Quote:
Originally Posted by IROC
But you are asking me what evidence I would accept. How can I formulate a response if you won't tell me what you're god is capable of? If your god sets the rules, then how am I to discern what he makes happen and what he doesn't? By my own opinion? By your insistence? Look at this another way. Say some guy from some unfamiliar religion comes up to you and claims his god is real. The only way you can evaluate his claims is to find out in what way his god manifests himself and then look for evidence of that manifestation. If there is no evidence, you'd be forced to conclude either that his god doesn't really exist or he doesn't really manifest himself in the way he claims. That's exactly what we are left with in this situation. Either the Christian god doesn't really exist or he doesn't manifest himself in the way Christians claim.
For the two or three studies that show some positive effect of prayer, there are twenty that show it does nothing. Not compelling. Sorry. You're counting "heads" again while dismissing the "tails".
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No, I'm not counting anything. If you noticed I also said that many researchers discount those studies. You asked something about proving that prayer works and I provided an FYI.
Second, I am not asking you to say what it would take for you to believe in the Judeo-Christian God as stated by the Pope or whoever. I am simply asking what it would take for you to believe in a supernatural higher power. Since God (or the being of your choice) would have created this universe then, he/she is CAPABLE of anything. Whether he/she chooses to use that power is a different thing altogether.