Why Is There Evidence For Christianity?

An apologist is someone who explains the evidence for Christianity. Explaining evidence requires evidence. If Christian faith is one based in reason and evidence, we can ask the question, why is there evidence for Christianity? What makes it different than any other mythology that occurs in the minds and myths of people?

There is plenty of evidence for Christianity out there. In many ways, Christianity is unique. Some reasons that there is more evidence for Christianity than there are for other religions are that Christianity occurred within recorded history, Christianity makes measurable claims about the universe, and Christianity contains what we may call internal evidence.

Christianity Occurred Within History

The resurrection of Jesus is THE central miracle on which all of Christianity stands. Without this one claim, Christianity is nothing. Because this miracle is so pivotal, so much of both the apologist and the sceptic’s energy surrounds this event. It is our make or break.

One thing that is so significant about this event is that it claims to occur within history. It is not some feat of Hercules that is talked about as a myth that occurred some time in the past, rather we can look at both this event, as well as the context surrounding it. Because it occurred within history, it is subject to our scrutiny as a historical event. As we investigate the life and death of a king two thousand years ago, we can investigate the life and death of this guy who claimed to be God, namely Jesus.

The Bible Makes Measurable Claims About The Universe

Not only does the Bible make testable claims about the universe, but it also makes claims that have testable implications about the universe. Therefor, we can test these claims and, through honest interpretation of the evidence, come to a conclusion as to where the evidence leads.

For example, The Bible starts out by stating that God created the universe. While it is hard to test the question “Did God create the universe or not?”, we can test the implications of this claim.

If God created the universe, it implies that the universe had a beginning, it is not eternal. This I an absolutely testable claim, and one that is constantly in the forefront of science and cosmology.

Internal Evidence For Christianity

Christianity makes claims surrounding morality, specifically that there is a moral standard that all people are aware of. This is an issue that can be tricky to test, which is why we call it internal evidence. I don’t know what its like to be a dog, or a cat, or a fish, but I know what its like to be a human, because I am one. Because of this, I don’t have to observe humanity from the outside, I am able to get an inside scoop, take a look at the internal evidence.

What does this have to do with morality? Because of my inside look at humanity, I am as qualified as anyone to say what it feels like to be a human. And through as much observation as I have, I believe that when the Bible tells us there is a moral standard that we are all aware of, I can’t help but agree.

The reason that these claims count as evidence is that all of the claims that we will investigate as “internal evidence” have a perfect explanation in light of Christianity and God, but often find themselves rather baseless in the face of materialism or other religious systems.