>There is much debate in various circles – blogged or otherwise – in regards to the whether there is sufficient evidence to support a “notion of God”. Many atheists debunk Christian arguments in favour of a God… why do they do this? It seems to me that we will rarely, if ever, agree on these issues of “faith” and whether faith is logical or irrational, and the evidence to support our faith in God – Simply because our definitions of evidence and logic are possible vastly different. How can you move forward if there is no common ground in the first place?

The Thinking Christian blog is a place I often go to – he has challenging discussions and, in my opinion provides sound logical judgement, and good topics. Recently he posted an article on “What is evidence to a Christian?” I would like to point you to that article as something to take into account. For atheists, perhaps it may give you an understanding of our (Christian) theist viewpoint. For theists (Christians), maybe it will be insightful to you, stir further discussion.

The following are just a few extracts:
“I would define evidence broadly (and simply) as any information that would tend to lead a person toward a conclusion. Evidences are not always proofs—a court will consider circumstantial evidence, and rarely does a case turn on one piece of evidence alone. Evidences may qualify as such even if there is contradictory evidence… 
Evidences specifically for Christianity would include any information that would tend to lead someone toward any or all of what we might call a packaged set of conclusions, including ideas such as that there is an infinite, personal creator God, that he has spoken through the Bible, that he has personally revealed himself through Jesus Christ, that we humans were created for relationship with him, that we are being called from a state of alienation and rebellion from God, back into relationship with him through Jesus Christ, that Jesus Christ is the king of creation, and so on…
What kinds of information do theists have in mind when we speak of evidences for Christianity?

1. The historical, documentary testimony of the Bible
2. Historiographical and bibliographical indicators that the biblical documents are what they present themselves to be
3. Prophecies made and fulfilled in history
4. The existence of the Christian church as an historical movement
5. Changed lives of Christians
6. Miracles, signs, wonders, visions, etc., both historical and contemporary
7. The self-authenticating wisdom of Biblical teaching; its close fit with the realities of human experience
8. A long list of philosophical evidences
9. The internal testimony of God in one’s life” 
(Thinking Christian)

Perhaps you could even add a few of your own, maybe you debate some of what is suggested?  For me, in this pursuit of a defense of my faith, the quest for evidence etc etc, what he writes makes sense. Of course, even with this, I question then how an atheist would define evidence? I ask this because as I look around the blogosphere, it rarely seems that they would be satisfied with any presented evidence!

Does the lack of evidence therefore imply automatically that something is not true, does not exist? Science has at least proven one thing for me – there is so much we DO NOT KNOW… we think we have most of the answers, we’ve seen the universe and mapped it out…that is UNTIL someone comes along and splits open an atom and discovers there’s more…or the telescope is developed and goes further into the depths of the unknown!

Related posts:

1. Intro – the quest for evidence?
2. The Evidence for Faith