We all know the regular taunt, the catch-cry, to provide evidence for God. Let’s sidestep (the not-unimportant) what is meant by “God” in this taunt, and at least acknowledge that atheists can be prophets highlighting that the god they deny is regularly a caricature, an idol, and not the true God.
But the taunt often seems to assume that there will be some sort of scientific experiment that results in contact with God. This scientism, the assumption that all can be proven by science, is a category confusion. God is not in the category of “provable by science experiment” (just as so much other stuff of human depth cannot be demonstrated in this manner).
A parable
One response I would give is to encourage a person on an inner journey. As you journey inwards you encounter God – even though you might use a different word for this; even though you might describe the inner landscape differently.
I have not been to Vietnam – some of you have, and as I listen to you describe that country, you might give quite different descriptions – even contradictory descriptions. But one day I might go to Vietnam, and have my own experience of that country. And the longer I spend in that country, and the better I get to know it, the more I will see how people come to those different, even contradictory descriptions and experiences.
And so it is with our inner country, our inner journey. I listen to those many, many people who describe the inner journey, this inner country. And I go on this inner journey myself. And the longer I spend in this inner country, and the better I get to know it, the more I will see how people come to those different, even contradictory descriptions and experiences.
You could also use the USA as an example, Bosco, … there is a saying that America is not a country but an idea!
America is not a country but two/three continents (depending where you went to school). In an effort to avoid giving the “idea” any more physical territory than it is entitled to, I prefer to use the terms “United States” or “USA” when abbreviating. 🙂
The USA is definitely an idea – a bad one!