Re: [asa] God disproven by science?

Hi Moorad,

Bellhop is good. I was thinking that such experiments demonstrate God is not a Magic Genie. Or, that God doesn't participate in experiments as a subject. In fact, in what way are such experiments different from demanding a sign?

Mike
  ----- Original Message -----
  From: Alexanian, Moorad
  To: Henry Kort ; Dehler, Bernie
  Cc: asa@calvin.edu
  Sent: Wednesday, April 22, 2009 10:57 AM
  Subject: RE: [asa] God disproven by science?

  Prayer is more acknowledging that God is; rather than treating God as a bellhop ready to answer all our requests.

  Moorad

  From: asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu [mailto:asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu] On Behalf Of Henry Kort
  Sent: Wednesday, April 22, 2009 10:42 AM
  To: Dehler, Bernie
  Cc: asa@calvin.edu
  Subject: Re: [asa] God disproven by science?

  The question speaks to the "problem of pain". Intercessory prayer on behalf of the ill may very well be answered on every occasion when those persons involved are sincere Christians. However the answer may not manifest as physical healing. The answer to intercessory prayer could very well be one of spiritual healing or growth in many cases. Testing in a scientific manner for supernatural intervention by looking only for physical healing is a dead end. God would not anwer such prayer only by providing or witholding healing of the physical body.

  Henry

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  From: "Dehler, Bernie" <bernie.dehler@intel.com>
  Cc: "asa@calvin.edu" <asa@calvin.edu>
  Sent: Tuesday, April 21, 2009 2:55:14 PM
  Subject: [asa] God disproven by science?

  At my next meeting an atheist (former Christian) will try to explain why the Christian God (not deism) can be disproved. His main argument is that if such a God really existed, we'd see the marks in real life, but there is no detectable supernatural intervention. For example, studies show that prayer has no effect on healing what-so-ever (any study to the contrary is scientifically flawed, he says).

  And short comments to that (no essays please)?

  The flip-side I see is that if there was scientific evidence for God, then it would no longer be a matter of faith. So there's no way you can have both faith and science, unless science is unable to test the hypothesis. If the hypothesis is that God answers prayer, the claim is that the statement can be scientifically proven false through studies.

  RE:

  http://www.meetup.com/sciligion/calendar/9503424/

  I suppose there‘s the argument for changed lives- by the power of God. But still- what about prayer for healing?

  RE:
  (James 5:15 ISV) And the prayer offered in faith will save the person who is sick. The Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven.

  ...Bernie

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Received on Wed Apr 22 23:24:42 2009