Thank you Asaph and Shaka.

Asaph:  No I haven't talked to Jesus yet, something is holding me back.  I think maybe I am coming from a far too logical viewpoint but I'm getting there slowly.

Thank you for the prayer example

Shaka Thank you for your reply, that really helped clear things up for me.

I think specifically, you CAN be sure the bible is inspired, because it is spiritually discerned.  (um, known as "joy", um, in some circles......hehe).

Hmmm - can you define the phrase 'spiritually discerned' please - I'm missing something here *grins*

It's once bitten twice shy in my case.  Been there, had a religion, got sucked in, got abused, in fact it's a minor miracle that I'm opening up again. This time I'll need more than isolated scriptures taken out of context and a sense of wanting to believe to convince me (and believe me I *want* to believe). I think age has something to do with it too, I was more ready to take the leap of faith that seems to be required in my early twenties. I'm 37 now and a bit older and wiser.

Allinall

Do you think that this kind of evidence is helping you become a true believer?

That's what I'm hoping for.  Working towards an improvement  in knowledge.  So far this has been the most convincing article I have found http://www.biblemagazine.com/magazine/vol-9/issue-4/evidence.html

Thanks everyone for your replies.

~quote~
However, for some adults, if we first understand that Jesus and the bible isn't just a bunch of "nice stories", that there is a load of corroborating archaeological and historical evidence that prove these biblical events and characters are real, then it becomes much easier to become a true believer.
~/quote~

I think that's reasonable and about where I'm at.

I agree - we all do have to start somewhere, at the beginning, which is where I am at.

What do you guys think of this quote?

"For the Fathers, authority is not only the Bible, but the Bible plus those glorified or divinized as the prophets and apostles. The Bible is not in itself either inspired or infallible. It becomes inspired and infallible within the communion of saints because they have the experience of divine glory described in the Bible."

Professor John Romanides of the University of Thessaloniki

Thank you for posts everyone

This about sums it up for me:

Mandy, if you are unsure, tell Jesus about it and ask Him to help your unbelief.

Hmm I hadn't thought about praying to Jesus (which would be how to tell Jesus about it?)

I need to start to get to know Jesus first.  I do believe he exists (therefore *did* exist and always will exist), but I'm so new to this I haven't even said my first prayer yet, something is stopping me and I don't know what it is.  I guess I'll work it out.  Anyway,

I was wondering if anyone knows of any archeaological (sp) and/or historic evidence that supports what the Bible writers tell us about.

Thank you again for your posts.  

Hiya - Mandy here  Looks like a really neat set of forums, am looking forward to learning and joining in

I'm just looking into Christianity and believe that you base your faith on the 'fact' that the Bible is inspired of God.  How do you go about proving that to someone that is an unbeliever?

Thank you :)