How it it that an otherwise intelligent person can fall so hard for Christianity?

Oh it doesn't need to make sense, they reason. god has got the answer. Trust god, that's all. so they still know, but not themselves. they know by proxy, they have access to someone who knows. and they are submissive to him, so it's whatever he wills. but you know, pray to a rock and reason the same way, you get the same results.

Christians would argue against your "otherwise" and "nonsense."

It is a sad fact that those who assert the Bible is nonsense simply demonstrate their own stupidity.

The fact of the matter: The reason is once God opens your eyes to the truth of God holy word the bible, then you don't read the bible like a news paper, you actually compare scripture with scripture and know that God spoke in parables and without a parable God did not speak. The reason you think it is nonsense is because your like the 12 disciples that God Jesus Christ had and they all denied him with an oath, and you will never believe in God holy word unless God saves you never, That is just the stone cold truth, because God The Father has to draw you to the son Jesus Christ our Lord and savior and make you a true believer of God, than God will make you a new creature of God, you will not be the same person if God saves you, you will act and think 100% totally different than you do now about God holy word the bible, all of God The Lord Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior holy prophecy are coming true an all will come true before that great and terrible day of the Lord comes, judgement day. Read 2 Corinthians 4:4 read Romans 1:17-32, read 2 Thessalonians 2:3-14, read Galatians 5:17-26, read Ephesians 2:1-10, read Psalm 51:17

Firstly, most intelligent people realize that God actually exists.  Many of us seek to learn more.  The Bible makes a lot of sense, if you are smart enough to read it properly.  In fact, the more intelligent you are, they better your understanding of Christianity.

An really intelligent person wouldn't ask that question or admit they can't make sense of something that's made sense to billions.

They're programmed by people they trust from an early age.

They have no reason to doubt unless they're confronted by reality in a certain way which prompts them to question something...

~

you make sense by reading meditating and reasoning from the scriptures

The intelligent people I know who are Christians are not Biblical literalists. They treat the Bible as an instruction manual with illustrative stories, not as literal history.

Yes, plain English text is pretty hard to comprehend. But God gives me peace that passes all understanding, and wisdom beyond your knowledge, so just breathe. Us Christians are okay! :)