There is a dubious fixation on "belief" within the bible, amongst early Christians/jesus loving Jews, Jews and even modern Christians. The number of times it is stressed in the bible, I think, is telling. Why is it so important that someone believes in god? Why, if what they are saying is so true and righteous, do they feel the need to include such a thing? In science we don't say:"it's important that you 'believe.'"

It's almost a tacit admission that they have no way of knowing or demonstrating the truth of their claims that they realize, on some level, that it's different than all the other claims to knowledge in daily experience. "If you believe hard enough it will be so." This, to me, raises flags already... Without even examining the nature of the claims. There is an inherent cognitive dissonance in religious belief.

Why do apologists exist? Their very existence... The fact that they need defenders of the faith should, to a rational mind, raise some questions. Why the battle for the minds of children? Why is it so important that children be taught the belief system? Do they fear that if they are not taught that they will not draw the same conclusion? All the science denial and political battles over classrooms and what they teach; certain groups explicitly against higher education.... If the truth was so obvious... Well, you know, the truth has nothing to fear from scrutiny and being challenged. If they knew that what they believe was absolutely true we would expect them to have incredible confidence. If they, themselves had doubts and realized that their claims were absurd and contrary to all human experience we would expect them to do everything in their power to undermine education and divert inquiry. And this is exactly what we see.

"For those who believe all things are possible." What a vacuous proposition.