Bill, you said, "why would not an "all powerful God" give us poor, confused mortals a clear, unmistakable sign or some absolute evidence that we could not argue with?"

This question again assumes a separate and human-like being that for some reason needs something from people...which is, I think, a ridiculous way to conceive of God. That which is the source of all existence doesn't need anything from anyone, and doesn't demand anything from anyone, nor pity them either, but simply makes all things possible all the time by empowering living beings with presence, life, and existence. Existence itself needs nothing from us, Bill, but we need it in every moment of our lives.

The point isn't that we are poor or confused. That's a very negative way of looking at this life experience. The point is that we are life itself, experiencing life itself, and that's a magnificent and endlessly creative situation to be in...so we should celebrate it! And that's exactly what very wise people do. They celebrate the wonder of life and are very creative in whatever way suits them best.

I don't believe that most people mock to convince. I think they mock primarily in order to feel good about themselves by diminishing someone else. They look around hopefully all the time for someone they think is probably stupider or more vulnerable than they are, and when they find what they think is a good target, they have great fun mocking that person just like bullies in a schoolyard have fun bullying "nerds", smaller kids or anyone they think is vulnerable.