What is the Statistical Probability that God Created the World?

Zero, as he did create it, period.

 

Per my faith, I'd put the probability at 1. However, if I set my faith aside and look at it purely scientifically, I would still put out at a (relatively) high probability. Something in the neighborhood of 0.3 or so, based purely on guestimation without actually sitting down to work the numbers.

Unless of course, we go with Stephen Hawking's words, where he stated that in an infinite universe even the smallest probability then becomes a certainty. Then it is again at 1.

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100%

 

Infinity to 1.

HankD

 

Zero would be saying there is absolutely no possibility that he created it.

 

I think that it meant zero chance that God did not create the world and one hundred percent chance that God did create the world.

 

Correct, as probability to me still does not mean certainity, so that is why said zero chance he probably sis it, as 100 % certain did do it!

 

My degree is in statistics, and 0 means no possibility, while 1 means certainty. But I was really sure you meant 'he did without question,' just not stated as it properly should be.

Nevertheless, I do know that invoking probability into theology is rather slippery, to say it untechnically. Almost no one even understands when I tell my conclusions about whether tithing results in financial blessings. The only statistical conclusion I can draw from my own tests of my own finances is that there is no correlation, and therefore I ignore or challenge any suggestion of the contrary. But usually the numbers debate gives way to "you may not always see those blessings." If they are arguing from Malachi 3-- as usual-- that was not the case there. "... SEE if I will not open the windows of heaven...."

 

I heard a minister put it this way... The statistical probability that God "CREATED" the World... As TC said 100 percent... The probability it happen some other way

It's as if a group of Monkey's went into a printing factory... Set off a box of TNT and from the rubble of that massive explosion... There immerged a Webster's Unabridged Dictionary... Brother Glen

 

I gather you would agree, then, that when God told Israel to "test [him] in this," there was an empirical way to see the results of giving their tithes and offerings-- crops and livestock-- but today there is no way to competently test that.

 

What if he says to do so, as in Malachi 3?

 

That is proposing a challenge, or a test, per se. But we've already covered that I did such a test and it does not bear that out. I am in a position to 'test' this more abstractly now, as I cannot seem to recover from money problems due to car trouble last December in which I spent, and mostly wasted, about $1400 and had to buy a new one anyway. I have only given $100 to the church this year, and I wish I had that back, tight as things have gotten. Today I had to cash in some bonds still 7 years from final maturity to pay off all the bills for now.

Is the 'solution' to ignore the bills and property taxes due next January and start tithing? If I hadn't already tested such an idea years ago, to find it doesn't work, ..just don't know.

 

I think that testing in Malachi refers to taqking God at His word and see if he will indeed prosper and provode for those who give their first fruits unto Him, while the other testing is to presume that God will be forced to do something that he has made no promise to do, such as as jumping of a building and expect him to cancel off law of Gravity!

 

True; you can't know if you squandered your money.

I'm glad you recognize that, because so many people don't, and so many preachers and teachers push this differently.

No, from a dwindling bank account and a reluctant account holder.

You get the part about Malachi 3 being to a nation, but you still miss that God said to test him in this. The fact that God said not to make any idols or any likeness of anything did not mean God himself was wrong to tell the Israelites to make golden cherubim atop the ark. That compares to parents telling their young child to 'never' cross the street; but if they want him to, say, return the cup of flour they borrowed from the neighbor across the street it's still their prerogative to make that exception under the right circumstances.

Jesus needed no evidence. But he did provide hard evidence on some occasions [feeding 5000, walking on water, the transfiguration,...]

How's that?

Okay. It should never be said one is giving one's money to God.

How is it that God will provide things that can only (in almost all circumstances in modern America, anyway) be attained with money if he ain't got any?

"What if..."? Well, he could fill that sinkhole, couldn't he? He could make it 3 years or 3 centuries, couldn't he? He could arrange for the occupant to fall and break his leg at a cafe and sue the owner for plenty to buy a new bigger house, couldn't he? He could the occupant thrown into prison for a crime he didn't commit so he wouldn't be in the house when it fell through, couldn't he?

Maybe God wanted him dead, anyway-- like that beautiful 20-year-old whose funeral I attended 2 weeks ago; God didn't prevent an accident that wasn't her fault. But I don't know if she tithed, if you want to ask that.

He (maybe) kept me alive in this lousy world when I had my chance for a blameless exit? That makes me think of Ricky Ricardo, who, when he met the doctor who delivered his scheming wife Lucy, said, "I don't know whether to thank you or punch you in the nose."

No, last December I was not busy with such an endeavor.

In my telling of this, when did I say I blame Him? I sold it to a technician at the dealer, who apparently sold it to some guy who found me and called to ask me to transfer the title to him personally. I refused, because I had insisted on a bill of sale when I sold it to the technician. Then I got world from the turnpike authority that I owed some fines for jumping toll, until I turned in those documents affirming that I no longer own that car. I had to use some old tricks I learned working corporate security to find the address of that tech, but I got it.

But being honest doesn't help anyone in this world. Old Leo must have had it right when he said "Nice guys finish last." But, of course, the first shall be last and the last first.

Anyway, if I again sell a car to someone who would want to resell it, I will remove my license plates.