My position changed instantly the first time I saw the
-positive- image.
Bam!...just like that.
No scientific tests or empiric evidence necessary.
I -felt- it.
[gee, that's just *so* illogical, isn't it?]
It's not that hard to learn to read Greek.
I spent a couple of years with a Greek NT and a massive NT Greek lexicon *and* a "regular" Greek lexicon.
I was amazed at the things I read.
I've also devoted a lot of time to studying Jewish historical context and linguistic idioms in order to better understand the Bible.
[so I take up weird hobbies...sue me]...;))
For me, it doesn't matter if/when it's proved "real" or "fake".
I will continue to believe in Christ, regardless.
I'm not a member of any denomination so I have no dogmatic ax to grind, no agenda and no dog in this fight.
I do believe that if it is indeed real, just maybe God let it be found to confound the endless parade of "experts".
Not a day goes by that some archaeologist or another digs up yet another shard of "proof" of what I already know.
It may be that I have a perverse sense of humor, but I enjoy watching wise men making fools of themselves, nearly nonstop....:)
Blessed are they who have not seen, yet believe.
"Some are Christians who fear having their belief that Faith without proof is enough or that it is somehow superior to belief because of proof. . . and that any offering of proof will diminish the value of their belief."
Some people worry too much about being "righter/better/holier" than the next guy.
God is.
Christ is.
The end.
What more is there to *really* know?
Unbelievers will never rest in their efforts to "disprove" what they secretly -fear- is true.
If they truly did not believe, why would they waste their time convincing themselves?
That's their problem.
We cannot know with certainty truths regarding Christ unless this information was transmitted to us by an infallible mediating Institution.
Faith is the sum of truths revealed by God in Scripture and tradition and which the Church presents to us for belief.