In this opening episode, Professor Eliav Ben-Tzion challenges one of the strongest foundations of modern faith: inner certainty. Why do devoted believers from different religions all describe remarkably similar experiences while arriving at completely different conclusions? Can conviction itself be evidence, or must every claim ultimately be tested against Scripture and history?

Through psychology, philosophy, and the Hebrew Scriptures, this episode asks difficult questions that many believers have never considered:

Can faith become a filter that prevents us from seeing evidence? Why do equally sincere people reach opposite religious conclusions? Does God ask us to trust our feelings—or to test every claim?

This is not an attack on faith.

It is an invitation to examine whether certainty is the beginning of truth... or the greatest obstacle to finding it.

If you've ever wondered whether your beliefs could withstand the same scrutiny you would apply to any other claim, this episode is where the journey begins.

Welcome to Before the New Testament.

AI Voice Disclosure: This episode includes voice-over narration generated with artificial intelligence. The script, research, editorial direction, and final content were both created and reviewed by the author Johnny Sanchez. AI technology was used solely to produce the spoken narration.