Being skeptical is taken as a strong sign of intelligence these days. Especially when it comes to matters of faith. In particular the Christian faith.

Here is the quick list.

• The story of Jesus borrows from other ancient myths (Always distinctly different and "myths" don't have so many eyewitness accounts that can be verified or refuted by contemporary supporters or opponents)
• The Christian faith grew because it was the official faith of the Roman Empire (Actually, one hundred years before the time of Constantine, it is estimated that 50% of the Roman Empire population, in particular the urban areas, had already become Christian)
• There are many writings that didn't make it in the Bible that contradict it (Nothing in existence that is less than 150 years after the time of Jesus, and the Bible as we know it is used in its entirety by the early Christians before the first of these "lost books" is written)

OK, either you examine the evidence carefully and you reasonably conclude that there is strong historical support for the claims of Christians or you use different criteria than anything else used in ancient historical studies and you remain skeptical based on the criteria you personally establish. The honest conclusion ought simply be, "I don't want to believe…"

Now, that is a valid proposition.

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