I was watching a video of William Lane Craig and Bishop Robert Barron. WLC emphasizes, that while over the last century or so, much of Christian apologetics and conversion work focuses on experience (i.e. encountering God, the Spirit, the Son, or the community), that many people today yearn for the intellectual arguments, i.e. Kalam cosmological argument, 5 ways, etc.

I am curious- as Christians, what types of arguments to did/do you find most convincing in your conversion?

Experiential
Intellectual

I read the Bible and was convicted of my sins. I sought refuge in Jesus Christ. Is that experiential or intellectual?

Martin Q. Blank said:

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I read the Bible and was convicted of my sins. I sought refuge in Jesus Christ. Is that experiential or intellectual?

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Experiential.

I find Experiential boring and pointless. The experiences and coincidences in your life that lead to your faith have nothing to do with the experiences and coincidences of mine. Good for you, I'm glad that was your path, but it really has nothing to do with mine.

CaptMermethyl said:

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Martin Q. Blank said:

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I read the Bible and was convicted of my sins. I sought refuge in Jesus Christ. Is that experiential or intellectual?

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Experiential.

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How does someone come to Christ intellectually?

Martin Q. Blank said:

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CaptMermethyl said:

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Martin Q. Blank said:

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I read the Bible and was convicted of my sins. I sought refuge in Jesus Christ. Is that experiential or intellectual?

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Experiential.

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How does someone come to Christ intellectually?

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I wouldn't say the full way... of course most of the work was/will-be done by God.

However, for me, I am very convinced by philosophical and then theological arguments.

Of course, in the end, it all comes down to the Resurrection. If that didn't happen, then it's orthodox Judaism for me.

The Resurrection, while passed down by witness testimony through the ages, would be experiential, I need the underlying Reason (logical construct) to believe as well.

Of course I find Christianity logical. But I don't see how someone can come to Christ purely by reason. Same goes for any belief system. Atheism is the most illogical position one can hold which is why I don't think anybody became one by reason, just experience.

Apologetics is a defense, not evangelism.

Martin Q. Blank said:

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I read the Bible and was convicted of my sins. I sought refuge in Jesus Christ. Is that experiential or intellectual?

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Can not blue star this enough.

I love Theology. I read it almost every day.

That said you cannot come to Christ logically or through wisdom etc...

I read and come to the understanding, intelligence and accuracy of my faith through the Bible, Church Fathers and other writings.

I come to God through prayer. There is prayer and nothing else when seeking communion with God.

Aggiefan#1 said:

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I love Theology. I read it almost every day.

That said you cannot come to Christ logically or through wisdom etc...

I read and come to the understanding, intelligence and accuracy of my faith through the Bible, Church Fathers and other writings.

I come to God through prayer. There is prayer and nothing else when seeking communion with God.

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Blue star too my friend. I listen a lot more now when I pray.