Original post by TreblebeeThis is actually quite interesting for me, since I am a Christian, but am also one of those people who asks a lot a questions, so I couldn't resist replying. I hope you don't find anything I say offensive; I'm not trying to "convert" you, just saying what my own experience has been here.
The dinosaur problem has always been a bit of an intriguing one, tbh. I think the awkward answers were simply down to the people themselves simply not knowing/not wanting to face the answer. I don't know why nobody asks God, seeing as He obviously knows the answer, except for the fact that we may well find out in Heaven. My own opinion, after going to a lot of Christians in Science talks (I highly recommend them - very hot topics are discussed, so very interesting) and looking into it a lot, decided that both views - the historical view, and the one given in Genesis - were correct, in their own ways. Things like the Big Bang (Let there be light) are pretty clear, and then when you see that to God, one day is a thousand years, etc., the timing begins to make sense. Evolution? Well, from the order given in Genesis 1, it actually seems to agree with the Bible (apologies to anyone who thinks differently - I'm just explaining what I decided on my own). How did something as deep and beautiful as love just evolve? Only under the hand of our Creator. But then, above all else, it actually isn't important. Christianity is about a relationship with God, now and forever - it isn't about small technicalities which God will explain to you some day, anyway.
Once I had figured out that I'd got that bit pretty straight, I went on to the next major issue you raised there - by no coincidence, I think, since I'm sure it's a common thing to worry about - what about other religions? What if another one is correct? I barely touched upon the thought that there might not be a God - one day, when on TSR, I imagined that for about a minute, and everything felt so immensely empty, pointless, hopeless, miserable, uncaring and just generally lacking in meaning that I had to resurface pretty quickly. As C S Lewis once famously said, "Christianity is like the sun - I believe in it, not just because I can see it, but because by it's light, I can see everything else." So that's why I never really considered it. Anyway, to go back to the topic of other religions, that one stumped me for a bit - what if I was in the wrong religion? Somehow, I never quite wanted to try a different on out, but I started to feel insecure. I began looking for ways in which Christianity was different to other religions. At first, it seemed like the basics were all the same - until I realised that they weren't.
-Christianty isn't a religion at all; it's a relationship.
-It's not all about life on Earth.
-It's not just about having good morals, or living life to the full - often, it seems just the opposite.
-It's the only "religion" which dares to claim that God came to us - not for his own glory, or to boast or something, but to save us. Does Jesus ever boast? Or is his main concern other people's faith and wellbeing?
-It's the only "religion" in which God dies. (Of course, being the triune God, He doesn't fully die or the Universe might cease to exist etc., but a major part of Him dies, and remains in that state for 3 days.
And beyond all that, at a more personal level, God has helped me so much, so often, when I really thought I was beyond anyone's reach, that it would just be plain ungrateful for me not to believe in Him. Besides, why would anyone try not to believe in their best friend?