Where There’s Blayze

Every two weeks I run a group called Tough Questions. We meet in a pub and deliberately invite the questions that most challenge Christian faith, ethics, and belief. One concern we’ve had as a group is that, because we already identify as Christians, we may not always be asking the questions that people outside the faith genuinely wrestle with.

With that in mind, I recently contacted friends and family who identify as atheist or agnostic and asked them a simple question: What would you want to ask Christians about their faith? What questions have stopped you from believing, or from trusting the legitimacy of Christianity’s core claims?

I was struck by both the number of people who responded and the depth of the questions they raised. While my original intention was simply to bring these questions back to the group, several people followed up and asked for my own responses. This document is my attempt to do just that.

What follows are my answers to each question, offered as honestly and clearly as I can. They reflect my own theology and understanding, not a definitive or universal Christian position. I have also tried to keep the answers concise. Each question could warrant an essay, but brevity sometimes forces clarity. As a result, these responses will not address every possible angle or objection.

If reading this raises further questions, disagreements, or a desire for clarification, I genuinely welcome that. The aim here is not to end the conversation, but to begin, or continue, it.

What does belief in God explain that science does not?

If God exists, then He is the author of everything, which makes the question itself slightly misplaced. Science explains how the world works; belief in God explains why it exists at all. The Bible and science are not competing disciplines, they address fundamentally different questions.

Science describes mechanisms, laws, and processes. It does not speak to meaning, purpose, morality, or ultimate origins. Scripture, by contrast, is concerned with our relationship with God and with one another. As Genesis puts it, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). That claim does not describe how creation unfolded, but who stands behind it.

This distinction is captured well in the idea that science asks can we? while faith asks should we? Ethical and metaphysical questions sit outside science’s scope. The Bible and science need not be in conflict; they operate in different domains.

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If science explains how the world works, what role is left for God?

Even if we understood every law of physics and every mechanism in the universe, we would still be left with unanswered questions about meaning, purpose, and value. Knowing how something works does not tell you why it matters.

Christianity claims that human worth and purpose come from being created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27), not from our usefulness or intelligence. Scripture says, “In him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28). Without God, explanations may be complete mechanically but deeply thin existentially.

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How should Christians respond when scientific evidence challenges their beliefs?

Christians have long held that truth cannot contradict truth. Augustine famously argued that when apparent conflicts arise, either our interpretation of Scripture or our understanding of the science is flawed.

The Bible itself contains different genres, history, poetry, wisdom literature, prophecy, and law, and should not be read as if it were a modern scientific textbook. For example, the Psalms speak poetically of the earth having “foundations” (Psalm 104:5), without making geological claims.

Likewise, science remains provisional. Models change as new evidence emerges. Christians should therefore respond with humility, careful interpretation, and a willingness to learn, trusting that all truth ultimately belongs to God (John 16:13).

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Can faith change in response to new evidence—or is it fixed?

Christian faith is rooted in conviction, but it should also be marked by humility. As Paul writes, “Now we see in a mirror dimly” (1 Corinthians 13:12). Our understanding is always partial.

Beliefs can deepen, mature, and sometimes be corrected as we learn more. That does not mean everything is uncertain, but it does mean we remain teachable. Scripture repeatedly commends wisdom that listens and learns (Proverbs 18:15).

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Is belief in God compatible with intellectual honesty?

Yes. Christianity invites investigation rather than blind acceptance. Luke explicitly says he wrote his Gospel after carefully examining the evidence (Luke 1:1–4).

The Christian claim rests on historical assertions: the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Paul stakes everything on this, saying, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile” (1 Corinthians 15:17). Christianity stands or falls on historical reality, not private feeling.

Intellectual honesty requires following evidence where it leads, not dismissing it because it challenges prior assumptions.

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How do you know the Christian God is real and not one of the thousands of other gods humans have believed in?

Not all religious claims are equally plausible. Most gods proposed throughout history have no historical grounding. Christianity uniquely anchors itself to a specific person, place, and time.

Jesus of Nazareth is one of the most historically attested figures in antiquity. The New Testament documents were written within living memory of the events they describe, and are supported by thousands of manuscripts. Paul cites eyewitnesses to the resurrection, many of whom were still alive at the time (1 Corinthians 15:3–8).

Ultimately, Christianity claims that God has revealed Himself decisively in Jesus (Hebrews 1:1–3). I believe the Christian God is real because I trust Jesus, both personally and historically.

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What makes one religious claim true and another false?

Logically, all religious claims cannot be true at the same time, because they contradict one another on essential points. Jesus cannot both be and not be the Son of God.

Christianity encourages testing claims rather than flattening differences. Scripture says, “Test everything; hold fast what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21). Truth corresponds to reality, not sincerity or popularity.

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Is belief in God shaped more by culture than truth?

Culture can influence belief, but it does not determine it. If belief were purely cultural, Christianity would be strongest where it is most socially rewarded. Yet the faith is declining in culturally Christian nations and growing rapidly in places where it is costly or dangerous.

Jesus Himself warned that following Him would often mean going against culture, not with it (Matthew 10:34–39). Authentic faith persists even when cultural support disappears.

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What evidence would convince you that God does not exist?

I honestly do not know. If I could clearly imagine such evidence, I likely would not believe already. This is similar to fundamental beliefs we all hold, such as trusting our own minds or memories.

Scripture acknowledges that faith is not built on absolute certainty, but on trust grounded in experience and revelation (Hebrews 11:1). Losing faith in God would not simply change one belief; it would unravel the framework through which I understand meaning, morality, and selfhood.

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What would it take to convince you that a different god exists?

It would require at least the same level of historical, philosophical, and experiential grounding as Christianity, and even then, God Himself would need to convict my heart. Scripture describes faith as both reasoned and revealed (Matthew 16:17).

I have not found another faith that matches Christianity’s historical foundation or transformative power in my own life.

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If nothing could change your mind, is belief still rational?

Rationality does not require infinite doubt. If it did, no belief, including belief in reason itself, could survive.

Some convictions are so foundational that questioning them undermines the very tools used to question. Christianity claims to be one such worldview: a lens through which reality itself becomes intelligible (Colossians 1:16–17).

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Why does the idea of God often sound implausible or childish to modern people?

I’m not convinced it does. Surveys suggest many people believe something transcendent exists. What they resist is the implication that such a being might have authority over their lives.

Jesus Himself said that light is often rejected because it exposes uncomfortable truths (John 3:19–20). The difficulty is not intellectual alone, but moral and existential.

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Why do people find belief in ghosts or the supernatural more believable than belief in God?

Because those beliefs make fewer demands. Belief in God confronts us with repentance, change, and accountability (Acts 17:30–31). Ghosts and horoscopes do not.

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Has the church failed to communicate God in a credible way?

At times, yes. The church is called to be Christ’s ambassador (2 Corinthians 5:20), and we do this imperfectly. Yet God continues to work through flawed people, and many are encountering Christ despite the church’s failures.

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If there is life after death, where were we before we were born?

Scripture teaches that life comes from God. “The LORD God formed the man… and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life” (Genesis 2:7). We come from God, and we return to Him (Ecclesiastes 12:7).

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What happens to us when we die?

The Bible focuses more on who we are destined to be with than on detailed mechanics. Christians believe in resurrection, not mere survival of the soul (1 Corinthians 15:42–44).

Revelation promises a restored creation where suffering is abolished (Revelation 21:4). Until then, Scripture suggests a conscious presence with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8), awaiting resurrection.

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If we are physical beings, how can there be life beyond the body?

Human beings are more than biology. Consciousness, identity, and moral awareness are not reducible to matter alone.

Scripture speaks of body and spirit together (Matthew 10:28). Death is the separation of the two, not the annihilation of the self.

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Why believe in an afterlife at all?

Because Jesus rose from the dead. Christianity rests on that claim. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25).

We also carry a longing for eternity. Ecclesiastes says God has “set eternity in the human heart” (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Desire often points to reality, not illusion. I desire water because my body is reacting to something real and necessary for it. I think our longing for the eternal is similar to this. 

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Why does God allow death, disease, and suffering?

Freedom is necessary for love, but freedom allows harm. Scripture consistently links suffering to a fractured world, not God’s delight (Genesis 3; Romans 8:20–22).

God does not remain distant from suffering, He enters it. In Christ, God suffers with us and for us (Isaiah 53:3–5).

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Why must living things die in order for others to live?

Scripture acknowledges the fragility of life while affirming its value (Psalm 90:12). Mortality sharpens meaning and invites reflection.

Christian hope is not escape from creation, but its renewal (Romans 8:21).

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Why do animals suffer and die if God is loving? Does God care about animals—or only humans?

The Bible affirms God’s care for animals (Psalm 104; Matthew 10:29). Humans are given responsibility (not exploitation) over creation (Genesis 1:28).

Suffering exists throughout nature, but Scripture looks forward to a restored creation where harmony is renewed (Isaiah 11:6–9).

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Is suffering part of God’s design or a failure of it?

Suffering is not part of God’s original design, but God redeems it. Paul writes that suffering can produce perseverance, character, and hope (Romans 5:3–5).

Jesus blesses those who mourn, not because suffering is good, but because God meets us there (Matthew 5:4).

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Has the church become culturally outdated?

The message of the Gospel remains timeless, but its communication must continually adapt. Paul himself adjusted his approach to reach different audiences (1 Corinthians 9:22).

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Is the traditional church service still fit for purpose?

Biblical worship includes teaching, prayer, praise, and discernment (1 Corinthians 14:26). Forms may change, but these elements remain essential.

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Is preaching at people an effective way to communicate faith today?

Preaching must engage hearts as well as minds. Jesus Himself taught through stories, questions, and dialogue (Mark 4:33–34). Communication should invite participation, not passive reception. Sadly many churches have relied on the latter rather than reflecting on the former.

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Has the church confused tradition with faithfulness?

Sometimes. Tradition can preserve wisdom, but it must serve the Gospel, not replace it. Jesus warned against elevating tradition above God’s intent (Mark 7:8).

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Would Christianity be healthier if churches asked more questions and gave fewer answers?

Often, yes. Scripture values presence over explanation in suffering. Job’s friends were most faithful when they sat silently with him (Job 2:13).

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Does the structure of church services prevent genuine exploration of faith?

It can, if participation is discouraged. Scripture encourages mutual engagement, not passive consumption (Acts 17:11).

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Why would a loving God allow people to be born with severe disabilities or lifelong medical conditions?

The Bible rejects the idea that disability is punishment (John 9:1–3). God’s power is often revealed through weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Christian hope rests not in denying suffering, but in the promise of restoration beyond it (Revelation 21:5).

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If God is good, why has Christianity been linked to violence such as the Crusades and sectarian conflict?

Human sin distorts everything it touches. Jesus explicitly rejects violence in His name (Matthew 26:52). Failures of Christians do not invalidate Christ.

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Does the church exploit vulnerable people in desperate situations?

At its best, the church serves them. Scripture commands care for the poor, the sick, and the marginalised (James 1:27). Abuse of this mission is a betrayal, not its fulfilment.

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Should religion involve itself in politics at all?

Faith inevitably shapes moral vision. Scripture calls believers to seek justice and love mercy (Micah 6:8). The danger lies not in engagement, but in coercion and misuse of power.

We are glad that William Wilberforce and others felt compelled by their faith to challenge slavery. We are grateful that Martin Luther King jr and others felt compelled by their faith to seek an end to racism. The Christian religion has done a lot to help politics, but sadly it has been weaponised to be used for the wrong reasons.

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Does religion divide people more than it unites them?

Human beings are naturally tribal. Christianity challenges this instinct by grounding unity in shared humanity and shared grace (Galatians 3:28).

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Why do some believers see themselves as morally superior to others?

This contradicts the Gospel. Jesus harshly rebuked religious pride (Luke 18:9–14). True faith produces humility, not superiority. Feel free to challenge christians on this very matter!

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Can faith exist without creating “us and them” thinking?

Christianity distinguishes belief, but not worth. All are invited, none are excluded (Romans 10:12–13). Identity in Christ should erase hostility, not deepen it.

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How can the church claim moral authority given widespread abuse within the priesthood? Why should anyone trust the church in light of such things.

The church’s authority is derivative, not intrinsic. Moral authority belongs to Christ alone (Matthew 28:18). When the church fails, it must repent openly and seek justice, instead we have sadly seen examples of them trying to hide their mistakes rather than repent of them. 

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Noahs ark, how literally do you take it.

Genesis contains theological history shaped through ancient literary forms. The flood account may reflect a real, catastrophic event expressed through theological narrative.

Its central purpose is not scientific description, but covenantal meaning: God preserves life and commits Himself to creation (Genesis 9:11–13). Whether read as literal, local, or theological narrative, its message remains unchanged.

PS

Full disclosure I did use Chat GPT to help with some elements of the writing of this blog. I used ChatGPT to help take peoples questions and put them into succinct phrasing as many peoples questions were many sentences long. I also used ChatGPT to help me trim down some of my answers when I felt they were too long and wandering into the realms of becoming an essay. The content, thoughts and arguments within are all my own and has been the result of over two weeks of working on them.