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I was wondering if there's a difference in usage between
[神様がいる](https://www.google.com.br/search?q=%22%E7%A5%9E%E6%A7%98%E3%81%8C%E3%81%82%E3%82%8B%22&sugexp=chrome,mod=0&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#hl=en&sclient=psy-
ab&q=%22%E7%A5%9E%E6%A7%98%E3%81%8C%E3%81%84%E3%82%8B%22&oq=%22%E7%A5%9E%E6%A7%98%E3%81%8C%E3%81%84%E3%82%8B%22&gs_l=serp.3..0i4i37l5j0i5i4i37l2j0i5i4i10i37j0i5i4i37.97837.97837.3.98717.1.1.0.0.0.0.340.340.3-1.1.0.les;..0.0...1c.1j4.BjSWddYanhk&psj=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.&fp=5ac786fe92c870dc&biw=1366&bih=617)
and
[神様がある](https://www.google.com.br/search?q=%22%E7%A5%9E%E6%A7%98%E3%81%8C%E3%81%82%E3%82%8B%22&sugexp=chrome,mod=0&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#hl=en&sclient=psy-
ab&q=%22%E7%A5%9E%E6%A7%98%E3%81%8C%E3%81%82%E3%82%8B%22&oq=%22%E7%A5%9E%E6%A7%98%E3%81%8C%E3%81%82%E3%82%8B%22&gs_l=serp.12...620171.620171.8.621768.1.1.0.0.0.0.248.248.2-1.1.0.les;..0.0...1c.1j4.iKRwVWLSMM4&psj=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.&fp=5ac786fe92c870dc&biw=1366&bih=617).
In both cases, I mean specifically the meaning "There is a God", either as a
statement of the kind "God exists", or as in "There is a God on the top of
that mountain."

Both instances are very common results on Google. However, I've been told by
two Japanese that, in this case, "神様がいる" is the only correct form, since God
is considered to be an animate entity. Also, one of them suggested that the
structure "神様がある" could be used to mean "'to have' a God" (similar to
"僕は姉がある"), though it might sound a bit unnatural. Additionally, some results
are similar to "神様が、 ある日何々を言った…", but my guess is that they make up less than
half of the total for ~がある.

So, if only 神様がいる is correct, how can one account for the many examples
employing ~がある?
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words
神様がある vs. 神様がいる
Since 様 is used when referring to people and most people would think of 神様 as
being animate 神様がいる should be used.

Also, please notice your google results are off:

[神様がある](https://www.google.com.br/search?q=%22%E7%A5%9E%E6%A7%98%E3%81%8C%E3%81%82%E3%82%8B%22&sugexp=chrome,mod=0&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#q=%22%E7%A5%9E%E6%A7%98%E3%81%8C%E3%81%82%E3%82%8B%22&hl=en&prmd=imvns&ei=R9piUMbPB-3ymAXCxoGADw&start=460&sa=N&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&fp=86fdbcf3016457c9&biw=1280&bih=907)

[神様がいる](https://www.google.com.br/search?q=%22%E7%A5%9E%E6%A7%98%E3%81%8C%E3%81%82%E3%82%8B%22&sugexp=chrome,mod=0&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#q=%22%E7%A5%9E%E6%A7%98%E3%81%8C%E3%81%84%E3%82%8B%22&hl=en&prmd=imvns&psj=1&ei=mtpiUIqqMsuNmQXyoYCQAQ&start=580&sa=N&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&fp=86fdbcf3016457c9&biw=1280&bih=907)

Please read [Google counts may not be as reliable as you
imagine](https://japanese.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/522/google-counts-
may-not-be-as-reliable-as-you-imagine).
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We hardly say 「神様がある」 as "There is a God. / God exists." But you can say
「～神様(というもの)がある」 as "there is a god called ~"

From some of the Google results,

> たいていの郷土玩具の産地には天神様があるそうです。

「天神様」 here means an idol called Tenjin-sama. So it means "In most folk-toy
districts, there are idols of Tenjin god".

> 今日夜10時からエンタの神様があると思う。

「エンタの神様」 is a name of a TV show.

> 神様がある特定の場所や建物におられ、

「ある」 is 「或る」 in this sentence, not 「有る/在る」.
<http://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/leaf/jn2/7648/m0u/>

> 熊本に味噌の神社があったことを思い出しました。いろんな神様があるんですね。

It reads `"I remembered there was a shrine of soybean paste in Kumamoto. I see
there are different kinds/types of God."` In fact, this might be confusing for
non-natives. When you can replace 「神様」 with 「神様というもの」 in the sentense, you can
use 「ある」. Otherewise, you should use 「いる」.

As for "僕は姉がある", I don't uderstand what this means; it's not unnatural but
does not make sense.
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In Japanese Christian churches, we say `神様がいる` since the Christian bible says
that God created man in His own image. However, more often than `〜いる` we use
`〜おられる` to show respect.

>   * 神様は私たちとともにいます。 → God is with us.
>   * 苦しい時こそ、確実に神様はあなたのそばにおられる。 → Certainly God is by your side especially
> during hard times.
>
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