[user104658]

Originally Posted by the truth

Im not at that level of unquestioning belief in every word. Nor have I suffered any major trauma or indoctrination nor do I think for a moment the majority of the 2.1 billion Christians have either. I was merely inspired by great people and the Bible and Christ himself.

I can understand that but - and I say this without it intending to be insulting or belittling those with faith - can we not be inspired by entirely fictional characters and stories whilst still accepting them as fiction? I know I have been, many times. Furthermore, even assuming some truth in many of the bible stories but no literal truth in the existence of a God / true miracles, are the HUMAN stories of people doing good and great things (in the name of God or otherwise) not just as inspiring without the supernatural element? Are they not even MORE inspiring?

That's something I struggle to get my head around. Is a person doing good, charitable, wonderful things for others just because they feel inclined to do so, and making moral choices to do no harm to others purely through empathy - with no watchful God, no promise of Heaven, no threat of Hell - not more impressive than when a someone does it fully believing that there is a system of reward and punishment at work?