Why I Believe in Christ

How a once atheist engineer discovered that experience, faith, and reason lead to the same Truth.

My Testimony: From Atheist to Believer

Like the vast majority of people in my generation, I grew up thinking that faith and reason were like oil and water. Attending a math and science academy and living in a non-religious household, I was always the skeptic, especially when it came to God. To me, faith seemed outdated, almost laughable. I carried this skepticism like a badge of honor.

My skepticism only intensified when I saw the news and read history books. Religious hypocrisy, wars and genocides in the name of God. People claiming to be spiritual but acting anything but. Time and time again I encountered peers who wore crosses but were far from Christ—engaging in every imaginable mortal sin, thinking that if they just said a few Hail Marys it would all be forgiven. It left an incredibly sour taste in my mouth, making it so easy for me to double down on my non-belief.

But even as an atheist, I had a deep yearning for purpose. Seeking purpose in anything but God, I tried to find it elsewhere, diving headfirst into causes like social justice. I even created a page that got 800,000 followers on Facebook in 2017—that page got a billion impressions that year, inflaming race wars and generating anti-cop hatred. I have to admit, I felt so alive when I was generating this outrage and chaos. I felt like I was playing, dare I say, God.

I had thousands of people waiting patiently every day for new red meat to jump on. It was so addicting. But the euphoria came crashing down when I realized I was only contributing more to the madness that I had intended to be a positive response to. I was so against Trump's election, and then I realized I was playing Trump's game, except just on the other side. And guess what the Facebook page was called? Woke Folks. You can't make that up.

I realized there was no way I wanted "Woke Folks" to be part of my life and legacy, so I totally abandoned it cold turkey. My secular way of repenting for my sins as a hyper-partisan was to co-found a nonprofit focused on empowering young people to become non-partisan democracy reformers. I had something like a religious passion for ranked choice voting and open primaries—I wanted it to be like a silver bullet. I got a high from now not just feeling superior to the Republican Party, but also the Democratic Party. But trying to build this new secular movement felt empty in a different way.

Speaking of feeling empty, becoming successful in my twenties by worldly standards did not fill the God-shaped hole in my heart. I landed a job at Google, was quickly promoted to software engineering lead of a small team on Google Cloud, earned a spot on Forbes 30 Under 30. But let me tell you, despite all the accolades, there was still an empty void inside of me. It's like having a decked-out mansion full of everything you once wanted as a kid, but still feeling like there's nothing meaningful inside. Ending my life was, unfortunately, a common thought that crossed my mind.

Trust me when I say that I get why we've gotten to this precarious point where rates of depression and suicide amongst young men and women are skyrocketing. We are in the middle of what I would call a meaning crisis, and those who grew up in this godless society are the collateral damage.

The Turning Point

In 2021, something unexpected happened. I found myself listening to Kanye West's album "Jesus is King," two years after it was already released. I don't know why I played it, but that music hit me differently. It was so beautiful that I couldn't help but wonder if it bore the mark of something—or someone—divine. Watching this music performed by Kanye's Sunday Service Choir on YouTube felt like a direct communication with the divine. I couldn't explain it any other way.

Around this time, I also met individuals who truly walked their faith—people I would never consider lukewarm Christians. People like my friend Matthew, who works with the Vatican, and Marcus, another member of Forbes 30 Under 30 who has devoted his life to Christ by becoming an ordained minister. Matthew and Marcus didn't just talk a Christly talk—they lived their faith. They took great steps to eliminate worldly temptation from their lives. They are all in on walking the divine path.

Their actions ignited a curiosity in me—a spark that had been extinguished by my many disappointing experiences with so-called Christians, lukewarm Christians in the past. That spark of curiosity turned into a flame during a miraculous healing ceremony earlier this year. Long story short, I helped someone who previously couldn't feel their legs for years feel them again for the first time. That experience shook me to my core.

After that point, I started seeing God's presence everywhere, even in the smallest things. It was as if I was seeing life in full color for the first time after living my life in just black and white. It finally hit me that no political ideology, no worldly achievement could replace the peace and purpose that the teachings of Christ offer.

My skepticism around faith began to crumble. I realized that the real risk isn't believing in God—the real risk is living as if He doesn't exist. I realized that if we don't start putting God first in our families, obediently following the teachings from the Sermon on the Mount, America and our world altogether will continue sinking into the quicksand of moral relativism, materialism, and celebrity worship.

Here's the reality: everyone worships something, whether it's themselves, money, or something else. But the only path to peace today is to worship the Most High God, the head of all existence, the divine orchestrator.

Disclaimer: To whatever extent the following evidence and arguments resonate with you and ring true, I give all glory and credit to God. Any mistakes, improper arguments, or shortcomings in this analysis are entirely my responsibility. I remain open to your feedback and correction, as I am still learning and growing in my faith journey.

Why I Believe: The Evidence That Convinced Me

My personal journey led me to investigate the intellectual foundations for faith. What I discovered was that belief in Christ rests on multiple converging lines of evidence and argument. While my heart was moved by experience, my mind was convinced by reason. Here's the comprehensive case that solidified my faith:

I. The Philosophical Foundation

The rational arguments that provide the intellectual scaffolding for belief.

As I began investigating the claims of Christianity, I discovered that faith wasn't the enemy of reason—it was reason's natural culmination. The philosophical arguments for God's existence provided the logical foundation I needed as a skeptical engineer.

The Cosmological Argument

Why the existence of anything at all points to God.

The universe had a beginning—this isn't just biblical teaching, it's confirmed by modern cosmology. The Kalam Cosmological Argument follows simple logic:

Everything that begins to exist has a cause
The universe began to exist (supported by Big Bang cosmology)
Therefore, the universe has a cause

This cause must be spaceless, timeless, immaterial, incredibly powerful, and intelligent—characteristics that align perfectly with the God of Christianity. Einstein's general relativity and Hubble's observations support the premise that the universe had a beginning.

But the mere existence of the universe wasn't the only thing that caught my attention as an engineer. The intricate precision of how everything works together suggested something even more profound.

The Design Argument

How the fine-tuning of reality reveals an intelligent architect.

The intricate complexity and apparent purposefulness in nature point to an intelligent designer. Consider:

The fine-tuning of physical constants that allow life to exist
The informational content in DNA
The precise calibration of cosmic conditions

The fine-tuning is extraordinary—if fundamental constants like gravity and electromagnetic forces were altered even slightly, life would be impossible. The mathematical precision required suggests intentional design rather than random chance.

Yet even more compelling to me personally was the question that had haunted my activist days: why did I feel so strongly that some things were truly right or wrong? This led me to what many consider the most powerful philosophical argument for God.

The Moral Argument

Why objective right and wrong can only exist if God exists.

Without God, objective moral values cannot exist—they become merely subjective preferences. Yet we all intuitively know that some things are truly right or wrong. The moral argument demonstrates:

If God does not exist, then objective moral values do not exist
Objective moral values do exist
Therefore, God exists

This isn't just philosophical speculation—it explains why my activism felt empty when divorced from transcendent purpose.

II. The Historical Evidence

The documented facts that demonstrate Christianity's truth claims.

While philosophy provided the logical foundation, I needed more than abstract arguments. As someone trained in data analysis, I wanted concrete, verifiable evidence. What I found in the historical record was nothing short of remarkable.

Fulfilled Prophecy

How predictions made centuries in advance came true with mathematical precision.

The accuracy of biblical prophecies provides compelling evidence for divine authorship. Consider:

Daniel's detailed predictions of Middle Eastern empires spanning five centuries
Over 300 Messianic prophecies fulfilled in Jesus Christ
Statistical calculations showing the probability of chance fulfillment as astronomically small (1 in 10^157 for multiple prophecies)

The Dead Sea Scrolls confirm these prophecies were written centuries before their fulfillment, eliminating post-facto additions.

But of all the historical claims of Christianity, none is more central—or more thoroughly documented—than the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This single event, if true, changes everything.

The Resurrection

Why the best-attested miracle in history demands a response.

Multiple lines of historical evidence support Jesus' resurrection:

The empty tomb discovered by women (whose testimony was considered unreliable in first-century Judaism)
Post-resurrection appearances to multiple witnesses
The transformation of disciples from fearful followers to bold martyrs
The early creedal formula in 1 Corinthians 15, dating within 3-5 years of the crucifixion
The failure of contemporary opponents to produce Jesus' body

Even skeptical scholars acknowledge the basic historical facts surrounding Jesus' death and the disciples' belief in his resurrection.

III. The Experiential Evidence

The personal encounters that make faith real and transformative.

While historical and philosophical arguments convinced my mind, it was personal experience that captured my heart. The transformation I witnessed—both in myself and others—provided a different kind of evidence, one that speaks to the deepest parts of human existence.

Religious Experience and Transformation

How encounters with the divine change lives in measurable ways.

My own experience mirrors countless others who have encountered the divine. The argument from religious experience includes:

Dramatic life changes following religious conversion
Former atheists becoming believers based on personal experience
Consistent reports of divine encounters across cultures and time periods
The transformative power of Christian faith in addressing addiction, depression, and other life challenges

But personal transformation wasn't the only experiential evidence I encountered. The miraculous healing I participated in opened my eyes to a realm of divine intervention that continues today.

Modern Miracles and Healings

Why supernatural interventions still occur in the contemporary world.

Contemporary accounts of miraculous healings continue to be reported:

Medically documented healings with no natural explanation
Miraculous rescues and interventions
Answers to prayer that defy statistical probability
Mass evangelistic events accompanied by supernatural phenomena

My own experience with the healing ceremony fits this pattern of modern miraculous intervention.

Another category of experiential evidence that particularly intrigued me as someone interested in consciousness and the nature of reality came from studying near-death experiences.

Near-Death Experiences

What happens when people encounter the divine at the threshold of death.

Research into near-death experiences reveals common elements aligning with Christian theology:

Encounters with a being of light identified as Jesus
Experiences of unconditional love and peace
Life reviews and spiritual insights
Consistent themes across diverse cultural backgrounds
Transformative effects leading to increased faith and moral behavior

Studies suggest NDEs occur in roughly 4% of the population who have been clinically dead and resuscitated.

IV. Christianity's Unique Claims

How Christianity stands apart from all other religious systems.

As I investigated various world religions during my journey, I needed to understand what made Christianity distinctive. The differences weren't just theological—they were fundamental to the nature of God and humanity's relationship with Him.

What Sets Christianity Apart

Why Christianity's core message is unlike any other religion.

Several factors distinguish Christianity from other world religions:

The concept of grace rather than works-based salvation
God taking the initiative to reach humanity rather than humans earning divine favor
The historical specificity of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection
The rapid, peaceful spread of early Christianity despite persecution

One of the biggest intellectual obstacles I faced as a skeptic was the problem of evil. How could a good God allow suffering? Rather than avoiding this question, I found that Christianity provides the most satisfactory response.

The Problem of Evil

Why suffering doesn't disprove God—it actually points to Him.

Rather than undermining faith, the problem of evil has theological responses:

The free will defense: Evil results from human moral choices
The greater good theodicy: God permits evil to achieve greater goods
The soul-making theodicy: Suffering develops character and spiritual growth
The eschatological response: Ultimate justice and restoration in the afterlife

The existence of evil actually presupposes objective moral standards, which point to God as their source.

V. The Mathematical Evidence

How the numbers reveal the impossibility of coincidence.

As someone with a background in data analysis, I was particularly drawn to the statistical arguments for God's existence. When you run the numbers, the probability of our universe and Christianity's claims being the result of chance becomes virtually zero.

Statistical Improbabilities

Why the math strongly favors divine intervention over random chance.

The mathematical improbability of various phenomena provides additional support:

The fine-tuning of cosmic constants
The fulfillment of biblical prophecies
The complexity of biological information systems
The statistical improbability of early Christianity's success without divine intervention

VI. Problems with Naturalistic Alternatives

Why secular explanations fall short of explaining reality.

My scientific training taught me to consider alternative hypotheses. When I examined the naturalistic explanations for life, consciousness, and morality, I found them lacking in explanatory power.

Limitations of Natural Selection

How Darwin's theory fails to account for complex biological systems.

Significant scholarly criticism has emerged regarding natural selection's adequacy:

Natural selection can function as a circular or tautological argument
The theory lacks predictive power except in simple circumstances
Complex biological structures appear to require coordinated changes that random processes cannot adequately explain

These limitations suggest the need for alternative explanations involving intelligent design.

Conclusion: The Cumulative Case

How all the evidence points to one inescapable truth.

My journey from atheism to faith wasn't based on a single argument or experience—it was the cumulative weight of evidence from multiple sources. The philosophical arguments provided the intellectual foundation, the historical evidence demonstrated Christianity's truth claims, the experiential evidence made it personal, and the statistical evidence showed the mathematical improbability of alternatives.

Modern Christian apologetics employs this cumulative case approach, arguing that multiple lines of evidence together provide compelling reasons for belief:

Natural theology arguments (cosmological, teleological, moral)
Historical evidence for Christianity's central claims
Personal and testimonial evidence
The explanatory power of theism in addressing ultimate questions
The pragmatic benefits of religious faith

The evidence ranges from abstract philosophical arguments to concrete historical claims, from personal testimonies to scientific observations, creating a comprehensive framework that addresses both intellectual and experiential dimensions of human existence.

This multifarious approach helps explain why belief in God and Christianity continues to attract adherents across diverse cultural, educational, and social backgrounds. It's why a former atheist engineer from Google can find himself compelled by the same Truth that has transformed lives for two millennia.

Everyone worships something. The question isn't whether you'll have faith—it's what you'll place your faith in. After years of investigation, meditation, and prayer, I've found that only Christ provides the peace, purpose, and truth that my soul was searching for.

The real risk isn't believing in God. The real risk is living as if He doesn't exist.

This testimony represents my personal journey and the evidence that convinced me. Whether you're skeptical or genuinely curious, I invite you to investigate these claims for yourself. Life is full of surprises, especially if you keep an open mind and, most importantly, an open heart.

God bless you.

My Testimony: From Atheist to Believer​

The Turning Point​

Why I Believe: The Evidence That Convinced Me​

I. The Philosophical Foundation​

The Cosmological Argument​

The Design Argument​

The Moral Argument​

II. The Historical Evidence​

Fulfilled Prophecy​

The Resurrection​

III. The Experiential Evidence​

Religious Experience and Transformation​

Modern Miracles and Healings​

Near-Death Experiences​

IV. Christianity's Unique Claims​

What Sets Christianity Apart​

The Problem of Evil​

V. The Mathematical Evidence​

Statistical Improbabilities​

VI. Problems with Naturalistic Alternatives​

Limitations of Natural Selection​

Conclusion: The Cumulative Case​

References and Further Reading​