I believe that I love my wife, but I can't prove it. (repentance, beliefs)

[SpidrAkirE]

What does one mean by "proof"? How strong does evidence have to be before we accept it as proof for the truth of something? I think this is where I have difficulty. Firstly, I don't believe that scientific evidence is the solution - this implies that things only exist in a form that we can touch and see. We can't see, feel, hear, taste, smell a magnetic field and yet we believe it to exist. Even color is subjective. How do I know that what I see as Yellow is what you see as Yellow? For all I know, my Yellow is your Green. This first-person subjective experience is something that not even science can explain... like consciousness.

And then, what counts as evidence? Do I have to have an explanation that has not been refuted? Or do I have to have sensory experience? Is that even enough? After all, we could be in the matrix and could be being deceived...

So in answer to your question... I don't know. Maybe you really love your wife on a spiritual-soul level. Maybe you are being deceived solely by a bunch of chemicals in your brain. Or maybe some evil demon is deceiving you into believing not only that you love your wife, but also that she exists.

I think this applies to everything, whether we are talking about your wife, God or any other aspect of life.

[TaoistDude]

Perhaps this has been said, OP, but while you may not be able to easily PROVE that you love your wife, you CAN act in loving ways, and this can be observed and used as objective evidence that you do. If you are willing to undergo MRI scans under suitable conditions, certain parts of your brain will activate in certain ways if you feel love for your wife when shown her photo - not absolute proof, but good evidence. However, this only shows your experience, which could still be a delusion, as your wife may not exist except in your mind. An observer can probably determine the reality of that, though, whereas god is not observable and not acting in verifiable ways to show evidence - much less proof - of existence.

[Dewdrop93]

Originally Posted by Mr5150

No. On topic, which some have missed. Point is that love cannot be proved. And no it is not being able to prove that my wife exists as some have said. That's easy. Rather that I cannot prove I love my wife. Not by objective evidence. The point is we all *know* love is real, yet we cannot prove it. Not in a scientific, falseable, testable way. To those who are smart enough and know I am a Christain, you do get my point?-I would hope so.

Your analogy falls flat. And I know you are smart enough to know that. You cannot equate a human emotion to a diety/supreme being/god,etc. Anger and unicorns. We know anger exists therefore unicorns exist. Doesn't add up.

[KCfromNC]

Originally Posted by Thomas R.

I mean Equality, Justice, Trust, Elegance, True Love, etc are not exactly like God. They are not, usually, seen as beings in their own right. However belief in any of them is not fully justified from logic or empiricism.

Please explain what you mean by belief in these concepts. Do you mean belief that they are good ideals to work towards? If so, I'm not sure how "I believe society would work better if people had equal protection under the law" compares with "I believe god exists because it make me feel better". That seems to be the comparison you're trying to draw, but there's lots of equivocation going on to get there.

[KCfromNC]

Originally Posted by Mr5150

No. On topic, which some have missed. Point is that love cannot be proved.

We're not talking about proof but instead about evidence.

Anyway, it's kind of sad if you don't behave as if you love your wife. But don't project that failing onto everyone else.

[LogicIsYourFriend]

Originally Posted by Mr5150

No. On topic, which some have missed. Point is that love cannot be proved. And no it is not being able to prove that my wife exists as some have said. That's easy. Rather that I cannot prove I love my wife. Not by objective evidence. The point is we all *know* love is real, yet we cannot prove it. Not in a scientific, falseable, testable way. To those who are smart enough and know I am a Christain, you do get my point?-I would hope so.

Define 'love' first before asking for proof of it.

By the way, one can 'love' something that isn't real.

[stan4]

Originally Posted by Mr5150

I feel this feeling. But there is no way I can scientifically prove it. No way to prove it in a verifiable, testable, falsifiable way. Nope. All I have is my experiences, and my subjective “evidence”. Kinda sucks, because people tell me it is just an illusion since it is not provable in a repeatable scientific way. My wife believes that I do indeed love her, but if she were to ask for verifiable, falsifiable evidence I’d be stuck. Thank "mere chance" she believes me.

Do I really love my wife or am I just following an illusion? Can’t prove it. Seems very real tho. Other people have the same experiences, but they can’t prove it either. Oh well. *Sigh*






Note to Mods, this is a theological topic. Not about relationships.

Have you tried to make up laws and oppress other people because you believe you love your wife?

[GalileoSmith]

Originally Posted by Mr5150

I feel this feeling. But there is no way I can scientifically prove it. No way to prove it in a verifiable, testable, falsifiable way. Nope. All I have is my experiences, and my subjective “evidence”. Kinda sucks, because people tell me it is just an illusion since it is not provable in a repeatable scientific way. My wife believes that I do indeed love her, but if she were to ask for verifiable, falsifiable evidence I’d be stuck. Thank "mere chance" she believes me.

Do I really love my wife or am I just following an illusion? Can’t prove it. Seems very real tho. Other people have the same experiences, but they can’t prove it either. Oh well. *Sigh*

I'm late to this party but I might as well put in my two cents worth since I've gotten this far...

You're kind of putting a different spin on the "religious proof" thing. Most conversations concerning religion seem to be about proving a god, or demonstrating there is a valid reason for religious feelings. I'll go at a rebuttal from a different angle too. See, I want to believe in god. I envy those who do. I too want the comfort and the reassurance of believing that there is some sort of powerful entity out there who can give me a little extra strength during bad times, and will take my soul when I die. But for some reason I just can't make myself believe, out-of-hand, that something intangible exists, whatever that might be. I need some evidence that the belief has merit. And as for a supreme being, there is no evidence. In fact, there are theories as to why humans need to believe in a god and, consequently, have engineered their gods.

So you can come up with one or more examples of abstract things, or thoughts, that might exist but can't be proven, but the fact is, if you want to convince other people, you have to come up with some actual evidence.

[Thomas R.]

Originally Posted by KCfromNC

Please explain what you mean by belief in these concepts. Do you mean belief that they are good ideals to work towards? If so, I'm not sure how "I believe society would work better if people had equal protection under the law" compares with "I believe god exists because it make me feel better". That seems to be the comparison you're trying to draw, but there's lots of equivocation going on to get there.

God can also represent, or indicate, an ideal to work toward.

However what I meant is not what's good for a legal system. I meant belief in the concepts regardless. Belief that people are equal, that justice should or does exist, that you'll find True Love, etc. Not simply "belief that governments should support these things for societal welfare." A person could have that about God without even believing in God.

I think many of you have a tendency to instantly equate a thing to the politics of it. A belief in God, or even Christianity, can be completely apolitical and say nothing of how others live. I think there are still some Anabaptist churches that have no interest in making the public schools or the state do much of anything. I have no interest in making the state mandate any specifically Catholic teaching and would likely even oppose such a thing.

[Theophane]

I believe that I love my wife, but I can't prove it.

I don't understand why this would be a problem. Maybe you're one of those guys whose emotions don't show. If you love your wife, there shouldn't be any doubt. Is it possible that her feelings for you are outmatching yours for her? Just a thought.