Why is Evidence so needed?

[Dallas]

I always end up asking myself at the end of the day "Why do people need 'evidence?'" Honestly, I don't see Christianity evidence based, but there is very strong evidence to support it. I see it more as a personal faith. I'll try to elaborate that a little more. I'll give you an example on the reason.

Last year, I was at lunch at school. And I heard a friend of mine say around the lines "I believe in a divine power, but I need scientific evidence to support this." Now, after a year has passed, she says quite the opposite. She told me "When I said that, I was ignorant." I'm not sure about her salvation, she came to my church to hear me speak, then she went into the back room and asked about salvation with her friend. So, she's on her way . Is it circumstances that affect people, or how they don't want there to be a God? I ask myself this all the time. So please, can you help? If I didn't make it clear, please let me know.


Thank you,

-Dallas.

[narnia4]

Christianity should appeal to the body, soul, spirit, and mind (however you want to divide those entities up). As far as whether we should need "evidence" or not, well to me it depends on how you use the word. There are good reasons to believe. If you're restricting the word evidence to some sort of science experiment, then that's just foolish and misguided and for most I think it ends up being an excuse rather than a legitimate beef. But Christianity should also make rational sense.

To me its something that those of us who lean more toward the "defense of the faith using the intellect" side of things (I do) probably get hung up on too often when often the issue with people is more emotional and spiritual. I have to learn not to get hung up if it seems like people are being stubborn and not seeing what I see. On the other hand, some churches and communities act like they have something to hide or aren't aware that there are very good answers to intellectual questions. Now that's a sad thing, when someone's faith is challenged even in a weak way but because no answers were given in their church or upbringing some (younger people in particular) throw away their faith when they're in an emotional spot and a lack of answers being given only add to it.

I actually read about an interesting study (a couple years old now) the other day that showed that college isn't really the "faith killer" many think it is. Neither is academics, not if you have a faith based on solid rock. In fact, the study showed that high school students who didn't go on to attend college actually left the faith at a higher rate.