After looking at the "Argument for God's existence" thread I though a poll might be interesting.

Oops.I got one of the poll options wrong.
It was supposed to be 0.1 percent.
I don't think it really matters though

While it is true that intellectual arguments by themselves show little fruit in conversion of unbelievers, they are often necessary as supplementation to the greater "argument" of heart which everyone who becomes a true Biblical believer in Christ is persuaded by, which brings them to account Christ worthy of the repentance and faith which results in true conversion and promised changes that result. That "argument" ultimately comes from the Holy Spirit working in the soul of a person in such a way that they see their need for a savior, and hearing the truth that is in Jesus - by one who has realized His resurrection power - they are moved to choose light over darkness, to want Christ over sin in their heart, and seek Him for salvation, asking Him in faith to be their Lord and Savior.

This in turn, if done out of a broken heart and contrite but trusting spirit (Ps. 34:18), results in the strongest evidence for the existence of the resurrected Christ, that of the realization of changes in heart and life, often without any additional external causes, and which correspond to the claims of the Lord Jesus and are contingent upon faith and obedience to Him. While other religions or psychology can present some evidence of a degree of such changes, those typically realized by true born again converts are unique both in their evidential cause and manner.

An objective and sincere examination of the lives of faithful converts in strong evangelical churches (like many Calvary chapel's perhaps), of both the day and years before they turned to Jesus and the day and years after (and observed by others who knew them), will reveal changes in hearts and lives that ultimately defy naturalistic causes. I say this after having been "saved" in 1977, and seeing both the immediate and often times dramatic and long term effects of truly turning to the Lord Jesus, as well as the consequences of forsaking that relationship, both in myself and others.

Here a a few links relative to the above.
http://media.libsyn.com/media/boston...Evangelist.mp3 (download - 30 min secular interview of a man i personally know who is a real believer)
http://www.teenchallengegaintl.com/t...ults.htmlwould
http://www.cbn.com/700club/features/...px?WT.svl=menu
http://www.spiritlessons.com/Documen...f_Eternity.wmv (Very Good! A Glimpse of Eternity download - 200mb)
To Hell and Back, a study of NDE/OBE Near Death Experiences by Dr. Rawlings - Google Video (To Hell and Back testimony)
http://ffmp3.com/childrens/cd2/media/avif.rm (Calvary chapel story download)

That was the most refreshing thing I've read in a long time. Thank you.

Unfortunately, it's also the biggest load of shit I've read in a long time.

As someone who's religious, I know the world would be a lot better if people who are religious recognize that they are so on faith, not on science, and not on argumentation. Once you recognize that, no argument can pierce through that faith and no argument needs to be made for it.

That's the way God wants you to believe anyway.

We all appreciate you too modestmelody.

Btw, what exactly do you mean by, "someone who's religious".

Someone who is a practicing, somewhat observant Jew who believes in God. Religion and God are a part of my every day thoughts, which in my mind, makes me more religious than most people I know.

What makes you "religious?" Thinking about God or believing in God? Just a spontaneous thought, I'm not really going anywhere with this.

Believing, and I do. Though that's more spiritual. Religious is more when the practicing a certain set of rituals come in...

well said.

While i do understand where you are coming from, Biblically being "religious" is not about some abstract faith which does not result in reality, but faith in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob who knew God to be a realiy and saw Him act consistent with His promises (and thus no one can ignore the Jews today). The miracles God did in delivering the Hebrews from Egypt revealed to other nations who the true and living God was. And while, as i conceded, simple intellectual arguments may not persuade the heart, the observable effects which correspond to the claims of God help others to take the step of faith by which they may know God is real, when His promised Holy Spirit (Joel 2) comes in as a result of their honest faith in the promised Messiah (Is. 7:14; 53; Micah 5:2). And this Jesus i know, even today, to be very real. Praise the Lord.

I am 100% positive that an argument about God's existence has changed someone's beliefs.

At least one instance is arguments against a god's existence pulling me into atheism. These arguments were about a god's existence, but not necessarily for it. Also, there are some nutcases that actually do get convinced by really stupid arguments to believe that a god does exist. It's inevitable.

What about people that practice religions that don't actually worship God. Would you consider them religious or not? Religons like Buddhism, Taoism/Confucianism, and Hinduism don't worship God.

I would consider them religious. As I said in a later post, ritualism I associate with being religious, believing in God or some supernatural "other", metaphysical component in life that requires faith, to me, is spiritual.

The problem is that the majority of people who disbelieve in God do not do so for intellectual reasons.

Well, no shit.

How could they?

Of course not, the devil has led us all astray.

depending on what you consider intellectual reasons, i would argue that the majority do so for intellectual reasons, there are a few who think they are because they think their angry with what they think their deity has done, but i would say they are not atheists, merely discontent theists. ive yet to find an atheist who switched for anything other than intellectual reasons.

Why is that a problem? There is no intellectual reason to believe in God. Faith is another story though...

In response to the question of whether arguments change people's mind I am merely making the point that most people beliefs lend very little on intellectual arguments. They come from other places and then get 'backed up' by arguments. This makes changing of beliefs very difficult.