Christians: Just faith or faith with evidence?

Question

I have 47 purple toes growing out of my head. Will you accept this on faith? Why not? All of my family members know I have them. I've been on the news. Do you believe me?

If not, then how do you expect me to believe in god? With evidence perhaps? But I thought you were supposed to believe without evidence. If you can believe god with no evidence, why can't you believe me with no evidence. Or do you need evidence to support your faith?

I am lying, and so why can't the bible also be lying.

Answer 1

Could be a book of myths.

Answer 2

Well, not sure which Christianity you're familiar with...but, the Christianity that I'm aware of doesn't throw evidence to the wind. My Christian faith is based on evidence, not a blind-leap-in-the-dark faith.

What evidence? Well, there's the manuscript evidence. The Bible has more manuscript evidence in its favor than any other ancient literary text in existence. Secondly, there's the archaeological evidence. There are various artifacts in existence that verify many Biblical stories as being historical events. Thirdly, there's the prophetical evidence (both in the OT & NT). The Book of Daniel (written before 530 B.C.) alone speaks of the rise of the Babylonian empire, which would be conquered by the Medo-Persian empire, which would be conquered by the Grecian empire, which would then be conquered by the Roman Empire...culminating in the persecution of the Jews under Antiochus IV Epiphanes, his desecration of the temple, his untimely death, and freedom for the Jews under Judas Maccabeus (in 165 B.C.). And in the Gospels, Jesus predicted the fall of Jerusalem (with its temple), which was fulfilled in 70 AD. And, fourthly, there's the statistical evidence. It's statistically preposterous that any or all of the Bible's specific, detailed prophecies could have been fulfilled through chance, good guessing, or deliberate deceit. When you look at some of the improbable prophecies of the OT and NT, it seems incredible that skeptics -- knowing the authenticity and historicity of the texts -- could reject the statistical verdict: The Bible is the Word of God, and Jesus Christ is the Son of God, just as Scripture predicted many times and in many ways.

While this may not convince you, it does convince me. And if you or anyone else is going to try to convince me that the Bible is not true, they are going to have to the very same thing that they call Christians to do: present evidence to the contrary.

Answer 3

There was a guy who was determined to create a religion. He asked me about it and I told him something along these lines:

1) Prophecy, as in future and past revealed prophecy. A 'religion' in my opinion would need to show that the diety has certain command or foresight to be able to communicate future events.

2) Miracles, there would have to be things done that are thought to be impossible to do by human atandards.

3) Promises, the diety would have to be rewarding to those who put their faith in Him.

4) A wrong way and a right way. The diety would have instruction for the believer's that would have some kind of message to it. It may not be obvious on the surface, but the reason could perhaps be made determinable to those that are studying the word.

5) Salvation; one of the rewards of being a disciple of the diety. A point of faith, that since we all die, there is something after that. An eternity of something better than what is here.

These are just a few things that are akin to Christianity. Faith is trust. Trusting God is the key to unlocking the way we sgould live with the influence of God. It is also the way to understand Him better. He gives us the understanding that He wants us to have, IF we remain open to His word and His Spirit.

I would not expect you to understand much of what's in the Bible unless God wants you in the first place. Until then, the Ark of Noah is only a boat or ship, the Ark of the Covenant is just a piece of furniture, the fabrics that were a part of the Tabernacle just random decisions on what to make with what they had, and all the miracles disbelieved.

I do not know any Christians that did not have evidence given to them in some part of what is present. The digs of the Middle East, the testimony of the Apostles, the History revealed in the Bible and yet doubted until the find, evidence is simply ignored and then it's off to some other subject. The existence of Christians in our time is evidence. All those years of the past where persecution reigned throughout the ages, and we are still ghere. The current events of the Middle East and the way technology goes; all evidence of the coming events expressed in the Bible.

So the evidence is there for you to discover, but what value will you put in them? What weight will it carry for you personally?

Instead many spend their time on anti biblical sites, where the questions are never answered by them, and the people that frequent them do not tend to read an opinion counter to them.

So you can choose NOT to see the evidence, but it is there, and not on those sites that continually attempt to use lame arguements. Especially the one about 'unicorns' , evidence that the one responsible for the site has never looked at a concordance; poor scholarship.

Answer 4

Many Christians when asked for evidence produce the Bible.

The Bible doesn't ask a Christian to believe without evidence, but offers up the scriptures themselves as evidence "That you may believe". The Bible tells that the apostles who believed Christ had risen, without having seen it, were blessed or to be esteemed for their faith, but Christ even gave Thomas the opportunity to probe the holes in his hand and side for confirmation.

Modern Christians have the Bible, and their own experiences only, as evidence of the existence of a God. They try to point to the world, complexity and such, but these are things which will ultimately be understood with science.

The Bible nowhere condemns evidence. Many people in the Bible were granted Evidence; that's how Jesus confirmed who he was ... through miracles. Such evidence is not forthcoming of late, and because of this, Christians have no reliable "evidence" to offer non-believers any reliable proof that their God is superior to either "no god", or "other gods".

Christianity asks non-believers to take a "leap of faith" and believe in something which is entirely unsupported by any reliable facts. Some take that leap, others don't. In the end, the only proof available will be what happens when we die, and then that proof or lack thereof will only be evident to the one who has passed away.

It's a personal decision, made for personal reasons. Someone telling me "if you don't believe, you'll go to hell" may elicit a behavior that appears on the outside to be belief, but internally, I'd just be going through the motions, hoping to someday believe, for fear of some punishment that may or may not be real.

If someone is told that a child's toy is a bomb, whether people believe it or not, they are unlikely to touch it until a bomb squad arrives. It's based on an unfounded fear. Such is the case of Christian damnation of unbelievers. No-one has absolute proof, and the potential consequence for non-belief is so dire that it becomes a fear-based motivator.

Answer 5

Well I won't accept it at all, because that is plain stupidity. I watch the news too dumbazz don't think people don't watch the news. But you should believe because there have been miracles and prophesies are being fulfilled. I can't believe you without evidence because there really is no evidence except your word. I think God's word is more trusting than yours.

Answer 6

Its a little easier to believe there is a God then to believe you have 47 purple toes

Answer 7

Because, even though you have an impressive 47 purple toes on your head, you can not destroy me. You can not offer me salvation, wisdom, instruction or purpose. All I wanna do is send you a case of gold bond talcum powder. The evidence is there. You just can't see it for what it is because you do not try.

Answer 8

The actual Earth-Moon distance ranges from about 360,000 to 405, 000 kilometers, depending on the position in the Moon's orbit.

The speed of light in metric units, c is exactly 299,792,458 metres per second (1,079,252,848.8 km/h).

The speed of sound, at sea level, at a temperature of 21 °C (70 °F) and under normal atmospheric conditions, the speed of sound is 344 m/s (1238 km/h or 770 mph).

Honestly do you comeprehend these facts? Have you ever seen how fast light and sound are? Do you really comprehend how far the moon is from the earth? We may not comprehend God but just like these scientific facts, he exists and his existence is evident in all his creation.

Answer 9

The thing about having faith is yes not having to have evidence. But you shouldnt have to be tempted to prove your self. So if you had something like that wrong with you i wouldnt necessarily have faith to believe you, but take you upon your word.

Answer 10

It is written that faith is the title deed, the evidence of things hoped for.

Faith comes by hearing & hearing a word about Christ / God.

Also, when Peter confessed & believed, "Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God.". Jesus told him that the Father God is who revealed this to Peter, and not someone else. Jesus named him Peter (piece of the Rock) and on this Rock (Foundation) He will build His Church.

Also faith is evidence. Faith is a gift of God.


Also, I know you are lying. God has given me enouph discernment to know that. Also, when one is born of God, the Holy Spirit guides us and one gift is of discernment of what is truly Gods Word and what isn't. There are a lot of lies out there. But God isn't a liar. God is integrity who holds His Word above His own Name.

The Devil is a liar, murder & thief and the truth isn't in him. It is written to test the spirits to see if they are from God. The Bible has been tried, tested & found true. Also, since I have belived & confessed Jesus Christ Lord, I have been given the Holy Spirit and is my seal in Christ. So, the Holy Spirit / spiritual rebirth is also evidence for me.

Answer 11

I believe on faith, and use logical reason to back up my beliefs. I believe that God created everything, including reason. And I believe that God created a logical universe. Everything is here for a reason, everything makes sense. Just because it is not understood it doesn't mean it is not logical.