There’s a theological problem known as the hiddenness of God which is sometimes used by atheists as an argument for God’s existence. If there is a God and He cares for human salvation, why isn’t He making His existence more obvious? Why isn’t He putting a neon cross in the sky or stamp every cell with “Made by God” in Hebrew letters? Why is He so silent and invisible if He exists?
Apologists generally offer two responses to this. First, God’s existence is already obvious as it is, the arguments from natural theology are good and atheism is really a position held by a minority on a global scale. Second, we cannot be sure that more people would actually be saved if God’s existence was even more obvious, knowing that He exists isn’t the same thing as building a relationship with Him.
I think those responses are good but would also want to offer a third response – a charismatic one. In the video above you can see how a deafmute boy in Zambia starts to hear and speak. On this page you will find resources on medically verified healings. There you go, evidence for God’s existence.
The atheist may respond that these events have natural explanations that we just don’t know yet. But that’s probably what s/he would say about the neon cross and the “Made by God”-stamps as well. And so there’s no way those kind of atheists will accept the existence of God. But if they’re open-minded, they’ll realise that He isn’t far away from any of us, and He can do convincing miracles in all of our lives.
Charismactivism 
I had someone make the claim that god exists and asked me to read “The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven” which wasn’t really proof of anything but I liken the end result to the claim “Faith Healers” are evidence of god.
The boy in the book later in life came out stating he made the whole thing up. Faith healing, while I am sure there are some instances where someone who has been unhealthy, found health, I just can’t bank on that as legitimate evidence. Some people look to burned toast as evidence.
People should believe what their conscious tells them, they don’t need to “have an open mind” to fraudsters.
Hello David!
The miracles you will find here are medically verified, which means that doctors and scientists have concluded that they are inexplicable. Those are good evidences for God. There are examples of scams as you point out, but they do not wipe out the existence of genuine inexplicable events that occur within a religious context. The Piltdown man was a hoax, but that doesn’t prove that all fossils are. Similarly, just because “the boy who came back from heaven” was lying, doesn’t mean that Colton Burpo is or that Heaven doesn’t exist.
Blessings!
Thank you for your blessings. I say Namaste and bow to you… or since I am originally from NY, I say Hayadoin’?? 🙂 Either way, I hope you are doing well.
It is a bit of a stretch to state that doctors and scientists have concluded these healings are inexplicable but that does not mean a god has anything to do with it.
Take Jeff Markin for instance. Dr Crandall more or less pronounced the man dead, prayed for him and then gave him one more shock and he came back to life. Did his praying bring him back to life or did the one last effort? If Praying did, why did he have to use the paddle? Is it really unusual?
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/nov/14/waking-morgue-death-janina-kolkiewicz
Kathryn Kuhlman has had some success as a Faith Healer but there are people who tracked her results such as William Nolen who really did not find any amazing miracles. One lady at the behest of Kuhlman, took off her spine brace and ran across the stage ended up collapsing the next day. Do these people really get healed? Kuhlman also rented hundreds of wheel chairs for her events as to give the illusion that people were getting out of their wheel chairs.. A miracle to the unsuspecting.
In the case of Crandall and Kuhlman, both used (or are using) this claim to live extravagant lives.
Elfrieda Stauffer had RA but doctors admit that spontaneous remission is relatively commonplace.
Like I said, I’m quite sure people believe they are being helped by faith healers and I’m sure in some cases such as sickness being mental, rather than physical, this type of healing is very worthy. Sometimes people are hopeless and need “something bigger than them” to get them moving in the right direction.
I know it is evidence for you. Most times when something positive fits your worldview, you hold it close to you. You take it as affirmation of your belief but I am more of a skeptic, so while this is interesting, it does not constitute evidence for me.
While researching your list, I came across this debate website which seemingly covers your exact list.
http://www.debate.org/debates/scientifically-inexplicable-apparently-supernatural-things-occur-but-not-to-atheists/4/
Again, i say believe what you want. If it makes you a good person, if it keeps you in focus on your path, I am happy for you. There are many different paths that lead each individual to their destination 🙂
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