Is Christianity possible?

Is it possible that Christianity is true?

For many today, Christianity is considered impossible— or at the very least highly implausible. To some it is a pernicious lie, to others a helpful falsehood. Still others are afraid that, however unlikely, it might actually turn out to be true.

Others may consider the question to be completely irrelevant and so conclude that it warrants no further consideration. I have explored that question here.

Today I want to explore a different question: is Christianity possible?

In other words has it, like theories of a flat earth or geocentrism, been thoroughly discredited such that no rational, well-informed person would still believe it? Or are there reasons for believing it is very much a live option— something well worth considering as we think about the world and our place in it?

Let’s begin with a simple claim. If Christianity were obviously false, we would not expect to find many (if any) intelligent, rational, well-informed people who have availed themselves of the evidence for and against it and yet who persist in their belief that it is true and knowable.

And we certainly would not expect to find people who were antagonistic towards Christianity, but who later came to believe it was true after an in-depth study of the evidence.

And yet this is exactly what we do find. Professional historians, philosophers, journalists, mathematicians, investigators, biologists, physicists… and the list goes on.

Of course what is of most importance is not that these exceptionally sharp, professionally trained, well-informed people believe Christianity is true, so much as whether or not they give good reasons for this belief (spoiler alert: they do, but that’s beyond our current scope).

As I write this in 2025, the professional philosopher, internet developer and co-founder of Wikipedia, Larry Sanger, has just announced his coming to believe in the truth of Christianity as a 50-something-year-old, after decades of atheism in which he dismissed theism and Christianity as implausible and incoherent. Once he was tipped off to the fact that theism could possibly be true, he began a journey over a few years and became convinced in the truth not only of theism, but Christian theism.

Larry stands in a long line of others with similar, albeit unique, experiences.

People like Chicago Tribune investigative journalist, Lee Strobel, who opened an investigation of his own to disprove Christianity so that he could convince his recently converted wife she had made a mistake. To his surprise, after months of investigation, he became convinced Christianity was true and has spent the remainder of his life defending and commending it to others.

Then there’s the literary scholar and philosopher C.S. Lewis who was described as “the most reluctant convert.” While teaching at Oxford he was a member of a group of fellow geniuses (e.g., the author of the Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien, himself a Christian). After a decade-long journey, Lewis became convinced of Christianity, later stating “I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.”

Or take Rosalind Picard, distinguished scholar, inventor and professor at MIT, who thought “Christians and all religious persons were people who really didn’t know their science… or needed a crutch… I really didn’t think they were that smart. Then I started to realize that many of such people were super smart and they challenged me to read… the Bible.” From there Rosalind began a journey that led her from atheism to Christianity.

We could add to the list figures like the biochemist and NYU professor Sy Garte, who was raised as an atheist but later came to believe in Christianity largely as a result of his scientific studies. Or the historian and former agnostic Molly Worthen. Or the philosopher Johann Hamann. Or the highly successful cold case homicide detective, J. Warner Wallace.

The list could go on for many pages. Their stories, explorations and explanations could fill many volumes.

In every case they represent intelligent, highly educated, well-informed people who, despite being predisposed to the contrary, came to the conclusion that Christianity is true and knowable.

And in every case they testify to a much more meaningful life often characterized by peace and joy following their conversion.

What are we to make of this?

You may protest: aren’t there also many intelligent, highly educated, well-informed people who do not believe Christianity is true?

Of course.

And we should take them seriously and hear what reasons they give for their worldview as well.

But remember, we are not trying to establish whether or not Christianity is true. We are merely trying to gain prima facie reasons for believing it might be true. Is it plausible. Is it worth looking into.

We are jettisoning the popular, albeit indefensible, view that Christianity is irrational, has been disproven and need not be taken seriously.

The hubris required to dismiss the hundreds— even thousands— of people who make up the body of testimony I just described, is both staggering and objectionable.

If Christianity were not plausible, we would not expect to find this massive, ever-growing body of testimony comprised of rational, well-informed people who have devoted themselves to the pursuit of truth.

If we are being intellectually honest and have a modicum of intellectual humility, we have to admit this is something worth considering.

It cannot be dismissed out of hand. It should not be ignored.

This raises a larger question— why would I be trying to dismiss it? Why would I want to ignore it? Why would I want Christianity to not be true?

Wouldn't any good man or woman who understands what Christianity is wish that it were true? I think so. If you'd like to hear how I became a Christian and why I am still one today, you can begin reading my story here.

suggestions for further exploration

1. If you want to know about Jesus, go to the primary sources written in the 1st Century A.D. (within 20 - 80 years of his lifetime). Start with two of the biographies of Jesus (The Gospel According to Luke; The Gospel According to John). Then read a couple of Paul's letters (Philippians and Romans).

2. Subscribe to the Reasonable Faith podcast. Check out str.org. Subscribe to the Truth Unites YouTube channel.

3. If you live in/near Florence, come to Jack's Books and ask me for book recommendations.

4. Commit to read at least 3 books. Here are some ideas: A Case for Christ, The Son Rises, and A Good and True Story.

5. Ask people you know where they go to church and why, and when someone gives a good answer, visit with them.

6. If you want someone to have open, honest conversations with, send me an email.

7. As I said before be humble. And patient.