People are always trying to prove things.
The fact of the matter is we can prove very few things, especially actions that happen in the past. We can provide evidence of what happened but there is no proof, there is no silver bullet that will absolutely prove something that has happened.
So why do we spend so much time and energy trying to prove things?
The one that gets me is evolution vs. creation vs. the flying spaghetti monster (okay so not so much the latter). No one will ever prove evolution is right and creation is wrong. No one will ever prove creation is right and evolution is wrong. There is a lot of evidence both ways, but only one can be right (or the flying spaghetti monster).
Any action in the past, if it is to be believed, must be believed by an individual who has some faith.
Faith is another thing. Why do we automatically leave faith to religion? We all exhibit faith a hundred times a day. When we get in our car we have faith that the car will get us to work. We sit in chairs. We turn on the stove. Every action we do every day exhibits faith...so lets not just leave it to religion.
So back to proof. Let me give you an absurd example.
I cannot prove to you that I was born. I can show you my birth certificate (although that may be the weakest form of proof there is), you can talk to my mother...she can show you the stretch marks that she so willingly points out are my fault. I can breath on your face, you can cut me open and see that I bleed and have a heart and all the other vital organs that humans have. I can take you to the hospital that I was born, maybe even track down the doctor who delivered me. But is any of that proof?
No it is evidence.
In order for you to believe that I was born, you have to have faith in the fact that the only way a human is live is because they were carried around in some woman's stomach for 9 months and then somehow made an exit.
So what is my point? My thoughts exactly.
Why do we get so bent out of shape about things that are not so absurd? Lay out the evidence and realize that is what it is, evidence, not proof. Realize there is an element of faith to proof. You cannot convince everyone of the truth, you can only give them the evidence, they have to believe on their own.
Present your evidence and have a good one!
