Question(s) for the Religious

[Godscreated]

No. There are numerous ways to evaluate a claim. I typically start as Frodo did - the very first thing I'll assess is whether the claimant actually believes it himself. You admittedly don't, so why should I? If I tell my kids that there's a turkey in the back yard, they'll run to the window to see it. If one of them sees me wink as I say it, indicating that I don't believe it myself, she won't run to the window.

If you tell your kids that Santa's coming, and run out of convincing reasons to keep them believing you, they'll stop believing that Santa's coming. The same is true for us, and why we don't believe your God. However, if you're willing to accept the things you've been talking about here as convincing reasons to continue believing, well, my guess is that there also won't be any lit fires on Christmas Eve at the John V household. Kids or no kids.

It's time to put the Santa argument to bed. John V stated above if a person doesn't believe what their trying to sale, why should anyone else. You have brought up the solution to this through John V's statement. Children buy into Santa for a while, then they hear things that make them doubt. When they ask Mom and Dad about Santa they begin to see their parents waiver more doubt for the child, then after enough questioning on the child's part and they see the parents do not really believe and they quit believing.
With Christianity it's different, when young Christians hear things that may make them doubt, they go to their parents and the parents tell them with conviction about Christ. The parents believe and are convinced of what they believe and the children see that in their parents, they even see their parents living what they have taught. The Christian faith has infinite answers to questions the children have, because the questions are about an infinite God. With Santa their are only so much that can be said to a child because Santa is a limited imagination to begin with and the parents show doubt and show they are uncomfortable with the deception.
Truth is a powerful thing!

GC