When has faith been a valid form of proof? By definition faith is the anthesis of proof.
The Bible has not provided an accurate model of the universe (see flat earth, firmament, etc.). In fact it has no scientific predictive power what so ever.
Why would the creator of the universe be interested whether we believe a story about it or not? Why is the story so difficult to believe?
Why does being the creator of something grant complete and utter control of the created? Why should you love it and vice-versa?
It does not make sense to establish that miracles are true because they have been reported by ancient people and ancient records are inherently accurate. If you believe that, you would also need accept other ancient manuscripts such as Tripitaka, Vedas, Quran, etc.
The Bible is not internally consistent. For example: the synoptic Gospels of Matthew and Luke differ in account between the birth of Jesus. None of the gospels were eyewitness accounts and were written long after the events occurred.
Most Americans believe the bible should not be taken literally at 43% but inspired, 26% believe the stories are fables, and only 24% believe in biblical literalism. [1]
[1] https://news.gallup.com/poll/210704/record-few-americans-bel...
re Bible and science
Yes, the Bible isn't scientific. It's a historical document. For that reason, scientific method with its controlled, replicated experiments doesn't apply to it. For historical claims, we use the evidentiary method. We look at the witnesses, the claims, and corroboration. From an empirical standpoint, we can also look for predicted vs actual effects if the work makes objective claims. The Bible is one of the most incredible sources from a historical standpoint. Then, my evidence page has an "Impact" section showing what His Word claimed it would do vs what it actually did. The two matched in a way that's unmatched by anything else that I'm aware of.
On model of the universe, many religions have models that wildly contradict observations of the world. Scientists used to believe the universe existed forever without a creation event. The Bible countered scientists of the time saying that God spoke the universe into existence from nothing, "stretched" the "heavens" out into their existing form, that it would break down without being actively sustained by its Creator (us too), and that it had a definite end. Later scientific claims included the Big Bang theory, the Second Law of Thermodynamics, cosmologists observing the universe is more precise than anything we've designed, and that it will end in a Big Crunch or Whimper. While the Bible was often validated, the scientific theories often came and went with large contradictions among them. Why would you trust what they're saying now?
https://answersingenesis.org/astronomy/the-universe-confirms...
Also, before I came to Christ, we were dealing with the "Replication Crisis." The scientific method requires each claim to be independently replicated to counter error or fraud. Reports showed much of science wasn't replicated. I already noticed people just believed, cited, and spread claims of scientists without checking the facts. The scientists, under "Publish or Perish" problem, already were unreliable witnesses, too. Add the Replication Crisis to find that "science" is actually a religion whose beliefs were more akin to dogma. Their sharing without fact-checking is like evangelism on blind faith. Some of it was properly replicated and worthy of the label science, though.
Why would you trust unverified claims on unverified claims on unverified claims made by people with incentives that work against the truth? If you do, why don't you trust what appears to be honest people who corroborate their key claims and whose claims get similar results in tens of millions of people today?
re ancient miracles
Well, I claim modern miracles mostly concentrated around prayer in the name of Jesus. See Keener's survey for instance:
https://www.gethisword.com/evidence.html#miracles
Far as ancient ones, I don't have to believe anything until I think know what honest people are saying. That's assessing the sources along with whether copies added those claims. You cited one work whose author didn't claim any miracles at all. His followers did centuries later. The others seem mythical in nature. So, I'd reject them on that basis.
re New Testament writers, including inconsistent stories
Far as New Testament writers, I'll give you two ways to assess them. The book, Cold Case Christianity by Wallace, was written to show how he came to Christ after his cold-case investigation proved the Gospels were authentic. In Ch 3 on Circumstantial Evidence, he says inconsistent stories are normal if the witnesses are honest. If they're consistent, it usually means they colluded.
https://www.amazon.com/Cold-Case-Christianity-Homicide-Detec...
The second article covers reasons to think they're highly believable. Jesus seems to have picked the best witnesses partly by picking those who most would pass on for the job of starting an appealing religion. Amazing that God controlled everything from their genes to life circumstances to what people wrote about them to show us this. Great is His power.
https://www.crossway.org/articles/10-things-you-should-know-...
"Most Americans believe the bible should not be taken literally at 43% but inspired, 26% believe the stories are fables, and only 24% believe in biblical literalism."
What most Americans believe changes over time. Many times the beliefs are damaging. Besides, if the Bible was a story and stories do that, American would've changed for the better by now after they spent most of 2020 watching Netflix. That didn't happen. Whereas, the Bible has gotten predicted, positive results in its followers for 2,000 years. It must be true and powerful.
The empirical, most-scientific response would be to trust the Gospel over Americans' other beliefs and do what it says. Then, empiricism predicts you'd probably get the results that the rest of us did. Repent, put your faith in Christ, and see for yourself! :)
“Why would the creator of the universe be interested whether we believe a story about it or not?”
His revealed Word says He is a perfect being, needs nothing, and does what pleases Him. He created everything to express every attribute (Exodus) of who He is: power, intelligence (esp universe’ design), steadfast love, justice, forgiveness. He intends to love and provide for His cherished creation if they love Him and each other. So, He’s interested since it’s the entire purpose of our existence.
Made in His image, He gave authority over earth, free will to choose Him, and responsibility for our choices. We turned away from God, stayed selfish, hurt ourselves, and each other. The Word says our nature, esp wanting to be our own gods, is why it’s hard to seek or follow God.
He’s an everlasting, pure being seeking moral perfection. He’s a judge that must punish crime. He’ll punish it forever in what’s like a lake of fire. Ezekiel says He wishes none to perish but to turn from their evil ways. He’s a loving Father who wants His children redeemed. His character requires the solution to enact justice for humanity’s sin and give mercy to those who turn away from theirs. Our choices determine the rest.
He sends (becomes) Jesus Christ. Jesus lives a perfect life, merits the ability to ask for anything, offers His own life on the cross to serve our sentence for us (absorbs God’s wrath), is raised from the dead three days later, given all authority, and offers saving forgiveness and eternal life to all who surrender to Him. God who seeks a relationship with His beloved children reconciles us through faith in Christ. He does what we couldn’t with our own deeds since they’re stained with selfishness. God shows His goodness and grace by giving a gift to unworthy people who He keeps with Him forever in peace and joy. All tears wiped from all eyes.
On the faith part, He doesn’t expect you to believe nonsense or pick the one story that would work. Jesus gave us the Gospel with a command to share exactly that. Hebrews says His Word is “living and active.” Isaiah says He empowers it to have an effect on you that no other work has where you are deeply convicted that it’s true. He says be willing to seek Him, have a humble attitude, ask Him to tell you the truth, and read the Gospel. God does the work from there at His pace. Read the Gospel on my site in that way and you’ll find Him. The “Impact” section proves His Word did exactly what He said it would do.
The stuff on science, etc will appear here when I get time. Let no “apologist” fool you. The main way people believe is hearing His Gospel with a humble, God-seeking heart. Believing the Bible is so against our nature that His Word says even our faith is His work in us drawing us to Him. He supernaturally grants the ability to believe it which the Bible says we don’t naturally have. He just loves us that much.