I remembering abandoning Buddhism and moral relativism in light of evidence to the contrary. I should say, I found evidence compelling that disproved my previously held conceptions. In other words, I made a “world view jump” to a more attractive world view.

I think there are certain things that, if disproven, can force you out of a belief system if you are honest. Disproving the historicity of the resurrection would be such an event. What that would look like however I don’t know.

You asked great questions that I simply can’t answer, and they are right in line with the questions I asked in this post. I appreciate it. Hopefully, we can continue to work it out together.

I was quite unclear on one key point. I used the word faith in two very different ways. When I said “Faith is a gift from God” I was referring to saving faith (the faith that makes you a Christian). However, all people, regardless of “religious” belief exercise faith daily — they are the assumptions about life that we make. This faith is relative to all people and it is the concept I was referring to in most of my post. I thought that should be cleared up…

Do you ever wonder about other sources of information? I have wondered, for a long time, about what weight to put on words outside of the Bible (including commentaries). Christianity teaches so clearly that one book is inspired and that man is fallible (and therefore all his writings are fallible). I bring this up because you mentioned how you received consolation from Descartes. I have felt comforted by Lewis (and Pascal and Kierkegaard) and wondered — where am I puting my faith? Is this fair? How does man’s reason intertwine with God’s? There has to be some overlap, right? Or there could be no communication between God and man. A thought that comes to mind is the commonly heard phrase, “All truth is God’s truth.” Of course, that’s not in the Bible but it’s a proposition I accept. I don’t know how anyone could deny it. Anyway, those are some poorly defined thoughts that are loosely connected to what you wrote. Below is what I really wanted to say.

Regarding abandoning Christianity in the face of logic, this is a question I’ve asked for a long time but never actually uttered out loud. I am glad you did! And your friend Aaron. I have actually never asked anyone. This concept came up, more or less, in a discussion I was in on WorldMag blog (a very, very fascinating blog). The topic was The Jesus Tomb, of recent history. Here’s a link: http://cranach.worldmagblog.com/cranach/archives/2007/02/draftthe_empty.html The question is really one of how faith and reason interact.

Here’s my take on the matter. When I, as a human, attempt to determine anything, I never use purely reason or purely faith. It is some combination of the two. Always. (We think too simplisticly when we attempt to pick one or the other.) For example, I have never had a conscious belief without first having a reason to have that belief. Second, all philosophizing (or reasoning or understanding) is based on a set of assumptions or axioms (which could be called faith). It is faith that allows me to reason and reason that tells me I am using my faith. Perhaps this is all obvious… but these conclusions are new to me!! I am so used to hearing people make such a huge dichotomy between these two when it appears that they cannot be dichotomized.

So, when would I abandon Christianity? (I hate to even say that phrase.) You would do so in the face of evidence. But what evidence would be enough evidence? In the face of belief, there could never be enough. Why? Because I still must choose to believe the evidence. I have the ability to doubt — I can doubt evidence. (People do go into “denial” on some things.) I can also take into account the fact that humans make mistakes — they are fallible. They are also often highly motivated by twisted motives. Basically, what I am saying here is that faith, or belief, or a priori positions account for much more than we realize, often. If I already believe in an infinite, all-powerful God, why in the world would I believe “evidence” from fallible man? The argument is stacked against man! Of course, it goes the other way just as well. If I have already chosen to believe in an empty void (no God) and the supremecy of man (humanism), I will believe the evidence (that convinces me).

And, of course, from the Christian perspective, we’re not the only ones in this mix. One half of the equation is us, but the other half is God. Faith is a gift from God. Does He not already know the end from the beginning and all the “evidence” we will find? This depends on faith, something that comes from God. (Yet, so often, Jesus says “your” faith has made you well, as if it is from that person. It appears that faith is also partly from that person, not just from God, which would make sense if we are two separate entities.)

This is not directly related, but close. A book you may really enjoy is “The Seekers” by Daniel J. Boorstin. I can not recommend it enough! I think you would greatly appreciate it (and maybe some of your other blogger readers). It is not from a Christian perspective but it is great.

I’m going to stop! Sorry so long. There’s so much to say on this topic. I am afraid my thoughts were not that clear and somewhat convoluted — these things are still formulating in my own mind. Glad you posted “the dreaded question” (that’s what I call it). I look forward to seeing what others say!