Monday, February 25, 2019

Certainty Sans Proof

In my Logic and Critical Reasoning class this morning, we discussed proof, knowledge, and certainty, and we established that, as far-fetched as it sounds, it is possible to attain certainty (or at least a strong enough certainty that it might as well be completely certain), even without actual proof. One example of this certainty is our knowledge that the sun will come up in the East tomorrow. Of course, we can't prove that any more than we can prove anything else about the future, but we're pretty darn sure. We've seen enough evidence to make a strong prediction, even without indisputable proof.

Similarly, we can be fairly certain of our religious beliefs, even in the absence of undeniable proof. We have seen evidence of God's hand in our lives. We have felt His touch and His love. We have had enough experience with God to know that He exists and to have a pretty good idea about His nature and His character. We may not have perfect proof of God's existence, but we can have perfect faith in Him regardless. I am certain that God exists and that He cares about us, just as I am certain that the sun will rise tomorrow, even though I technically can't prove it.

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