For me personally, looking at the evidence available and I know we can draw different conclusions from it, but this universe began to exist (Big Bang), it didn’t have to exist. We have to ask what caused this event, the universe can’t explain itself as it was not created yet so something outside the universe caused it to be born because in our scientific experience, if something begins to exist it must have a cause. Take this into account with the extreme improbability of a life permitting universe (so precise scientists don’t say it happened by chance but there is an infinite amount of universes instead and we are just lucky to be a life permitting universe, this is an idea, there is not one shred of evidence for it).

Was Jesus a real person? Was he crucified? Did his followers believe they saw him resurrected? Was the tomb empty? All serious scholars will answer yes to the above whether they are Christian or atheist. What best explains these facts??

Sorry, the vast majority 😉

That Jesus was a real person who was crucified, whose tomb was found empty and his disciples believed they saw appearances of him after his death.

Reverend James Elderly! Is that what he said to you?

Systematically dragged down by the lawmakers

It's not the same because he isn't presenting evidence for anything else. He's simply saying that the biblical stories are untrue.

He's not presenting something else in its place.

Most things can be spoken in terms of belief or opinion. I can have belief or be of the opinion that the car will start in the morning. What matters is how reliable is that belief. Is it based upon reliable and repeatable events.

Sure, you can categorically believe in your religion but believing in 'God or Devil in the Biblical sense' has as much evidence and validity as believing in Thor or Zeus has.

Edited by Stirlingsays (14 Jun 2018 10.55pm)

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