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