/lit/ - Literature

i have a question for the more theologically-inclined here:

how do miracles and prophecies fit into the christian belief that faith is the only path to Heaven? Wouldn't the occurrence of miracles and the eventual confirmation of prophecies act as a form of empirical proof of the existence of God? and wouldn't that give the people present for these occasions an "unfair advantage", if i can put it so grossly?

be aware i'm not writing this as some euphoric diatribe. it's something that as a former christian has bothered me for some time, so pls keep the usual checkmate atheist, fedora-tipping bullshit to a minimum

thx

>going to pedosexual awareness rally by bus
>reading crime & punishment through bakhtinian analysis for "the forgotten women in russian literature: dostoevsky" course
>bus slows
>doors open
>overwhelming scent floods inside
>potential rapist
>"hey" he declares to the PoC driver, casually appropriating thousand year old tradition of "black" greeting
>he enters and begins his conquest of the bus
>the passengers remove their belongings from the seats in terror but his imperial march continues unchecked
>sweat trembles on my brow
>don't dare look up from the pages
>his oppressive male gaze fills the aisle and ricochets between the windows
>i feel it burning upon my skin
>i have been selected
>this is my fate
>"hey, do you know what raskolnikov means?"

Studying psychology (and science in general) has gradually eroded my appreciation for literature, in particular the existentialists/Camus, Freud and certain philosophies. Their theories are usually interesting to read but in the end "man is a prey to his truths" - and I feel more secure subscribing to the truths of science rather than literature/art, even if they are typically dull.

I think you'd be hard-pressed to find many (if any) people who did evil things with the intention of "being evil". All the notorious rascals - Hitler, Stalin, bin Laden - thought they were doing good. They may have realized that their some of their actions were wrong, but they saw them as necessary means to a "righteous" end.

It's quite frightening actually, how easily the mind can distort reality.

/lit/ I want to into philosophy of mind, recommend some essential reading.

Please.