The Critical Question “How do you know?”
“How do you know?” That’s one of the most important questions you could ever ask anyone. Not only should you ask others, but each of you ought to ask yourself that question many times each day. “How do you know?” Asking that question should be a habit. When someone tries to persuade you, you can ask that question. You could phrase your question several different ways. “What makes you think so?” “What gives you that idea?” “What’s the basis of your thinking on that?” “How do you arrive at that conclusion?”
It’s a tough question, and few people can answer it rationally regardless of the subject. Most people drift off into the land of make-believe or suddenly leave the conversation because they don’t want to think things through.
Don’t let the tactics of godless thinkers deceive you when you ask them how they know. Godless thinkers offer proofs that don’t prove what they’re trying to prove. They offer proofs, but they have no proof of the proofs. They offer proofs that aren’t necessarily true. And they end in an infinite regression of unproved proofs. They resort to name-calling, emotion, intimidation, ridicule, or bullying. They just insist they are correct about whatever opinion they have, and they ask you to believe their claims without proving the claims are true. Don’t let them fool you. Don’t let them wear you out.
The question is, “How do you know?” Have you asked this question? Did you get a solid answer? Did someone avoid answering you? Did they give you a ridiculous answer?
