People sometimes ask me how I deal with doubts in my worldview, and in particular about big existential questions, like whether God exists. This question about dealing with doubts is common and valuable for all truth-seekers. Here I offer three quick strategies that I’ve found helpful personally.
Strategy 1: See the Value in Uncertainty
In my own experience, I have found it helpful to see value in uncertainty. On any topic, I am aware that there are always more arguments and considerations and that I am fallible. This awareness of my fallibility can lead to feelings of uncertainty. Uncertainty can feel painful, but it is a pain that often precedes greater understanding.
Everyone has a limited view of reality. There is always more to see, about God, ourselves, and the world. If it turns out that the atheist is right, then a certain common concept of God doesn't apply to reality. But that doesn't mean that there isn't a deeper, richer concept to be discovered that does apply to reality. Uncertainty is a reminder of one’s limits, while also an invitation to seek a greater understanding.
Strategy 2: Seek to Understand More For Yourself
Second, in my experience, I have found it reassuring to look into the various arguments as far as I can. I find that if I can examine it for myself, then I can find reassurance by what I can see.
Of course, there is always more to see, which is a reason for me to see value in uncertainty (my point above). But I also find that as I look into a subject, I see more about that subject. This journey to see more, though endless, highlights treasures of insight at each turn, and I think it is possible to see these things with more confidence by simply looking into them more closely.
Here is a recent example where looking into something helped me dispel my uncertainty about a controversial claim. Recently, someone suggested that we know from science that a certain theory of the mind is not true. I asked for their source and looked up the evidence. I discovered that this source cited other sources, which cited other sources. When I finally traced the primary source, I discovered an irony: the primary source actually utilized the very theory of mind in question as part of its argument. In this case, the entire argument against the theory of mind fell apart after I simply looked into where it came from myself. (I’m not suggesting that things are always this simple, but I am suggesting that if you look into a matter as far as you can, you will often position yourself to discern more truths about that matter and gain confidence in your abilities.)
Strategy 3: Love Empowers Sight
Third, I have noticed a way that seems to dispel confusion and transform perpetual disagreement into perpetual discovery. This way involves love. I’m quite serious about this. In my experience, when truth-seekers join forces, fueled by mutual respect and love, their collective inquiry broadens their view. They come to see a larger picture together. Initial disagreements turn into expanded understanding. Instead of perpetual disagreement, when the parties come together with a loving attitude (curious to see more), the fruit is perpetual discovery.
I have often seen the transformative power of love to help people and myself see more truth. I see this in both popular contexts, like social media, and in academic books with other philosophers. Mutual progress toward a larger understanding of reality occurred for me from my dialogue with Felipe Leon on God’s existence (Is God the Best Explanation of Things?), where together we uncovered a surprising common ground: reality has a necessarily existent, foundational layer with fundamental mind-like qualities and can be characterized as “natural.” What begins as disagreement morphs into a richer, shared understanding. This transformation doesn't happen overnight; it's the fruit of patience and collaborative effort, fueled by love for people and the truth we can illuminate together.
I hope these strategies may help you on your journey. May everyone reading this continue to see more as you seek to see more, that it may benefit you and everyone you affect.
Thank you for your consideration.
Great article, thank you. I have also found based on considerations from "The Righteous Mins" by Jonathan Haidt to be helpful here. He illustrates well the concept of empathy and eagerness to see what the other sees in mutually learning more through disagreement.