About this site

Independent • Nondenominational

No registration • No advertising • No solicitation

Purpose

The purpose of this site is:

To help Christians engage in intelligent and persuasive conversations with doubters and unbelievers

Most Christians are unprepared for the tough questions being asked today by well-educated people who need coherent answers about the reasons for Christian faith.

Most doubters and unbelievers today – particularly the 'nones' – don't go to church, don't go to Christian media sites, and don't read Christian books. More than a fourth of young Americans today are raised in families without any religious teaching at all.

The only way they will understand Christian faith is if Christians tell them in sensible language they can understand. Sadly, most Christians keep silent whenever spiritual conversation gets below surface level.

Many Christians think that just living a good life or giving testimony is enough. But there are people of all faiths who live good lives and give testimony to some kind of spiritual faith. The modern reaction is, 'That's cool. You have your spirituality ... he has his ... she has hers ... and I have mine. That's what's so beautiful.'

Solid Christian faith needs to be based on facts recorded in the Bible ... tested by tough questions and intelligent answers ... confirmed by feelings, not based on feelings.

Doubters and unbelievers

This site is about doubters and unbelievers but is not intended for them directly. This site is for Christians, to help Christians become more comfortable and effective in spiritual conversations.

Thinkers Bible Studies can make Christians more confident, respected and persuasive.

This site helps Christians build bridges from unbelief to belief.

Removing barriers

'The heart cannot embrace what the mind cannot accept.' (Anonymous Christian pastor)

The Christian message was simple as expressed by Jesus and his apostles, but over a span of two thousand years, Christianity has sprouted many different branches – Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, Presbyterian, Pentacostal, etc.

There are now more than 2,500 different Christian denominations, each believing that its interpretation of scripture and definition of Christian faith and practice is the correct one. No wonder doubters are confused!

Over time, theologians and pastors within each denomination have formulated explicit doctrines of faith. Many of these doctrines, though good in themselves, are not what Jesus taught and not grounded in scripture – just extra baggage, creating enormous barriers to Christian faith for doubters and unbelievers.

This site identifies the barriers ... examines them in careful Bible study ... and shows how they can be removed, or at least reduced in size.

Writer

Writer for this site is Richard Lundborg, responding to questions being asked by people today who can't get clear and direct answers in church.

◉ Statement from the writer

– FROM THE WRITER –

I WOULD PREFER to remain anonymous, but that arouses suspicions, so here is full disclosure.

I write and produce this site myself to help others in their spiritual journey, with nothing expected in return. I'm just eager to share what I've discovered over the years.

I have no theological credentials to offer. I have a full-time law degree and MBA but have never been to seminary. Maybe that's why the presentation here is different from most religious sites. I have accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Savior, have studied the Bible carefully for decades, and have enjoyed a long and happy Christian life.

I have held management positions in three Fortune 500 corporations ... owned companies of my own (real estate development, mortgage financing and restaurants) ... retired at 49 ... then volunteer consulting with dozens of national and international Christian organizations in strategic planning and fund raising ... and I have done some writing and teaching over the years on various theological topics.

I have been a leader in my local church ... traveled in more than 50 countries ... first marriage, three children, twelve grandchildren.

For this site, I have pulled together important information from the Bible, history, and science and have organized all to form a comprehensive and coherent theology. Not just bits and pieces, but a structure for the whole of it, summarized, online in one place, quick access, easily shareable.

New material is added every week.

I believe that the Bible is the Word of God – the foundation and test for Christian belief. I don't challenge the Bible, but I do challenge some traditional interpretations. I make my case with in-depth Bible studies which lay out all relevant Bible statements in a way that enables you to see for yourself what the Bible actually says.

This site tells not only WHAT millions of Christians believe, but also WHY. Even if you come to some different conclusions, I trust that this will help you find and articulate the REASONS for your own faith.

Most people read the Bible to affirm what they have been taught. Hopefully, this will help you read it for new insights.

Richard Lundborg

Minneapolis MN / January 2021

Personal bio

'ALWAYS BE PREPARED to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the REASON for the hope that you have.' – I Peter 3:15

Sources

There is nothing new here that hasn't already been expressed in the media or on the Internet, or discussed somewhere. The purpose is not to develop something new, but to simplify the basic teachings of the Bible and make them intelligible to ordinary people.

The Bible itself is the information source for this site, with some help from science and history for interpretation. Statements here are the result of direct Bible study, documented here in detail.

This is basic Christianity at the core, stripped of Bible stretches and add-ons.

Method

This is not a typical fill-in-the-blanks or lecture-type of Bible study.

This study uses the Socratic method of learning, the method used with amazing success by the Apostle Paul in the Hall of Tyrannus in Ephesus (Acts 19:8-10).

This is a method of open questioning and investigation with these distinctives:

No question is out of bounds. No one is judged or rebuked for respectful objections or comments.
No church talk. No celebrity authorities. The only authority here is the Bible, which is the sole subject of objective study and discussion, one topic at a time.
This is deep focused learning for the purpose of gaining new spiritual understanding and the ability to explain it intelligently and persuasively to others.

The Socratic method is not a debate where there are winners and losers. It is an exploration method for finding truth, wherever the truth may lead.

Most people like to learn through the Socratic method but are afraid to participate directly in it because it exposes lack of knowledge and incoherent thinking, often making participants feel humiliated or embarrassed. However, this site simulates the method online so that anyone can just sit back in his or her own home and‍ get all the keys points without having to go anywhere or speak to any group.

Funding

This site is produced and funded by Lundborg Foundation as a public service.

Costs are covered by investment income and a $10,000 per month grant from Google Foundation. (Google does not endorse site content but gives grants to IRS-approved nonprofits which maintain sites with excellent user experience, high technical quality, high click-through rates, and high user time on page.)

No contributions have ever been solicited or received by Lundborg Foundation. No products or services are for sale, promoted, linked or endorsed.

Lundborg Foundation is not affiliated in any way with any church, school, business or other organization of any kind. It is totally independent and not constrained or influenced by any constituency.

The only objective here is to help people better understand Christian faith and experience a better life ... and to share it.

Work in process

This site started in 2020 and is still in early stages of development. New materials and edits are added every week.

Come back often for review and fresh content.

◉ Privacy policy

◉ Site statistics

INTERNET STATISTICS for Thinkers Bible Studies from Google Analytics as of May 15, 2021:

Users: Average 2,974 per day

Time on page: Average 2:53 minutes

Most popular pages:
  • no-burn-in-hell
  • people-before-adam
  • bible-creation-days
  • original-sin
  • garden-of-eden

Median age: 52

Gender: 61% male, 39% female

Country: United States 93%, All Other 7%

No sales. No solicitations. No advertising or promotions.

◉ Recent comments from readers

The reason the doctrine of original sin arose, was that Augustine couldn't read Greek and there was an inadequacy at certain points in the Latin translation, resulting in a misunderstanding.

Dumbest thing I've ever read!

Rational Evangelicals. Exellent.

I’m learning so much. Thank you.

This is a very interesting read and I'm going to be reading it again.

I applaud you on your studies and have to say that I do not disagree with what I have read. You seemed to have covered this subject very thoroughly.

Death and suffering had not taken place until the original sin, so no one was before Adam.

awesome info keep up this good work

Yes to have a intelligence conversation is of most importance.

Very,very informative! Thank you

I'm preparing to teach my first Religious Instruction lesson for the year in a public Australian school tomorrow and we'll launch straight in to the creation story from the Bible. So thank you!! I feel confident now to answer any questions the kids might raise.

O my how i wish i could find a friend would be willing to discuss the bible openly with me.

I don't think I believe this

Thanks, This is what I needed. I can't get enough of this marvelous study.

I have believed for many years what you have written here, but who among my friends and fellow-Christians will believe me? I stand alone. It took almost two hundred years before the church—or church members—believed that the earth was not the center of the universe. Will it take that long before Christians will believe that Adam and Eve were not the first humans created?

I recently discovered your bible studies website and I just want to thank you for your initiative in establishing this study resource.

This has certainly opened my mind, I believe in the Bible but could never get a lot of answers to my questions. Thanks

Enjoyed the read. I am a believer.

There are too many pastors and theologians who take the simplicity of God's Word and try to make it profound when they should be taking the profoundness of God's Word and making it simple.

Very interesting to read.

Had to be people here before Adam, all the ancient buildings prove the civilizations were here. Many teens of thousands of years.

Thank you for this! I have had many conversations about science and Christianity. I am not very smart but now I am a little smarter.

praying Gods direction, provision, and anointing on this site and everyone, like me, blessed enough to have been led to it .

Blessings to you!!

Loved it. Been saying it for years but nobody listened.

I want to learn it all.

This is heresy. I hope you repent and trust the Scriptures.

I am eagerly awaiting more topics.

Thank you so much for confirming what I had always thought!!! Our Father makes wonderous wonders!!!

So far you make a lot of sense, I do believe in God.

Either believe the world or believe God. We cannot have both.

Very good explanation

Very enlightening and interesting, Thank you

Of course there were people before Adam. Adam and Eve were created for a line through which Christ would come.

I hope this excellent presentation penetrates the evangelical church where sadly a majority of Christians believe that the Big Bang is an atheistic concept rather the Fingerprint of God that it is!

I have struggled with references to people before Adam, and coordinating it with science. This makes sense to me. Thank you for helping me with my dilemma.

You are absolutely wrong

Since your website is new and still in the making, it leaves me excited yet hungry for more understanding.

This is fascinating! I stumbled across this site and have been questioning what I was taught. This is an answer to prayer!

Fully embrace this information. By the Spirit I have been convinced before reading this. Any serious thinker who is honest and observant will become agnostic in trying to remain with the ultra conservative ideas of literal six day creation. What a beautiful creation was being made by a glorious intelligent designer!

False teaching. Repent

You have answered so many questions for me! Thank you!

This is great stuff!!

awesome info keep up this good work

No scripture to back up your words.

With this pandemic going on, I have many of these conversations with myself.

Please let me know if it is available in a hardcover or paperback book.

I discovered this site while I was at work. I will take time out and read through it. I think it is very interesting and it's good to know so I hope and pray that I can and will be able to venture a little bit more. Thank you and continue to have a blessed and prosperous day.

I am 75 years old. I was raised as a Roman Catholic. I have studied religions all of my life. I have so many problems with the Bible starting with Genesis. I agree with your assessment that Adam wasn't the first human on earth. The more that I learn, the less I believe in the bible and religion as a salvation. But I shall continue researching.

One of the best study sites I have found!

Amen Amen Amen!!!

Bwahahahahaha!!! Religion, please go away and die.

I can't wait to share this article with my grandson.

You are very much on the right track.

Would like to keep you on my site for further study. You made me think.

Thank you for the article! There are several nonbelievers in my life that I love deeply. My heart breaks for them. Every time I share my faith, I'm bombarded with science. Perhaps this will help. Thank you. God bless you.

Thank you for your good work.

this page can go to hell the bible is the truth idiots science is what a man created not GOD!

Found this to be very helpful. Answered my questions.

When are more topics coming?

Interesting topics. The bible is good for salvation but not for earth history

You should just go away. You are preaching heresy.

Excellent

Very good

Thank you for letting me know. Opened up my mind.

Thank you for the work that goes into this site, and please keep the good material coming.

Great explanation of something I've wondered about.

I really liked what is written and honestly agree with the reasoning. May the Almighty broaden my mind to perceive and digest these facts.

Thank you for this most interesting discussion of genealogy re: the timing of the first man as relates to both the Bible as well as archaeology!!!

I wish to save this

Just happened upon this site and wow! This is fabulous. I will be back. Thank you for putting this together and sharing it with us all. God bless you and your family.

All bad things on the face of the earth are connected to sin , by one mans sin we were all condemned.

Beautifully done and very reasonable. I’ve been struggling with the contradictions in the Bible and science for years. I believe that there is a God but I wasn’t always sure if the Bible Was Gods word or man made. Thank you! Makes so much sense!

Came across this site and it's fantastic and so relevant.

Does the bible really say humans will burn forever in hell or is it really more like thrown in the fire and destroyed? Ps I already know the answer!

Adam was the first man created to have a living soul.

God bless.

lov it

Great job! Fantastic resource for believers not only to be able to speak intelligently in a time of waning faith, but for our own education and edification as well!

This is great, I am going to read more of your topics!

I do not believe in a Supreme Being who created us in his image and likeness as quoted in the bible

Thank you for this summary. Very large and difficult task and worth the time taken. I am a believer in Jesus Christ, His eternal life, His death burial and resurrection. I believe the Bible is the Word of God.

I like your site. Good to see others believe as I do.

Thank you. You have clarified how to teach what I have always believed. I didn’t know how to explain it to others.

I am looking forward to reading through the rest of the Thinkers website. Thanks for investing in this work. It’s so important! Especially in these times.

Bullshit. Just utter bullshit.

Very informative and interesting.

Thank you for this.It helps me understand my youngest grandchild(age 31). Also this affirms my teaching as a science teacher and pastor.

Proof of the absurdity of ALL religions, thanks.

These explanations make real sense.

Your Thinkers site is the best Bible site I've come across.

An extremely good read.Would like very much to hear more.

What you have said makes so much sense to me. I would love to read more of what you think.

I admit that I have some struggles with your interweaving of science and the Bible, but that will not stop me from reading and considering the material.

About time!

Just came across your website, want to commend you on believing the Bible can and should be read as the Truth. I have always believed that if I cannot make sense out of the scriptures, it is my deficiently not the Bibles. God Bless.

very well done.!!

God created everything that was created in six literal days.

Interesting to read. Will research further.

This sounds interesting.

Close comments

Contact

admin@thinkersbiblestudies.com

‍