Atheist37 wrote: I've heard a lot of stories about miraculous healing, it seems that's the most common 'proof' of God. Somebody is horribly sick and then prayers are answered and the person is all better. And some doctor is always quoted as saying that there was no scientific explanation for it. Funny thing, there is no scientific proof for it either. I guess God won't heal you if you can prove it was a miracle.
Good place to start, A37. I have a friend who was already a practicing Christian. He injured his back playing golf one day and had weeks of agony. The doctors said surgery was not required, just bed rest and medication. Finally, this gentleman (whom I repsect greatly) said he prayed and prayed one night that if god would end his pain he would do anything for the Lord. The next morning the pain was gone. Was this a miracle? The gentleman in question rededicated his life to god and became more involved in the church. However, to me, his outward behavior and outlook did not change at all. He just went to church more often. I moved away and a few years later I learned that he had had a recurrance of the back problem along with many other physical ailments. So what gives?
Another example is my sister. She was technically a Christian, though nearly agnostic and mostly uninterested in religion. A few months after having her first child, she began to have nightmares about his death. The dreams were recurring and often awakened her, and she would check on her son at night. She surmised that something terrible was going to happen to him and so consulted our pastor and prayed heavily for an answer. She believed that she was being led to become more active and involved in church or god would, indeed, take her son. She rededicated her life and the dreams ceased. Again, what gives?
One more example, a friend of mine. He was also a disinterested Christian who had gone away from home to attend school. Away from his devout parents, he skipped church and followed his own interests. But one day he was feeling deeply depressed and begged god to give him a sign that he existed. It happened to be snowing outside and he saw snowflakes land on the window. He marveled at their complexity and diversity and said that god "spoke" to him that this was a sign of his power. Ever since, he's been a good little Christian soldier. Again, what gives?
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