Briefly chatted with a friend who suggested posting a list of FAQs' regarding Christianity to my youth group and seeing the responses. I'm just gonna post five questions here which, in my experience, crops out more often, and in many different forms, than others.

Here goes, the top five (in no particular order) are:

1. Aren't all religions the same, teaching about living a good life, etc.? (philosophical)

2. If God is good, why is there evil? (philosophical/theological)

3. Why do you believe the Bible is true? (historiographical, textual, archeological)

4. What about all the crimes and injustices committed by Christians? (ecclesiological, sociological, church-community)

5. How do I even know God exists? (PROBLEMATICAL!)

No, I don't think every Christian ought to be equipped with irrefutable responses for the above. Only those 'called' into intellectual ministry of this kind.

No, I don't think these questions were what the Apostle Peter primarily had in mind when he said we should "be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks for the reason for your hope" (1 Peter 3:15).

No, I'm not even sure there's anything irresponsible or 'dangerous' with never ever engaging these question.

No, I don't think there's anything wrong with saying, "I don't know."

No, I don't think these should form the "core modules" of any Christian Education curriculum.

No, I don't believe a child of God must develop an ever-growing corpus of "correct" beliefs/propositions to mature in faith, service and love.

Yes, I think the questions are worth asking and spending some time on (whether or not an answer is eventually reached), especially if the questions are becoming problems i.e. creating cognitive/emotional anxiety, angst, etc.

Yes, I think God likes us to explore questions of such nature, to investigate history, to ponder on reason and logic, to strive for coherency and order in our thinking.

Yes, I believe theo-philosophical advancement can beget spiritual maturity.

Yes, I think Bible studies and sermons should include these on occasion.

No, these questions aren't easy. Yes, they've been tackled very effectively on numerous occasiona by many humble and apt Christian thinkers. No, Christians haven't always responded with kindness and relationship-orientedness. Yes, some Christians have lovingly declined to give answer as they know a lack of them isn't the problem. No, not all Christians care more about showing God's love and/in truth than about showing off.

Yes, God is still God.