Again, the term "overwhelming evidence" comes up. I am unclear as to what evidence is overwhelming in this matter. Science and God would not have clashed over the centuries had there been solid evidence - the lifeblood of observational science..
I have seen documentary after documentary after documentary. I have debated with many many educated people on similar topics. Granted I have not read entire libraries on the subject, but from what I know about the bible, I do not believe that there is overwhelming evidence supporting it. This is why many people do not believe. We need to touch, see, feel. Maybe it is an intellectual leap we must make, to understand, to have faith, to believe. I do not know, for if there is, I haven`t made that leap yet.
That is why I cannot accept "what Jesus did for us, thus rejecting God`s mercy." I do not see the "overwhelming evidence." I do not know if this is because I cannot fathom faith and make that intellectual and spiritual leap, or because it is not really there...