Continued
If I get on an aeroplane to fly to another country, I can have reasonable faith that I will arrive at my destination unharmed. If I didn't have that faith, I wouldn't get on the plane. So yes, a certain amount of faith is useful. HOWEVER, my faith is not blind faith, my faith is based on the following facts:
1. The Science behind aeroplanes being able to fly is very well known & well-proven.
2. The particular plane I am boarding has done many successful flights before
3. I am assuming the plane is well maintained according to Civil Aviation regulations
3. I know that the pilots are well trained
4. I know that air flight is one of the safest forms of travel, safer than most other forms of transport.
So my faith is based not just on somebody telling me that it is safe to fly on the plane, my faith is based upon solid EVIDENCE!
The Bible contains history, which is confirmed by other sources and archaeological discoveries. Countries such as Greece, Egypt, Israel, Spain, and places like Rome, Jerusalem, Damascus and so on that are mentioned in the Bible still exist today.
If there is evidence to confirm that some things written in the Bible were true, it is harder to dismiss as nonsense and makes it likely that other events, and teachings, were true also.
So for a god to expect people to believe in him based on FAITH alone, is quite cruel.
He doesn't.
We have the whole of creation, the Bible and the testimonies of thousands of Christians who have, or have had, a relationship with God, discovered that he answers prayer, helps them in times of trouble, heals, encourages and blesses them. The events of the OT are accepted by Muslims and Jews as well as by Christians. Muslims, Jews and others believe that Jesus existed, they just don't accept that the was the Messiah, the Son of God.
There are also scientists who are Christians - and may even have become Christians through their study of science/the universe.
Because god also knows that:
1. If people are expected to believe on faith alone with no solid evidence provided, many (well over 2/3rds the world's population) will choose the wrong religion to believe in, based upon their culture, or the religion that their parents believe in.
There is evidence; people may not want to accept it.
2. There is always going to be a percentage of the population that cannot believe through faith alone. A certain percentage of the population is always going to require solid evidence before they believe certain things.
God can be neither proved nor disproved - but there is evidence, if they choose to see and accept it.
3. Without compelling evidence to support it, there is no reason for believers in one religion to change to another religion, because they may be leaving the true religion for a false religion.
What would you accept as "compelling evidence"?
Reading the Bible, maybe? Praying to God as the Bible tells us and finding that he answers? Being healed by God? Hearing the testimony of another Christian who believes in, and talks to, God?
So the only conclusion that one can come to, is that heaven is a fairly small place.
That is one conclusion that you could draw from the argument you have put forward; doesn't mean it's the only one or even that it's correct.
So god needs to keep the numbers low, so it won't be too crowded there,
?? We're not talking about a broom cupboard in the sky here or a celestial game of sardines. We are spirits in heaven - how much room does a spirit take up?
& he has deliberately rigged the system so that less than a 1/4 of the world's population ends up in heaven.
He hasn't rigged anything.
Jesus told us to preach the Gospel to the whole world, and even those who never hear have creation, etc, and will be judged on how they have lived their lives. God wants everyone to be saved, have eternal life and be with him forever - if we don't, that's our doing, not his.
