This was great! I appreciate both of you. Jonathan, it was especially helpful to hear what you said @1:27:59, that your rational confidence in Christianity is predicated exclusively on the public evidences, and that your joy is something that flows from your rational understanding. I'm a very analytical thinker myself, and I function similarly to you in this regard. It can sometimes be difficult for me to see other Christians whose joy and beliefs appear to come so easily and without investigating the gospel accounts. I don't think there's anything wrong with that at all, but I can find myself wondering if there's something wrong with me that I'm not like that. So it's good to hear you say what you did. Thanks. Also, I agree with what Bobby was getting at early on - it would be most valuable to see a compilation of your analytical "categories" such as Undesigned Coincidence, Reconcilable Variation, etc.
I read the book, and it helped me, one who doubts but still believes
This was great! I appreciate both of you. Jonathan, it was especially helpful to hear what you said @1:27:59, that your rational confidence in Christianity is predicated exclusively on the public evidences, and that your joy is something that flows from your rational understanding. I'm a very analytical thinker myself, and I function similarly to you in this regard. It can sometimes be difficult for me to see other Christians whose joy and beliefs appear to come so easily and without investigating the gospel accounts. I don't think there's anything wrong with that at all, but I can find myself wondering if there's something wrong with me that I'm not like that. So it's good to hear you say what you did. Thanks.
Also, I agree with what Bobby was getting at early on - it would be most valuable to see a compilation of your analytical "categories" such as Undesigned Coincidence, Reconcilable Variation, etc.
Understanding essential vs non-essential doctrines is crucial before you can respond to a street epistemologist for example