It has been my experience, and LIttleToe's experience, and Dansk's experience that the proof of God is ALWAYS truly personal. It makes sense (to me) that it is that way: That way those who truly don't need God don't have to deal with him. But I believe that he is always there when we do......More than that, even if they went to Hell, it is standard Christian doctrine that Christ has the keys to that place, whatever and wherever it is: he has gone there to rescue people before, and could very well do it again... maybe in the fullness of eternity Hell will be empty completely as people slowly are redeemed, one by one...
God has shown himself to me and not to you, it makes better sense when I say that God has not shown himself to you YET. I also wanted to point out that the "truly personal" aspect of the proof of God is exactly what convinces believers so thoroughly. that is why I was curious if you even had an idea of what God's proof to you might be? You certainly don't have to tell me, and these proofs tend to sound silly even to fellow believers - but it seems that you already have an idea what I am talking about...
Czar, I've considered posting here... by why should I when you have simply read my mind-- and then fully revised it so it is so organized and concise? (Ummm, should I be paying you for that??...) You are a veritable screwball, besides.
(Oh, and btw czar, I was surprised to read in Calvin years ago [it was a commentary on Ephesians, I believe, which was in the library of a Presbyterian church] that precisely because God, not ourselves, who know who the 'elect' are, we have all the more reason to have hope and faith for all the 'hopeless' causes. Far, far from being fatalistic, it presented strong hope against all odds. [Perhaps I should mention that the church we currently attend is arminian--the opposite of Calvinism. ])
bebu