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As a Christian, I’ve often encountered challenges from those who ask me to "prove" my beliefs. These critiques often come from individuals who hold a materialistic worldview. It’s true—I cannot provide definitive proof of my faith in the way one might prove a scientific fact. However, I can offer meaningful evidence that corroborates my beliefs, which I believe is worth considering.
But let’s think more broadly for a moment. I’d like to ask a materialist a few questions in return. For instance: What is energy? While the common response might be, "E = mc²," that only describes energy’s relationship with matter and light—it doesn’t tell us what energy is. If you dig deeper, we find that no one really knows the true nature of energy.
Similarly, what is consciousness? Though there are many theories, the simple fact is that we don’t fully understand consciousness either. Another question: how did non-living matter become living? Despite advances in science, especially since the discovery of DNA, we still don’t have a definitive answer. In fact, these discoveries have raised even more questions about life’s origins.
Whether we approach these mysteries from a Christian or an atheistic standpoint, we can agree on this: energy, consciousness, and life exist. But we do not fully know how or why and therefore cannot prove a Christian belief or materialist's belief that matter just appeared. This is down to the simple question, why do we believe what we believe without the proof?
Now, if there is a God—a Creator—He would likely exist outside the bounds of space and time. This fits with what we know from science, which suggests that matter, time, and space all began at the Big Bang.
Why do I personally believe in Christianity? Here are a few reasons:
1.The transformative impact of the Bible: I have seen people radically change their lives for the better through the teachings of the Bible. Their newfound happiness and purpose are profound, and I’ve witnessed it more than once.
2. The beauty and complexity of our world: I see the intricate design of the world, and it reminds me of intelligent creation. When I walk through Scotland’s stunning landscapes—Arran, Rothesay, or the West Highland Way—I often come across simple cairns. It’s obvious that someone arranged those stones with purpose. How much more intricate is DNA, which holds the blueprint of life itself? To me, the design we observe in nature points to an intelligent designer. Here's a short clip from scientists explaining DNA's complexity:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEps6lzWUKk
3. The gift of consciousness: Consciousness, with its depth and richness, is miraculous. Genesis 1 tells us, “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image.’” The Bible teaches us what it means to be human: to love, to be kind and gentle, to avoid pride, jealousy, dishonesty, and other destructive tendencies. It gives us principles that reflect God's nature (see Psalm 15).
The Bible also explains why evil and goodness exist. It gives us hope for the future and answers to the deep questions of life. As Jesus said, "You will be with me in paradise." We seek happiness in life; we hope for stories with happy endings. These longings suggest we are more than mere accidents in an aimless universe. If there is no higher purpose, if we are merely products of evolution with no direction, how can concepts like good and evil, right and wrong, even exist?
Consider this: a new-born baby has the potential to learn any language it’s exposed to. Where does this "software" come from? The complexity of our minds, the world, and life itself hints at something beyond mere chance.
I could go on, but these are my initial thoughts. There is Biblical archaeology and prophecy. Love and altruism, Biblical characters that wrote down their own flaws. Proverbs and stories that have considerable impact on what it means to be human in God’s image. Considerable documentation that recorded the life of Jesus. And most importantly, the feeling