Hello,
For starters I like your curiosity. I'm the same way, but probably not as intensely as you. Definitely not as well verse in other religions like you are either, though, I did live in Afghanistan for like 15 months and while there was really curious about Islam--there's a story to that but it's another topic all together. I digress. I live in the USA, a natural born citizen; born again Christian. Wasn't always so. Was once a devoted Atheist.
Forgive me if I take the long route with this as opposed to being direct and succinct. Also, while I was never officially diagnosed I believe I have A.D.H.D. I'm always hyper and my attention is really, really short--behold! A squirrel!!! Ok, I'm kidding. I'm currently at my local library. Can't see any squirrels from my desk. Forgive me kind sir. Wait, was that really relevant to your thread? Probably not...my bad!
Back on task. Thread. Questions. Answers!
Here it goes, seriously now.
I often wonder if there's a greater Truth out there. A Truth that our 5 sense can't detect; it's outside of them. And if our 5 senses can't detect it then how can we know that it even exist, or how can we believe it if anyone, for whatever the reason, can pointed towards it? How does that Truth make itself known to us?
I can't speak for others, but for me the answer came through the lens of what felt wrong about everything. The world. Including myself. Something, intuitively, felt that the darker aspects of human nature (i.e evil) and the world shouldn't have to be the way it is. Don't misunderstand me. It's not a form of self-denial, I clearly see human nature, both good and bad. Growing up in a low income urban location. I accepted it for what it is. Yet, something in my heart told me that all of it is somehow...off. I didn't know then how to voice it.
For a long time I didn't bother looking for any religion. Though raised a Catholic because of my Latin American roots, I had already forsaken all aspects of God, and thus Christianity, placing them into the same category as tooth fairies and unicorns, by the time I was in 4th grade. Yes, 4th grade. There were too many hypocrites and evil in the world, I would reason, for a good God to exist. I mean, why would he allow evil to happen if he's all good and all powerful, right? I wouldn't even bother getting angry or having some personal heated debate with others--like with the Jehovah Witnesses for example (I promise I'm not flaming. They are super nice people, at least all the ones I have met before) In truth, I was jaded with the world, and myself.
But then came some cute college young woman, unfortunately already married, and an Evangelist. She integrated herself with my friends and I usual hangout spots between our college classes, which was mostly the dining tables at school. As you can imagine I put off an aloof stand-offish stance, claiming my god: Science and the scientific method; where's the proof of your God? While she made a connection about God with literally everything, even the Science. Long story short, she planted a seed of thought to me in the form of a question. It went like this: What would happen to me if I lived my life not believing in God, died, and at death, learn that there's no God? Nothing. My life was as meaningful as I myself made it, and others remembered it. But what if I lived my life never believing God ever existed, died, and at death, turns out I was wrong, He does exist. What meaning would my life be then according to His standards, and not mine?
The scare tactic of an eternal place of pure torture, damnation, and fire, i.e Hell, never scared me when I was an Atheist because due to lack of scientific proof it doesn't exist, right? I don't preach Hell like that either, though, it is a real place. What shook me to my foundation posed in her last question was the strength of my own conviction. Or in my case, deep down, the lack thereof it. Shortly after meeting her, through unplanned circumstances, I joined the U.S Army, became a combat medic, and deployed to Iraq for 7 months, and Afghanistan for 15 months. Both, as I'm sure you're aware, are Islamic dominant countries. There's more to this story but for the sake of time and space I won't dwell into it. Feel free to ask me for the rest of it if you want. Suffice to say...
What makes Christianity different from all other religions is that it claims that there's nothing you can do/think/feel to have God love you any more or any less than He already does. God IS love. God sent His only begotten son as payment for the price of not living up to His standards of holiness, in order to save all the world, EVEN WHILE His own people rejected Him and His son, Jesus of Nazareth, who's also known as Jesus Christ. In Christianity, you are saved by Grace--grace meaning unmerited favor--through your faith in God's son, Jesus Christ. In Christianity, GOD is the one reaching out to humanity through the example and life of Jesus Christ, the prophets of the Old Testament, and His followers, whom brought a ministry of mercy, not sacrifice; of relationship (and obedience through it), not commandments, rules, laws, or regulations ,one must live by.
WHAT IF THE TRUTH IS reaching out to us (not the other way around like with other religions), and all we have to do is accept it? Accept the Son of Truth? It's impossible without Faith. And biblical Faith is the assurance of the things we hope for, the conviction of the things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). And it's not a blind Faith either. Faith first begins by hearing and learning, then believing, then acting, and finally seeing and experiencing the wonders of God.
I have seen myself after praying for a woman at work, in the name of Jesus Christ, and merely touching her back with my finger tips, of her reporting something like a heated fire spreading through her back healing her severe back pain she had for months whom doctors and medicines couldn't treat. This is America for crying out loud! Afterwards she really thought I was some sort of saint--I'm not, just a regular guy. A follower of Christ--and almost in awe-fear and desperation she volunteered telling me her life story and if I can pray for her adult son who's going through his own issues in life drugs and gangs. Meanwhile reinvigorating her own faith. I have heard His whispers telling me of things that where about to happen to me, and it happened!!!--not the way I expected, and yet it happened, as the voice of God told me. I have seen, and heard, sometimes, random images and stuff about about strangers which to their astonishment--and mines too--they were true when I asked for verification. Needless to say it was a very uncomfortable and unusual conversation with them, at first. lol. I have heard stories from my own cousins of people being raised from the dead. Others, of deaf children hearing again. And still others, of people who couldn't walk, walk again. And so much more! Nevertheless, all the glory belongs to ONE GOD, and His right hand Jesus Christ who's name is above all names. Who's miracles still astonish me today.
I'm not sure if I truly chose Christianity on my own. What I do know is that God chose me. He called me out by my name. It is literally, for me, the ONLY time I heard a physical voice--the rest where like thoughts popping into my mind, like ideas--a barely audible whisper of a man who's voice was strong, scary, yet, familiar, peaceful and gentle. All at once.
The Bible mentions of how we as individuals can't draw ourselves closer to God unless He first draws Himself to us. Then, as we draw closer to God, He draws closer to us. Sometimes, God uses other people to speak life and truth into them. I'm not sure if I'm that guy. What I am sure is that God loves you. He loves all people, but hates the turning away or missing the mark of His standards, which is holiness and perfection, both in thoughts and deeds. We Christians call that "sin." But fear not! God loves all people and hates sin. All people are redeemable through His son Jesus Christ, no matter what they have done in life. No matter what. No amount of war, violence, poverty, family, or life, can keep you from the love of God. Where there's love, there's hope. Would you accept that Love? Would you die for it?
In the end, even as a student of science I can't undeniably prove for all to see or hear of the existence of God (I studied computers, medicine, and physics at my University). I know He's real. What I can tell you, and anyone else who found the tenacity to read all of my, ahem, 'short-story' is this: Truth was always there, just outside the reaches of my own human understanding, and I have in these last 5 years accepted it. With hope, with faith; with Love. And now boldness in Him. It is this love which drives me to redemption and life transformation, through the Gospels. Honestly I don't even really know how it does it, but it does. Though it's easy to say it's the Spirit of God working our salvation and redemption to Himself. A reconciliation with God.
Once, I was a man of war and anger, and now I'm a man of peace and love. The Bible transformed me, which is the Word of God. Because the Spirit of Truth can speak to you through the Bible. As for the Quran...it doesn't bring freedom to the soul though it may seem more sound to the mind of man for so many.
Hope this helped a little. And again, forgive for writing so long. My bad!!! ^_^