The Crisis of Modern Skepticism

A common phenomenon today is that many people in Western society are unwilling to reach firm conclusions on major questions such as the existence of a Creator or the purpose of life. This hesitation often stems from a lack of trust in human reason itself.

This distrust can be traced back to philosophers of the 18th century, who cast doubt on the reliability of human intellect. Over time, this perspective became deeply rooted in Western culture. The result is a widespread uncertainty, where people feel unsure about everything and are willing to accept even harmful ideas or extreme beliefs in the name of pluralism.

When Doubt Becomes Illogical

Anyone who examines this more deeply will discover that modern skepticism ultimately leads to a kind of irrationality.

This is because reason, at its core, is our most basic tool for distinguishing between existence and non-existence, between one thing and another. Logic tells us that two is greater than one, that a whole is greater than its parts, and that every effect has a cause. These are not abstract ideas but fundamental truths rooted in our ability to recognize reality itself.

If someone claims that reality contradicts logic, they are in fact suggesting that there is no connection between cause and effect, or between existence and non-existence. If that were true, it would be impossible to use reason to draw any conclusions about the world, not even the most basic realization that the world exists or that we ourselves exist within it.

After all, our very existence depends on the Creator who brought us into being. If there were no logic behind our creation, nothing else in our reality could be logical either.

The Tree and Its Leaves

Consider leaves growing on a tree. Clearly, the leaves do not sustain themselves independently. They exist only because they are connected to the tree, which nourishes them by drawing water from the roots and supplying it to every part of the leaf.

If leaves were capable of human thought, it would be a mistake for them to believe they are “separate” from the tree, when in truth they live on it and depend on it continuously, every moment.

In the same way, it is a mistake for us to assume that there is a contradiction between ourselves and the source of our existence. The opposite is true. Our intellect itself comes from the Creator who formed us, enabling us to recognize His existence and understand His will through the very minds He gave us.

Just like leaves on a tree, it is natural that there is harmony between us and the One who created us.

Using the Mind Correctly

Just as we use the eyes given to us by the Creator to see, we should use the intellect He gave us to understand His will.

Shlomo HaMelech, the wisest of all men, expressed this clearly: “I saw that wisdom has an advantage over foolishness, just as light has an advantage over darkness. The wise person has eyes in his head, while the fool walks in darkness” (Kohelet 2:14).

Through our intellect, we can perceive the light of the Creator in His world and in His Torah. The skeptic, however, remains in darkness.