I believe Occam's Razor might help you. Although Occam can't prove God doesn't exist, it would go along way in allowing you to discern shit from Shin-o-la.

Good thing you're saying that here-lol. And why would 'Jesus' even want to come back since his followers are doing a bang-up job of destroying freedom and the world themselves?

Personally, as a studied theologian on my own & someone who still takes the occasional theology class from Georgetown U, raised and taught by Nuns, priest, and the Jesuits, I love using their Bible to challenge them. I openly say to Christians, I hate what you've done to my Jesus. Claiming ownership of the Jesus' philosophy of; love thy neighbors, judge least you be judged, and that which you do to the least . . . This has sparked many discussions and friendships that have lasted for decades as they seek answers. I claim Jesus as the anarchist he was, the socialist and hippie peace maker. Just as I do with Voltaire, Descartes, and even Fyodor Dostoevsky, a deeply religious man who wrote many inspiring works such as The Brothers Karamazov. "So long as man remains free he strives for nothing so incessantly and so painfully as to find someone to worship."

I see religious people as victims of propaganda coming from the most powerful and long lived oligarchy know to man. While I don't see religion dying in my life time, I sure as hell want to weaken its power of control. I believe humanism more than Christianity, lives what Jesus asked his followers to do.

Rather than go with textual criticism, I use Occam's Razor to ask the question, do you actually think Jesus said, 'I've come not to bring peace, but a sword, to divide . . .' given what he did in his life?

First, the go into overload that an outspoken atheist and writer has claimed their savior as the anarchist, socialist, hippie. I love it when I see that the lights are on, but no one is home. You can reason someone out of what they weren't reasoned into. It takes time & respect. One protestant minister who became friends with this militant atheist over the years had his faith weakened by my questions and unwavering commitment to humanism.