Why believe?

[TexasSky]

There is such a lack of evidence for many of the supposed events of the Bible.

One huge event that I would like to present for an example would be the mass exodus out of Egypt, in which hundreds of thousands of Israelites were slaves then escaped and wandered the desert for 40 years. There is NO EVIDENCE ANYWHERE outside of the Bible of this HUGE event taking place! The Egpytians were pretty good record keepers, and there is no mention ANYWHERE of this happening! All first born sons of Egypt were supposedly killed- don't you think even a SINGLE Egyptian historian would make a single note somewhere of this HUGE CATASTROPHIC event? And if hundreds of thousands of people wandered in a desert for 40 years, don't you think there would be a SINGLE SCRAP of evidence that they were there??? A fragment of a bowl, anything??

How do you continue to believe despite these things?

Well, first, you are mistaken. There is historical evidence from nonbiblical sources of the exodus from Egypt.

Beyond that though, you have to understand that faith in Christ is not dependent upon such things like "evidence" any more than faith in a person's love is dependent upon expensive gifts.

Christianity is about a relationship with a living God, and it is difficult for a nonChristian to understand.

If you have ever been in love with someone who returned that love, you may remember a time of "hoping" and "worrying" and "wondering" if that person liked you too, and then having to take that first step. That first "risk" to saying, "I like you." And then, when you said it, they said it, and suddenly you knew you were right to feel what you felt.

Well, with Christians, that FIRST step is the hard step. That, "Okay, God, I don't really understand it all, but you said you love me, and that you forgive me, and I want to be forgiven, and I want to have a relationship step," is the hardest step of all, but once you take that step, you are no longer acting on "just faith." From that moment on you will KNOW that Christ is real.

How can you explain that to someone who has never experienced it? How do you explain snow to someone who has lived their entire life in a village on the equator?
How do you explain the color purple to a blind man?

As to "physical" evidence. A lot of it, for reasons I'll let you determine the cause of, is not given publicity the way other finds are given publicity.

In fact, the Ipuwer papyrus, an Egyptian document that is a non-biblical text, tells the same story of the plagues and deaths and horrors and exodus as the bible tells - with the exception of mentioning Moses and God.

Some scholars say that if you "redate" the "assumed" time of the exodus, it fits, perfectly, with the historical documents regarding the reign of an egyptian pharoah, down to the rebellion of the slaves and the "disappearance" of the pharoah.

 

[Emmy]

Dear Karisma. You had some very good replies, and they make me continue to believe much more than the unreported events from Egypt, ever could. Even nowadays, when the News - Media reports every bit of scandal, important happenings are often reported to suit one person, or party, more than others, very subjective. The Hope and Guidance, the Solace and Blessings which God`s Word gives, the way Jesus has changed many lives, and is still doing, is far more important to me, and to thousands of Christians, than some happenings which may not appear to satisfy. The Bible is still very much in demand, and those thousands and thousands of people who read them, cannot all be mistaken or mislead. I say this humbly and kindly, Karisma, and send greetings. Emmy, sister in Christ.

 

[seashale76]

There is such a lack of evidence for many of the supposed events of the Bible.

One huge event that I would like to present for an example would be the mass exodus out of Egypt, in which hundreds of thousands of Israelites were slaves then escaped and wandered the desert for 40 years. There is NO EVIDENCE ANYWHERE outside of the Bible of this HUGE event taking place! The Egpytians were pretty good record keepers, and there is no mention ANYWHERE of this happening! All first born sons of Egypt were supposedly killed- don't you think even a SINGLE Egyptian historian would make a single note somewhere of this HUGE CATASTROPHIC event? And if hundreds of thousands of people wandered in a desert for 40 years, don't you think there would be a SINGLE SCRAP of evidence that they were there??? A fragment of a bowl, anything??

How do you continue to believe despite these things?

Hello, coming from the perspective of someone who has an undergraduate degree in Anthropology and a continuing passing interest in Archaeology (though I don't work in the field and really don't keep up with things these days), I have a few things to say. Even though there is such a thing as Biblical Archaeology, the field of Archaeology isn't out to prove or disprove the events of the bible. Archaeological finds and speculations aren't set in stone. When new information is found, or old research is gone over and artifacts and sites are re-dated, sometimes old speculations are thrown out and new ideas come into play. Sometimes, the bible is used (especially in the Holy Land) to give an idea of what culture/time period/biblical event a site might be related to. Occasionally they are right and occasionally they are wrong. When one is working with pieces, fragments, and not much else, it is really difficult to know if you are being accurate in your theories.

They call it faith for a reason. I don't need Archaeology to tell me if my faith is true or not. It has nothing to do with it.

 

[Digit]

There is such a lack of evidence for many of the supposed events of the Bible.

One huge event that I would like to present for an example would be the mass exodus out of Egypt, in which hundreds of thousands of Israelites were slaves then escaped and wandered the desert for 40 years. There is NO EVIDENCE ANYWHERE outside of the Bible of this HUGE event taking place! The Egpytians were pretty good record keepers, and there is no mention ANYWHERE of this happening! All first born sons of Egypt were supposedly killed- don't you think even a SINGLE Egyptian historian would make a single note somewhere of this HUGE CATASTROPHIC event? And if hundreds of thousands of people wandered in a desert for 40 years, don't you think there would be a SINGLE SCRAP of evidence that they were there??? A fragment of a bowl, anything??

How do you continue to believe despite these things?

Hey Karisma,

I need to find another person who said something similar, since Bertrand Russell is no friend of Christianity, but he did speak quite a lot of truth when he said:

"If a man is offered a fact which goes against his instincts, he will scrutinize it closely, and unless the evidence is overwhelming, he will refuse to believe it. If, on the other hand, he is offered something which affords a reason for acting in accordance to his instincts, he will accept it even on the slightest evidence."

I too couldn't see a scrap of evidence when I was a non-Christian for Chrisitianity, and it was only when I began looking in earnest that I started seeing, what was almost a whole new world of, evidence.

I think you will find two schools of thought here, those that believe because they wish to believe in Christ and what He did for us, and there is nothing wrong with that at all. Then there are those that have made a logical case for Christ. Both are as valid as each other, one may be able to present a great argument for Christianity, but may lack the root of faith, and the other may not be as well informed but will be burning with passion for God. Perhaps there is a third too, one that has matured and has both the knowledge and the passion. I think these are both steps along the path of Christianity and ultimately they all lead to God (in my opinion anyhow).

I guess, if I can ask you a question, it would be - is the lack of evidence of a migration to Egypt (irrespective of what we individually believe) really the single most thing keeping you from believing in God?

Cheers!
Digit