Epistemologically, Can one prove that God exists? ?

Question

Or that God doesn't exist?

Answer 1

Several proofs for the existence of god have been postulated. The logician, Godel formulated a proof which most people can't understand, and which was challenged by Hume on the definitions of certain key terms. Most believers agree that god can only be "known" by revelation, and that the experience could not be adequately represented in language.

Answer 2

The first thing you have to do is define your terms.  What, exactly, is a god?

If you look at the breadths of different definitions for 'god', you will find that some of them are very easy to prove (e.g. 'something which is worshipped') and some of them are impossible to prove (e.g. 'something that cannot be described').

Of course, most people who capitalize god as you do are using the word as a pronoun to denote the singular omnipotent and omniscient Abrahamic diety.  While there have been a number of proofs submitted that are satisfactory to those who are already believers, there are none that are satisfactory to non-believers... or there wouldn't really be any non-believers, would there?

Answer 3

No.  For if His existence is proven, there is no need for Faith.

Answer 4

Of course it is Philosophy where we search for meanings. We presuppose that something can be, to see if it can be.

When I tell you God is real and true it is because I have had an experience that lets me know the meaning of this truth. When logic dictates something is, we look beyond for its meaning, through reasonable and rational thought.

In order to know what the future will hold we can study the past, the present,  then we can judge the future by our calculated meanings.

Answer 5

For most people, the proof is in the pudding, as the old saying goes. The fact that the universe exists and that what exists needs a creator is the epistemic position of the theist. Deists held that God existed because we have Reason and it could only have come from a power such as God.

But that is circular reasoning, called "begging the question."

Even some devout believers claim God's existence cannot be proved. And if the philosophy of naturalism is true, which states among other things that existence is a self-sufficient primary, then by default God cannot exist.

Another default epistemology is that if God was at one time the only thing in existence, then He could not have created existence. But there are theists who can even beg this question by stating that it is the nature of God that he is a self-sufficient primary and has always existed.

But that still means he didn't create existence.

Answer 6

Lets say that God exists and that he looks human. If you could see him, how would you know that he is not just the spirit of a man some where on the Earth? I he were to control thunder to prove that He is God, would you wonder if He was only a Sorcerer of some sort?

If he existed among us, would He feel safe proving his presence?

I belief that as we grow wiser and live deeper into the nature of our thoughts, as we learn science and the expressions of nature, as we become more like Gods, we can answer that question to our selves without having to ask for material proof. Not every person on the Earth is ready or capable of experience God existence as true.

Answer 7

God is something that is supposed to exist beyond proof by definition. So if you believe, it must be on blind faith.  Which is anti-mind, anti-life, punishes the thinkers and rewards not thinking as a means to living.  Or returning to the animal state of consciousness. Ugh!

Answer 8

Blind-faith.

You just need faith.

Answer 9

The evidence is all around, but is not accepted as such because God's existance cannot be understood by man for we don't even know what God trully is, let along prove or disprove anything about him/her/it.  

Answer 10

Epistemology : Does God exist? :: music : How do I repair a broken heart?

In other words, it's been attempted.  A lot.  And for many, the question has been epistemology's raison d'etre.  There are tons of so-called proofs... prime mover, cartesian, etc. ...but even as one of the faithless, I know none of them are sufficient.  If God in the Abrahamitic sense exists, by his supposed nature he cannot be proved like a math equation.  For an active thinker, it just boils down to faith or doubt.