[TheRealThing]

^^ Oh I think Hound's had his say, as have you Cardfan. In fact, Hound said anybody could read the Bible and compare it against other MUCH OLDER religions and readily see that it is a fake. The first man Adam, knew God personally. As did his wife and sons. The rest of humanity knew God was as real as the ground they stood on in much the same way we all KNOW, WW2 happened and was real, although we did not have first hand experience with it. Then through sin, crept in Idolatry and false religions. But mankind's first thoughts were of his Creator, the knowledge of Whom was everywhere in their lives.

Thus there aren't any older religions, much less MUCH OLDER religions and as I said, It's obvious that man started off his time in this universe with an intimate knowledge of God. All religions are a subsequent pollution of the truth of God.

So why are things the way they are? Free will. The Lord wanted a people who would 'choose' to be with Him. Most people rather choose to be on their own and interpret their own reality. Satan certainly did that as did one third of all the heavenly host. And for man, that's the purpose of this temporary world. To give all men the opportunity to choose, and by that choice, which is anything but easy by the way, they reveal who they really are and if they would be happy to be with God in eternity. This world is the proving ground and there is nothing tricky or elusive about attaining to the truth.

Ironically Carl Sagan and all the rest of the oft quoted men to include Einstein, said they saw no proof that God exists. That's simply not the the case, because though these guys looked to science for proof -- they ran right over that overwhelming proof. Why because they weren't looking for the evidence of God's existence, they had already chosen against Him for the reason mentioned above. And were looking to make up their own construct as to how they got here.
Romans chap 1
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:


Life in this world is the ultimate weed-out. There's plenty to occupy our attention here so men like Carl Sagan can keep themselves busy. But make no mistake, because as the Lord has said in the verses above, He put the knowledge of Himself within every man, and showed His existence to us in creation, 'clearly;' so if we reject Him we are without excuse.

One more irony. All scientists and atheists and deniers of all stripes will be so ashamed in the day when this world ends. They will have tried to use God's own creation and laws of nature to disprove His existence. Only then, to more than willingly admit it was a rebellion of their own choice to oppose Him in spite of the evidence He has clearly provided. A rebellion of which will culminate at the Battle of Armageddon where unbelievably, men will assemble in the last ditch effort to defeat the Lord in war.

This is a Christ rejecting world, but only because so many men choose to make it that way.