Most people in the world believe in God. They find purpose for life and comfort in troubles by doing so. Some are earnest believers and others believe when it is convenient.
But how does a person decide whether to believe or not and what are the good reasons to believe? Occasionally atheists and a few others claim that religion is just the opiate of the people while some scientists may claim there is no way to prove a creator\saving God exists. Others, like Alvin Plantinga, the world’s leading philosopher, explains in his book Where the Conflict Really Lies (Science, Religion, and Naturalism), believe that it is more convincing rationally to believe in God and his activity in the universe than to try to explain God away.
Some believe in God since they realize life without a higher power is terrifying, and uncertain and existence is reduced to meaninglessness and confusion. There are others also who do not believe for poor reasons – because it is just too hard to do the necessary mental wrestling in facing up to the hard questions and the real consequences of a godless world. They sometimes don’t even pretend to work through the rational arguments but simply pick some obscure question or philosophical dilemma like certain miracles they consider unbelievable (Jonah being swallowed by a whale) or the real problem of evil where they judge God as immoral.
We need to understand that because of human limitations in our ability to understand all things, all rational conclusions will be less than complete. And as they work through the issues they will even encounter the limitations of scientific “proof” and the philosophy of epistemology (the study of how we know things).
Humbly acknowledging our limitations will enable us to be open to seeking to know in other ways besides just through rationality or by materialistic scientific proofs.
For example some of the most valuable truths that motivate and direct us is the truth that we are loved. But what are the proofs that we are loved? How do we know we are not just deluding ourselves or being deluded by others who speak words of affection, and do deeds of kindness but in truth it is a mere pretense to promote some covert purpose.
Which is more truthful? Does truth come by rationalizing or by experience and faith in our discernment that grows from life experience?
My purpose is not to suggest the superiority of one way of discovering truth over another. My purpose is to acknowledge both as valid and acknowledge both their merits and limitations. Both are not absolute truths but both show ways of knowing that open the doors to truth which then becomes a peek at ultimate or divine truth.
So when you are searching for truth that will set you free (such as the Bible promises us) do not limit either of the ways of knowing. By all means think long and hard about the subject so you may flourish in this world but also learn to love God with all your heart and mind and soul (and your neighbour as yourself) which is the first and greatest commandment and may be the way to discover the ultimate truth and meaning in life through life experience as love embraces and sets you free.