A poor response to an atheist

[Matthias]

Indeed. But what takes it's place? Science?

It could be anything but, whatever it might be, it will be inferior.

Yes, but the Christians ultimately won the argument as evidenced by the many pagan societies that converted to Christianity. This despite the fact that they had just as much evidence for the existence of God as the Vikings had for the existence of Odin.

Odin vs. Yahweh. Identity, not existence, of the creator was the issue.

I think it's incredibly easy to dismiss all religions as nonsense and base my beliefs on science alone. The trouble with that is, it also makes it very easy to fall into a nihilistic train of thought.

It sounds to me that you have good self awareness and aren’t ignoring it. (That’s what I was hoping to hear.)

Examining and being persuaded by the evidence safeguards the faith.

The purpose of life, from a secular perspective, is to reproduce. That's it. But even that, while admittedly sounding profound in it's simplicity, ultimately fails to avoid the trap of nihilism.

Reproduction is purpose > but everything dies anyway > there is no purpose > nihilism.

 

[Riven]

Examining and being persuaded by the evidence safeguards the faith.

It is precisely the lack of evidence that makes it difficult for one to be persuaded. Hence why faith is a vital component that shouldn't be downplayed.

 

[Matthias]

It is precisely the lack of evidence that makes it difficult for one to be persuaded.

As I mentioned earlier, there are many excellent books dedicated to discussing the evidence.

Hence why faith is a vital component that shouldn't be downplayed.

Why do you have faith in Jesus? (Please don’t get me wrong. I’m glad that you do. Whatever else comes of this conversation, don’t lose your faith in him.)

 

[Riven]

Why do you have faith in Jesus? (Please don’t get me wrong. I’m glad that you do. Whatever else comes of this conversation, don’t lose your faith in him.)

I think it's almost entirely based on a feeling. When I read his words, it's like there's an authority behind it that is unlike anything I've ever experienced before.

And I ask myself, what would I do if Jesus appeared before me? And I know with 100% certainty that I would fall to my knees and weep, and beg forgiveness.

And maybe that's how it must be. Maybe I'm not meant to have any kind of certainty about it one way or another. I don't know.

 

[Matthias]

I think it's almost entirely based on a feeling. When I read his words, it's like there's an authority behind it that is unlike anything I've ever experienced before.

And I ask myself, what would I do if Jesus appeared before me? And I know with 100% certainty that I would fall to my knees and weep, and beg forgiveness.

And maybe that's how it must be. Maybe I'm not meant to have any kind of certainty about it one way or another. I don't know.

Feeling is good but feeling can change.

Does the evidence play no part in your faith?

 

[Riven]

Feeling is good but feeling can change.

Does the evidence play no part in your faith?

The only evidence we have are stories that were written down decades after the crucifixion by anonymous authors. So I don't believe that it's historically reliable.

Furthermore, I find it troubling that there's no evidence of anything outside the bible with regards to all of these miracles. For example, after Jesus was resurrected, it is written in the bible that all of the graves in Jerusalem opened and the dead greeted the living.

Now, if this story were actually true, which I don't believe it is, the Romans would have documented it. And yet, the bible is the only place where this story exists, and was written down by an anonymous author who wasn't even a witness to the event.

So, to answer your question, no. I find the evidence is lacking.

 

[Matthias]

The only evidence we have are stories that were written down decades after the crucifixion by anonymous authors. So I don't believe that it's historically reliable.

Furthermore, I find it troubling that there's no evidence of anything outside the bible with regards to all of these miracles. For example, after Jesus was resurrected, it is written in the bible that all of the graves in Jerusalem opened and the dead greeted the living.

Now, if this story were actually true, which I don't believe it is, the Romans would have documented it. And yet, the bible is the only place where this story exists, and was written down by an anonymous author who wasn't even a witness to the event.

So, to answer your question, no. I find the evidence is lacking.

I appreciate your candidness.

Is that why you seldom read the Bible?

What it sounds like to me is that you believe in what Paul would say is “another Jesus.”