

[linzico]

(Original post by Cephalus)
Well you have to take it with a pinch of salt really. I think the reason why these aren't acts of God is because they aren't very efficient. Let's be honest, if God wanted to fight against Islam, he could do better than one man who managed to kill mainly non muslims. You can't know what God's will is, so as a believer I would tend to not say anything about God's will

But then surely if you can't know and therefore conduct His will, then you can't know that He is speaking to people? What about psychotic patients, schizophrenics or mentally disabled people who claim to have heard God's voice and are ignored due to the stigma of being diagnosed with an illness? Or those who have been diagnosed with an illness because they have had 'delusions' about God? Obviously there is more behind a diagnosis than that, but delusions are a common symptom in such patients.

[FrigidSymphony]

GTF.

Git tae feck.

[Cephalus]

(Original post by linzico)
But then surely if you can't know and therefore conduct His will, then you can't know that He is speaking to people? What about psychotic patients, schizophrenics or mentally disabled people who claim to have heard God's voice and are ignored due to the stigma of being diagnosed with an illness? Or those who have been diagnosed with an illness because they have had 'delusions' about God? Obviously there is more behind a diagnosis than that, but delusions are a common symptom in such patients.

No, you're completely right, it's impossible whether or not whether or not God is acting.

[dem503]

(Original post by Good bloke)
Peter Sutcliffe, the Yorkshire Ripper, was also reached out to by God. He was commanded to kill women, so he did - and was later convicted of killing thirteen and attempting to kill others. Why don't you use this example to vindicate the existence of your god?

Brilliant

[Good bloke]

(Original post by dem503)
Brilliant

I aim to please.

[TurboCretin]

My explanation would be confirmation bias.

[Sheep]

you know Alexander the Great thought he was the son of Zeus because his mother and friends kept telling him so

then he went to this famous temple one day to confirm it and he went into the prayer room and asked the question, afterwards the priestess came up to him and told him that the answer is yes

and on discovery channel they were excavating the temple and they were like "this is the hidden room inside the wall where the priests would listen in to the prayers"

apparently it was a common thing, where people thought they were praying in private then they were 'amazed' when the priest responded to their prayers afterwards

religion is and always will be one big con