Wait a minute...wasn't God just here a minute ago...(see below)?

Oh, really? So, God doesn't perform any miracles anymore, or let us know he's around, huh? Well, what do you have to say to THIS mister doubting Thomas?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/70898289@N00/12656386...

Hows that for a miracle? Pretty impressive, no? HA! Take that, heretic!

"If the total amount of mass-energy is limited, and the amount of usable energy is decreasing, then the universe cannot have existed forever, otherwise it would already have exhausted all usable energy the heat death of the universe." Mass-energy may be limited, and the amount of USABLE energy may be decreasing, but that does not necessarily signify the end of the universe caused by the lack of energy to do work. The amount of energy remains the same. Total equilibrium of energy or "heat" in the universe does not mean the energy ceases to exist. It means that all things that require work as a function of energy to exist can no longer exist. However, the total amount of mass-energy will remain the same. You can state will absolute assurance that the universe has a beginning, only if you have absolute proof that the universe has an end. "The universe requires a cause because it had a beginning" Can we be absolutely sure that the universe had a beginning? If it has no end it has no beginning. Therefore it could have always existed. If "God" does not need a cause because He always existed, then why would a universe need a cause if it has always existed? How can we not be sure that the universe will not exist eternally in a state of equilibrium? What if the universe was not created for the purpose of human beings? "Also, the universe cannot be self-caused nothing can create itself, because that would mean that it existed before it came into existence, which is a logical absurdity." I agree with you there. Of course, a cause cannot be caused by itself. This is valid logic. On the other hand I do have one ponderous thought about time and God. If he caused the universes' beginning, he is a cause. Therefore, would he not be able to produce both cause and effects at His will? Time, like you've stated, "Einstein's general relativity, which has much experimental support, shows that time is linked to matter and space.", is a rate of change. However, I believe that time is a product of any type of change. Or cause and effect. Therefore, would God not be living in his own time? Whether it be constantly varying in speed or not. As he is acting or changing time passes as an effect. Time will not exist only when absolutely nothing exists, including God. However, I am not stating with for a fact that there is not a beginning to the universe. I am simply using logic to seek the truth. However, like all humans I make mistakes because I do not know everything. I am simply using my understanding of what I "know" to produce logical explanations. Maybe there is information out there that proves the universe did begin at a certain instant and that all things in it followed. This is a very interesting question. I like that you used logic to support your argument. That is how it should be done. And don't get me wrong. I'm not trying to disprove you here. I want the same thing you want. The truth. I have questions and I am simply trying to find the answer.

Ahahaha nice, we all know why, because God isn't real, people in those days had no other option but to make God up when the unexplainable happened, we now know so much more which is why 'God' doesn't perform for us a.k.a We know the real answers as to what happens when something 'unexplainable' happens. There really is no reason to believe any more, it's so out dated it's unbelievable anyone can still. I mean what evidence have they got? One book written about two thousand years ago, back then so much was un discovered, we know much more now than the followers who wrote in the Bible do. The only reason anyone still believes is because they are insecure of reality and need something to fall back on when times are hard.

Because the stories in the Bible could very well be exaggerations that simply grew by word of mouth into what is now written in the bible. They could also just be stories; fables like Aesop's. There is no REAL evidence that those things actually happened. All you have is what a bunch of men wrote down.

That said, if the bible is a bunch of exaggerated stories, then maybe his miracles back then were just as subtle as his miracles today. The apparent "stepping back" of God shouldn't lessen anyone's belief-not everything has tangible proof. Not everything can be proven by science. If you believe, continue to believe. don't let anyone or anything change your mind.

He does, however it is because people are so sceptical that they don't realise when he is working his magic. Also we don't have a new page of the bible being written each day telling us all of the miracles that have happened that day all around the world so we are not as aware about what is going on

In the days of the OT, people were ignorant. They thought everything bad that happened had to be because their god was angry or whatever. They were more willing to believe and other people took advantage of that for their own gain.

These days, people are more educated - we don't believe, for instance, that an earthquake was caused by some angry god, or that if we don't behave we'll end up in hell for our sins. If you see a shooting star, you know it's a meteorite and not some chariot of the gods sent to rain fire on our heads. So yeah - education and not being so gullible to clap trap is the reason god doesn't show himself - that and because there is no god.

The number of observed miracles has a direct negative correlation with the prevalence of personal recording devices. Could mean that god is just camera shy...

Btw, don't you agree that Mike deserves best answer? That's THE finest example of cirular thinking I've ever seen.

He has left us what the past never had. The Holy Bible.

The Bible tells us everything we need to know. The only thing we need to do is to open our mind, read His word and pray.

People like you would rather come on here and whine "there is no God because He won't put on a big display for me."

He does perform miracles everyday. Big miracles.

But you will never see one because your heart is of stone.

People couldn't explain things, so they attributed it to God and built a whole theology around God=The Unexplainable.

I call the theory "The God of The Huh?".

I don't think they got it right, but I don't think their mistakes mean there must be no higher being than myself.

Um, I believe it was Christ who said something along the lines of "An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and none shall be given it except the sign of Jonah".

If that was His pronouncement for a bunch of anal-brained fools back then in that generation, how much more, a fortiori, would it not apply to this utterly godless generation?

Really.

You completely miss the point in regards to your observation.

God did make Himself known to ancient Israel through miracles, and what was the end result? They abandoned God anyway.

Now, we are working from the other extreme where the just live by faith.

The evidence we have is sufficient for one serious about it.

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