Empirical evidence of God
Empirical evidence, also known as sense experience, is the knowledge or source of knowledge acquired by means of the senses, particularly by observation and experimentation. The term comes from the Greek word for experience, ἐμπειρία (empeiría).
Example: I see my neighbors’ bulldog. Now, I have empirical evidence of a bulldog.
I write on paper, “I saw my neighbor’s bulldog”, and give the note to you. You now have written, testimonial “evidence” that I saw my neighbor’s dog. But not empirical evidence: you didn’t see/hear/feel/smell/taste the bulldog yourself.
The ancient Greeks got a dose of empirical evidence of their god Athena regularly. The crowd would gather at the temple; the picture is a replica in Nashville, TN. The worshipers saw it’s construction, especially the SUV sized stone doors, far too heavy to budge without horses.
The priests would build a huge fire in the alter, and call out to Athena. Slowly, on noisy hinges, the doors would move, untouched. The more the crowd reacted to the presence of Athena, the faster the doors moved, and opened fully after 10 minutes. They settled in place with a startling thud. The crowd would file thru the temple to worship Athena.
Meanwhile, the scientists and mechanical engineers who were the true Greek Gods, snickered. The huge fire pit hid their pipes, which carried steam to a crude engine. After the priests got everyone out of the temple, the fire would be extinguished, and the doors closed.
Seeing is believing, right? Irony: Athena was the goddess of wisdom.