Atheists being asked about the existence of Jesus

[unfogged]

What other option provides a reliable method for determining truth?

How about a witness at a trial? 

Simply accepting witness testimony at face value would not be a reliable method of determining truth at all.

Or do you believe anything based on a logical conclusion or a philosophical reason? 

I believe things based on logical conclusions from the evidence presented.

Can science view anything in an abstract manner?  How about love and hate?  Are these just the results of chemical reactions in the brain or a mere physical reaction to a stimulus?  Scientism reduces the whole human being and experience down to a chemical level because it can't grasp things like emotions or hope in any way other than a physical testing.  According to science EVERYTHING we think, feel or do -everything we are- is a physical process. Everything about us is nothing but dirt in action.  Sorry bout that.  I guess my nonphysical side got carried away for a second.

We have evidence for the physical processes involved in everything we think, feel, and do. We don't have evidence for any kind of soul which is what you seem to be arguing for. Understanding the physical processes of emotions doesn't detract from the subjective experience in any way and understanding how things work can even increase their value.