Some solid Cartesian doubt working here, even beyond Descartes. It sounds to me like “I think therefore… well maybe I don’t even think.”

I personally have found value in the experience of others. I am skeptical about most accounts, but there are a few people for which I take their experiences to be authentic.

But I also have days of thinking where is God in MY life?

i saw this post and thought of you.

http://de-conversion.com/2009/03/23/dear-god/

I’d say for most people it is. If people weren’t experiencing something they called God, then I don’t think they would remain theists for very long.

“Are we sure that we would recognize an experience of God if we had one?”

Most theists that I talk to are 100% certain that they have experienced and continue to experience God. Many of them are exclusivist Christians who discount the experiences of people from other faiths, but are certain that their own is true.

“I think most of us have an expectation of what an experience of God would be like. What if that expectation is incorrect?”

My expectation is that it would be rather obvious that the most powerful and profound being in the universe was trying to get my attention. My expectations are also partially based on my 20 years as a Christian. God was pretty visible in the Bible, but not so much since then.

“What about others who tell about their experiences of God? Might one believe in God based on the experience of someone they trust?”

For some perhaps, but I’m no more convinced of God’s existence by others experiences than I am of bigfoot, the loch ness monster, or alien abductions. I’m not saying those things are in the same league as God, I’m just saying that they are examples of things that people claim to have experienced that most don’t believe.

“Or is all experience, even our own, too subjective and open to multiple interpretations to ever be taken as a certain or highly probable experience of God?”

I’m not even certain that any of this exists, though I seem to repeatedly wake up every day and live my life, that’s no guarantee that it’s real.

What about others who tell about their experiences of God? Might one believe in God based on the experience of someone they trust? Or is all experience, even our own, too subjective and open to multiple interpretations to ever be taken as a certain or highly probable experience of God?

Sorry about the barrage of questions; they are intended for all readers – just triggered by your comment. Belief is indeed a curious and perplexing phenomenon.

I try to be on guard against pride and a hardened heart, and there are always places to improve. However, I have a skewed view on things. I’m looking from my perspective. Who knows what others see, or what God sees?

I don’t think I in any way implied belief in “magic”. I do believe in the power of God’s word which is “living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Heb.4:12)

As far as James 4:10 is concerned, I myself was convicted of my own hardheartedness toward God recently, and I humbled myself before Him the night before last, and He did a mighty work in my heart that I was very grateful for. We can always humble ourselves before God, we are all sinners. It was the grace that God extends in response to such an act that I was praying for, for Mark.

“Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.” (1 Corinthians 10:12)