Why are you (still) a Christian?

[FrustratedFool]

I can understand the various reasons that someone may convert, but I'm curious as to why someone would retain their belief after years of being a Christian and having spent time studying the bible and theology, looking at arguments for/against, and so on.

So, for those who have been a believing adult for more than 5 years, and who are feel they're conversant on the various arguments for/against, what is it that keeps you believing?  

Any particular philosophical positions, or specific events that happened, or a particular inner feeling or intuition, etc?

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

I can understand the various reasons that someone may convert, but I'm curious as to why someone would retain their belief after years of being a Christian and having spent time studying the bible and theology, looking at arguments for/against, and so on.

So, for those who have been a believing adult for more than 5 years, and who are feel they're conversant on the various arguments for/against, what is it that keeps you believing?  

Any particular philosophical positions, or specific events that happened, or a particular inner feeling or intuition, etc?

(bold mine)

I think that's your answer. Rank-and-file Christians, by and large, don't do these things.

Boru

[no one]

For most, it's fear, delusion, arrogance or a combination there of.


Most believers of any fictional diety, are either too afraid to think, or they are too dumb.

[FrustratedFool]

I agree. I was amazed after I became a Christian convert how few took their own faith seriously, especially in more academic terms. Plenty didn't read, indeed had never fully read, the bible, let alone invested in any serious effort/study.

But I'm curious as to those who did put in the effort and study etc and still retained their faith after years.

For me it was a slow, painful demise as my faith lost out against the cognitive dissonance one bit at a time, and I've heard similar stories from many other 'serious' ex-Christians - it's the study that ultimately leads to the loss of faith (I remember church folk warning me about the dangers of studying; I guess they were right, lol).

But not every serious Christian de-converts. And I'm curious as to why.

[no one]

They are fearful that daddy might have a hissy fit. So, they are kept in line with the threat of eternal damnation.

[zebo-the-fat]

They are not able to accept that they are going to die so they need the crutch of religion to help convince themselves that death isn't the end

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Most of the Xtians I've known were believers, not readers. They had a solution handed to them and that was the last time they ever thought about it.

[LinuxGal]

Most of the Xtians I've known were believers, not readers. They had a solution handed to them and that was the last time they ever thought about it.

For a long time I was an apologetics hobbyist (apologist sounds funny) and even helped run the local RCIA (Roman Catholic Indoctrination and Assimilation).  But if you keep reading the Bible, and you're a sharp enough cookie, you can read yourself right out of belief. This happened to Bart Ehrman too.

[FrustratedFool]

Indeed.

But some are very scholarly and remain in the faith.
I'm hoping there may be a well-read Christian on this forum who can give me an insight.

[no one]

This forum will never get a well-read godiboi fan, every single one to traipse through here is an ignorant, oblivious imbecile.

They all perform the same tired old, worn out script. They are all shady, problematic trolls.