People don't generally like to talk about the spiritual world in a practical context. Most often, it's reserved for the entertainment industry when making scary movies. But when Jesus walked the earth, people couldn't avoid it. It was in people's faces and their experiences were undeniable. They witnessed people who had been possessed by demons, and Jesus performed so many miracles in public that no one could ignore the supernatural realm. Nowadays, a person generally has to go looking for the supernatural. Demonic possession still takes place, but it's extremely rare -- especially in the United States. During such times of supernatural rarity, the Devil uses a different tactic. He appeals to mankind's intellect and arrogance. He's so good at it that he convinces intelligent people to downplay, or flat out ignore, evidence that normally wouldn't be overlooked by a person who claims to legitimately seek truth. How else could the intense fame of Jesus, which has lasted for thousands of years, be downplayed? The Bible is clear, and says that there is a spiritual blindness that the Devil uses. That's why sound logic doesn't work on them -- even (maybe even especially) on those who pride themselves on their intellect.
Despite all of this, no one, who chooses not to believe, will have a leg to stand on when each of us faces God at the end of this life. Jesus simply had too big of an impact on this world to be overlooked. The people of that day knew it, and Jesus said it himself when he stated the following:
"They would not have been guilty of sin if I had not come and spoken to them; as it is, they no longer have any excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my Father also. They would not have been guilty of sin if I had not done among them the things that no one else ever did; as it is, they have seen what I did and they hate both me and my Father."
-John 15:22-24
"On the Judgement Day the people of Nineveh will stand up and accuse you, because they turned from their sins when they heard Jonah preach; and I tell you that there is something here greater than jonah! On the Judgement Day the Queen of Sheba will stand up and accuse you, because she traveled all the way from her country to listen to King Solomon's wise teaching; and I assure you that there is something here greater than Solomon!"
-Matthew 12:41-42
There's a reason this is an article, and not a post in a forum or on a blog. I don't debate anymore. I don't have the patience, and there's nothing to debate. But I do want to echo what God says is happening in this world.
This article is plenty long, and I don't want to make it so long that people won't bother to read it. There's more that could be said, but the bottom line has been stated. God will use this article in whatever way he sees fit. That will have to be good enough for me.
"So then, my dear brothers, stand firm and steady. Keep busy always in your work for the Lord, since you know that nothing you do in the Lord's service is ever useless."
-1st Corinthians 15:58
The following links are links to YouTube videos. They provide useful information for those who want to consider the Bible from an atheistic point of view. The videos focus on logic and evidence when approaching the Bible. Because of spiritual blindness, these links many not convince a skeptic, though they provide sound, rational arguments. However, it's possible that some may find them useful.
The following link is a recording of an Easter church service. It's, probably, the best Easter sermon I've ever heard.
Discerning Spiritual Blindness
If you've read this entire article, and you've concluded that you don't agree with its contents, but you still consider yourself to be honest, logical, and reasonable, then I challenge you to take a simple test that will erase all ambiguity. Click here to learn about a tactic that I recommend to all Christians when they run into someone who falls into your category. It's a tactic that's so robust, that I can't imagine it ever failing to determine whether or not a person has abandoned all logic and reason.
Since writing this article, I've come across online individuals who have attempted to argue with me about what I've written. However, once I point them to this link, the convesation ends, and they no longer continue to argue. This has happened about three times. For this reason, I recognize that the link, although written for Christians, may be helpful to everyone.
Again, click here, to end all ambiguity.