I went to college, studied philosophy, and came out a Christian?

Probably precisely the exact opposite effect that college has on most 18 or 19 years old, I managed to become a Christian. Again and again, I hear the story of somebody's kid who went off to college and got estranged from the faith they were raised with.

Atypical. That's me. Eh, I'm not impressed by myself, I'm impressed by God.

A self proclaimed atheist by the age of eight or so, I wanted to study law and thought philosophy was a great lead in to it. (I also studied economics, mostly for a more practical base.) My philosophy degree was concentrated in religious studies. I always liked religion, I wanted to believe something...but it all just seemed so...well, unbelievable. So, I wanted to study it, tear it down, learn the ins and outs--all the better to confirm the atheism I adhered so strongly to.

There's more to the story, but to get to the point, I met a friend on a change encounter on an airplane. He was a church kid (to which I immediately rolled my eyes a bit, thinking "oh great, a bible thumper. Ugh!") but I needed the friendship, so I figured I would just keep my mouth shut and not offend him.

It was not any words he said that talked me into Christianity. It was his heart. (Ohhh, the church buzz words, sorry, but it's the truth.) Tom was kind to me. He didn't have to be, especially after I pretty much offered to give him an alphabetized list of specific contradictions in his precious bible. (So much for not offending him. Oops.)

Tom took me to church, watched a few basketball games with me. He spoke softly and kindly with me when I attacked his faith. He prayed for me.

And in no disrespect to Tom, it was more kindness than a human was really capable of. It was God grabbing me by the shoulders and shaking, getting my attention in the only way I would respond to: He loved me through Tom.

Somehow along the way, philosophy turned into a case for God rather than against him. Descartes proved his own existence, but I was more impressed by the argument for God. Basically, he said that in his mind he could conceive of the idea of a perfect God and therefore one must exist, because one of the necessary qualities of such a God is such that he must exist. (Because, you know, if he didn't exist, He wouldn't be perfect.) It sounds like a dumb argument, but it's rather brilliant.

Kierkegaard claims logic has no place in faith and believed God's existence couldn't be proven by pure reason because reason is created by the finite understanding of man. We're not capable of understanding on a level that could comprehend God, therefore we cannot reason our way to Him.

Thomas Aquinas calls God "The First Cause." Something had to have started everything into motion, no?

David Hume takes the "design" approach. Basically the world turned out exactly such that life was sustainable here on Earth (who knows about anywhere else?) and that any tiny difference from the moment of the 'big bang' forward could have left Earth a desolate, lifeless planet. Because the conditions are ideal, Hume said it was likely that there must be some guiding force that brought it to such a condition.

I could go on and on, and there will likely be a part II and III and so on until I exhaust my philosophical back knowledge. Point is, God can use our ridiculous little minds and our cruel little hearts to reach other people. Sometimes logic can guide, but I sincerely believe that a kind heart is what draws people to God rather than any reasoning or arguing.