Now it's personal

[The Architect Of Fate]

I don't really know what to say. Not so good at talking about myself. I'll briefly lay out a couple of biographical items and then just, I dunno, answer your questions from there (if any).

1. I'm a Christian theist. Although theologically I fall within the evangelical camp, I really hesitate to use that label because it is saddled with a lot of baggage, most of which isn't relevant to me. Furthermore, a lot of the typical problems evangelicals have to deal with are inapplicable with me: I'm not a young-earth creationist, I don't believe there was a planet-wide flood a little over 4,000 years ago, or that humans have immortal souls, or that hell is a place of eternal conscious torment, and so on. So, technically an evangelical but I shy away from that label, and my biblical world-view is not typical.

2. I joined AtheistForums because I am working closely with a cherished family member who's in the process of "deconstructing" (a term which I trust is familiar to many of you). This has made the intersection of faith and science a deeply personal issue with important consequences, causing me to not only look at this Christian faith more critically but also to really try and understand the atheist point of view, which is no longer just an academic matter. (This family member now self-identifies as an atheist.)

So, there you have it. The floor is open for questions, if any.

Welcome