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Addressing possible objections

"But a skeptic shouldn't be expecting a sign from God to make him believe. That's putting God to the test. Instead, the skeptic already has everything he needs to believe, so he should simply choose to believe".

The idea that one can simply "choose to believe" something arbitrarily and immediately is known in philosophy as direct doxastic voluntarism, and is a very, very controversial position to hold (source). It's even controversial among Christians (source). Personally, I'm strongly persuaded that it is plainly false. A simple confirmatory experiment: try to choose to believe right now that there is a teapot orbiting the Sun between the Earth and Mars. Believe this sincerely, at this very moment, without any doubts. I just can't. Instead, the perspective that generally garners more consensus is indirect doxastic voluntarism, suggesting that our control over our beliefs is only indirect. We can do so by choosing to take actions that may have an impact on what we believe in the long run, such as conducting investigation, weighing arguments and counter-arguments, and evaluating evidence. If indirect doxastic voluntarism is true (which is the view I hold), then a skeptic would only be able to attain the belief that God exists rationally through indirect means, over a period of time, for example, by engaging with arguments and evidence for/against God's existence and concluding rationally that the case for God's existence is stronger. However, this circles back to my earlier point about the complex and longstanding debates between theists and non-theists, in which it's highly improbable that a consensus will be reached in the near future.

Additionally, there is no reason to interpret the skeptic's request as the expectation of a physical sign, such as expecting that God will make a chair levitate to demonstrate the supernatural is real. Rather, God could very well answer the prayer in other ways, such as by granting the skeptic a stronger experience of the light of faith (if I may borrow terminology from Aquinas (source)).


Addressing possible objections

"But a skeptic shouldn't be expecting a sign from God to make him believe. That's putting God to the test. Instead, the skeptic already has everything he needs to believe, so he should simply choose to believe".

The idea that one can simply "choose to believe" something arbitrarily and immediately is known in philosophy as direct doxastic voluntarism, and is a very, very controversial position to hold (source). It's even controversial among Christians (source). Personally, I'm strongly persuaded that it is plainly false. A simple confirmatory experiment: try to choose to believe right now that there is a teapot orbiting the Sun between the Earth and Mars. Believe this sincerely, at this very moment, without any doubts. I just can't. Instead, the perspective that generally garners more consensus is indirect doxastic voluntarism, suggesting that our control over our beliefs is only indirect. We can do so by choosing to take actions that may have an impact on what we believe in the long run, such as conducting investigation, weighing arguments and counter-arguments, and evaluating evidence. If indirect doxastic voluntarism is true (which is the view I hold), then a skeptic would only be able to attain the belief that God exists rationally through indirect means, over a period of time, for example, by engaging with arguments and evidence for/against God's existence and concluding rationally that the case for God's existence is stronger. However, this circles back to my earlier point about the complex and longstanding debates between theists and non-theists, in which it's highly improbable that a consensus will be reached in the near future.

Additionally, there is no reason to interpret the skeptic's request as the expectation of a physical sign, such as expecting that God will make a chair levitate to demonstrate the supernatural is real. Rather, God could very well answer the prayer in other ways, such as by granting the skeptic a stronger experience of the light of faith (if I may borrow terminology from Aquinas (source)).

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In this mix, a sincere and intellectually honest skeptic should be open not just to doubting others but also to doubting their own doubts. Recognizing the complexity of these discussions and the limits of our knowledge, such a skeptic should be epistemically open to the possibility that God might exist, even if clear-cut proofs do not exist. Being intellectually humble and willing to question one's own assumptions is key. This openness provides an opportunity for the skeptic to genuinely explore and make an honest attempt at seeking a personal encounter with God, and it makes sense that God, in His benevolence, would respond to such sincere efforts by unveiling glimpses of His presence or guiding the seeker toward the path of salvation and the gift of saving faith in Christ.

In this mix, a sincere and intellectually honest skeptic should be open not just to doubting others but also to doubting their own doubts. Recognizing the complexity of these discussions and the limits of our knowledge, such a skeptic should be epistemically open to the possibility that God might exist, even if clear-cut proofs do not exist. Being intellectually humble and willing to question one's own assumptions is key. This openness provides an opportunity for the skeptic to genuinely explore and make an honest attempt at seeking a personal encounter with God, and it makes sense that God, in His benevolence, would respond to such sincere efforts by unveiling glimpses of His presence or guiding the seeker toward the path of salvation and the gift of saving faith.

In this mix, a sincere and intellectually honest skeptic should be open not just to doubting others but also to doubting their own doubts. Recognizing the complexity of these discussions and the limits of our knowledge, such a skeptic should be epistemically open to the possibility that God might exist, even if clear-cut proofs do not exist. Being intellectually humble and willing to question one's own assumptions is key. This openness provides an opportunity for the skeptic to genuinely explore and make an honest attempt at seeking a personal encounter with God, and it makes sense that God, in His benevolence, would respond to such sincere efforts by unveiling glimpses of His presence or guiding the seeker toward the path of salvation and the gift of saving faith in Christ.

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Passage (ESV) Content
Ephesians 2:8-10 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Romans 12:3-6 3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;
1 Corinthians 12:4-11 4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
John 6:44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.
Passage (ESV) Content
Ephesians 2:8-10 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Romans 12:3-6 3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;
1 Corinthians 12:4-11 4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
John 6:44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.
Passage (ESV) Content
Ephesians 2:8-10 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Romans 12:3-6 3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;
1 Corinthians 12:4-11 4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
John 6:44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.
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