When a Christian publisher's mission is to produce the most intellectually honest book series about ultimate truth, it's likely to invite skepticism from people outside the faith, and they might ask: "why should I trust such a statement?"

The answer to that question is quite layered. I could just say I took the proverbs about God's hatred for dishonest scales to heart, or that growing up in a Catholic-Islamic family fostered my objectivity towards different beliefs, but I largely attribute my zeal for accuracy to the challenges I've faced in my personal life. They left me with a deep disdain for double standards, disregarded facts, false accusations, and a lack of accountability, which I believe serves me well in my research.

But conscious or unconscious, everyone has some degree of bias. An inclination towards or against something that is shaped by cultural upbringing, social conditioning, biological wiring, etc.

For instance, I may not have wanted the gospel to be true before accepting it, but I believe I'll always have an inclination towards monotheism because I was surrounded by Muslims and Catholics growing up. I was taught that God is good and my disposition was to be a force for good, so it made sense to want the host of Heaven, the ultimate source of goodness, and the most powerful force in the universe on my side.

So If I ever reach a point where I feel that the evidence leans towards a godless universe, I would present this opinion honestly to the public, but in all likelihood, I would personally hold onto the most credible theistic view. For me, a 10% margin isn't enough to risk eternal suffering, but I have to admit, the end of conscious existence has ironically become more appealing to me since embracing the teachings of Christ.

While I marvel at the redemption story found throughout scripture, the awe-inspiring depiction of the risen Christ in Revelation, and the magnificent promise of the coming kingdom on a New Earth, the implications of the gospel are devastating for much of my family and humanity in general.

Sure, it would suck to admit that I chose wrongly, and that I wasted the last decade of my life serving a god-man who doesn't exist, but from a human standpoint, if I had my choice of reality, I would prefer one where there is no afterlife for good people (by human standards) to suffer in. I would prefer my old idea of a God who grants people of all religions eternal life, and I would gladly walk past every person on earth telling me I was wrong if it meant seeing my grandparents again.

So I guess what I'm saying is: "Yes, I'm a Christian who loves and follows Christ in spite of my internal conflict, and yes, I believe the gospel will hold up to the toughest scrutiny. But in all honesty, it would be a relief to disprove it, and as a researcher, I'm willing to change my beliefs, or at least the strength of my conviction based on my findings."

With all that said, I hope the integrity of my research will earn your trust over time, and I invite you to walk with me on this quest for truth.

If you haven't already, be sure to get on the waitlist for Nuance Academy.