I thought that same way my entire life until 4 years ago.
There is more evidence of Jesus Christ than anything I’ve ever seen. The gospels of Matthew, Luke, Mark, and John are the most researched books in history with more cross-referenced material than any other based on eye-witness accounts of over 25,000 manuscripts dating back to the 2nd century. With new findings proving the accuracy of the text, locations, and details every year.
That, coupled with the actions of the apostles and their extreme doubts pre and post crucifixion to their immense faith after the rising of Christ, are unexplainable any other way. They were ruined in their reputations, tortured in horrific ways (crucified upside down, submerged in acid for example) and maintained their faith for no worldly benefits, even after almost all of them doubting Jesus was before he rose. Then to after he came back, they never wavered in their trust.
From the history and my personal experiences from a huge skeptic and ‘agnostic’ to how out of nowhere, I was pulled into faith; the peace and love I feel in my life now, it would be way harder for me to be convinced it was all fake compared to me having even more faith.
I've gone back and forth like that over the years. I was so convinced when I believed the last time. Right now I think my own brain fills in gaps when I want to believe something - like an alter ego that is my own personal evangelical apologist. But when I think of what a world without a God behind it might look like, using causality and randomness, I end up with pretty much the world we live in. That is the only way to explain the gorgeous beauty of the aurora borealis while also explaining the atrocities of childhood leukemia and the Yulin Dog Meat Festival in China. There are extremes at both ends of the spectrum, indicating that no side is truly superior to the other, and that idea wipes out the idea that God is stronger than Satan. Perhaps an equal...but that would fall more in line with Zoroastrianism than Christianity. The Native American story of the Two Wolves has more truth in it than the idea of Jesus saving us all.
I thought that same way my entire life until 4 years ago.
There is more evidence of Jesus Christ than anything I’ve ever seen. The gospels of Matthew, Luke, Mark, and John are the most researched books in history with more cross-referenced material than any other based on eye-witness accounts of over 25,000 manuscripts dating back to the 2nd century. With new findings proving the accuracy of the text, locations, and details every year.
That, coupled with the actions of the apostles and their extreme doubts pre and post crucifixion to their immense faith after the rising of Christ, are unexplainable any other way. They were ruined in their reputations, tortured in horrific ways (crucified upside down, submerged in acid for example) and maintained their faith for no worldly benefits, even after almost all of them doubting Jesus was before he rose. Then to after he came back, they never wavered in their trust.
From the history and my personal experiences from a huge skeptic and ‘agnostic’ to how out of nowhere, I was pulled into faith; the peace and love I feel in my life now, it would be way harder for me to be convinced it was all fake compared to me having even more faith.
I've gone back and forth like that over the years. I was so convinced when I believed the last time. Right now I think my own brain fills in gaps when I want to believe something - like an alter ego that is my own personal evangelical apologist. But when I think of what a world without a God behind it might look like, using causality and randomness, I end up with pretty much the world we live in. That is the only way to explain the gorgeous beauty of the aurora borealis while also explaining the atrocities of childhood leukemia and the Yulin Dog Meat Festival in China. There are extremes at both ends of the spectrum, indicating that no side is truly superior to the other, and that idea wipes out the idea that God is stronger than Satan. Perhaps an equal...but that would fall more in line with Zoroastrianism than Christianity. The Native American story of the Two Wolves has more truth in it than the idea of Jesus saving us all.