When you were a kid, didn't you have faith in Santa Claus, or that the Tooth Fairy would come?

Question

Why is faith so important, when it is based on myths?

Why do people still believein Christianity when it has already been disproven and completely discredited?

Answer 1

Because "stepping out of line" is apparently impossible for some people. Even if their beliefs defy all logic and science.

Answer 2

I never believed in Santa Clause or the tooth fairy when I was a kid. My parents told me the truth because they didn't want me to be disappointed when I found out that it wasn't real. Christianity is not based on myths at all. Christianity has not been disproven or discredited. There are people who think so but the arguments are flawed. This is why I trust in the truth of the Bible:

There are many more sources than just the Bible that we can rely on (although the Bible is more than sufficient on it's own).

1. Geography
2. Texts
3. Toponymy
4. Archaeology

Geography- If you study the geography of Israel you would see how it affected the settlement patterns, routes of travel commerce, econmy, politics and thus the history of that time. The geography of the Biblical Israel confirms what we read in the Bible.

Texts- There are extra-biblical texts (texts outside the Bible) that also confirm what is written in scripture. Egyptian sources are primarily from the 2nd millenium BCE. There are 4 types.
1) Expedition journal and topographical lists- example is Thutmose III.
2) Literary papyri-example, Journey of Sinuhe
3) Execration texts- 2 sets (ursing)
4) Coorespondance archives- El Amarna letters
Other Extra Biblical texts include Mesopotamian sources, from Syria the Ebla texts, from Transjordan the Mesha Stele, from Israel the Tel Dan inscription.
Also look at authors like the famous historian Josephus, Tacitus, Pliny the younger, Julius Africanus, and the Talmud.

Toponymy- the study of place names. If you study the cities and other names in the Bible you will see that they have the Principles of Location which prove they really did exist. Those are:
1) Near a water source.
2) Defensible.
3) Continuity of the name through the centuries.
4) It fits with the geography described in the text.
5) Check data from archaelogical surveys.
No one would settle in a place that did not have these Principles of Location.

Archaeology- If we dig in Israel and find ancient sites that are consistent with where the Bible said we would find them, that shows the Bible's history and geography are accurate. One prominate archaeologist carefully examined Luke's references to 32 countries, 54 cities, and 9 islands, finding not a single mistake. These are only some sites that have been excavated: The Pool of Bethesda in John 5:1-15, the Pool of Siloam from John 9:7, Jacob's well from John 4:12, even Pontius Pilate's identity has been confirmed by archaeology! John McRay PH. D. was asked if he had ever encountered an archaeological finding that blatantly contravene a New Testament reference he responded, "Archaeology has not produced anything that is unequivocally a contradiction to the Bible. On the contrary, there have been many opinions of skeptical scholars that have become codified into 'fact' over the years but that archaeology has shown to be wrong."

Answer 3

John...Myths have more than one definition. Mythology is the practice of passing down stories of heritage and culture from one generation to the next. Before we had paper and ink, it was the only way we had of recording our history.

This is a very time honored tradition and why these things began to take on a supernatural, miraculous type of symbolism (you know, like how big the fish you caught grows with each time you tell about it). This is how almost every culture, not just religion, has told its history and yes, it does get to become their history, even without emperical (observable) proof.

As far as Santa and the Tooth Fairy...sure, as a kid I believed in those things but as an adult, I choose to continue to believe in God while letting those beliefs of my childhood go. And, I am free to make that choice. I cannot tell you why that happened for me...I am a very skeptical person and that is why I call my belief and faith in God a choice.

Christianity has not been disproven or discredited...in fact, you can no more prove to me that God does not exist than I can prove to you He does. <>

Answer 4

to paraphrase 1Corinthians 13:11--when I was a child I talked, thought & reasoned as a child would, but when I grew put I put away childish ways. Faith in God is not based on a myth & Christianity has in no way been disproven/discredited even though some people would like to see it happen.

Answer 5

I don't know about the tooth fairy but i did believe in Santa Claus for awhile as a child,
comparing God to Santa or the tooth fairy does,nt make much sense because at some point an adult or older kids will explain they are,nt real .if you know God as a child you will eventually question his existence and have the opportunity to accept or reject him, just as you did Santa.I mean logically you could have chosen to continue to believe in Santa.Right? why did,nt you?
so would,nt it stand to reason that if I chose to continue to believe in God, that i felt there was proof he existed and that chrisianity was the right way?
you can not disprove God nor discredit him to me.you can not disprove chrisianity nor discredit it to me. Because i have 48 years of proof of him in my life.
so continue to whistle in the dark if it comforts you.
and i,ll continue to pray for you. ><> ><>

Answer 6

I never knew that Christianity was discredited and disproven. You should quote such claims when making bold statements like that.

Answer 7

You imaginary people crack me up, I know you don't exist, but I can't get you out of my head. No harm done I guess, have a good day my imaginary little friend!

Answer 8

Yes I did, and then I felt terrible when I learned the truth that my parents were lying to me because they thought it was cute.

Answer 9

How can I and this asker as an atheist force our (lack of) belief on other people?

Answer 10

The same reason there are people who still follow liberalism which has been disproven (numerous times) and has always failed miserably.