In today’s day and age, it is often presumed that religious beliefs stem from blind faith—an uncritical acceptance divorced from reason and scrutiny. Skeptics, in contrast, particularly those skeptical of religion, are frequently lauded for their pursuit of truth through questioning and doubt. Indeed, this narrative has, over time, given rise to the idea that skepticism exists as the natural antithesis of religion.​

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In reality, however, rejection of religion often stems from what can be denoted as selective skepticism, wherein specific claims are meticulously scrutinized while other assumptions remain unchallenged. Yet, this does not suggest that skepticism, generally, is without merit. When applied consistently and universally, a skeptical approach has the power to dismantle superficial certainties, opening the way to deeper inquiry and, paradoxically, guiding one back to the spiritual truths that lie at the heart of many of the world’s religions...​​​​

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One of the most renowned examples of philosophical skepticism in modern history is the cogito, as expounded by the French philosopher René Descartes. In an attempt to establish a foundation of absolute certainty, Descartes adopted a method of radical doubt, aiming to question the validity of all his pre-existing beliefs. 

​​​He began by examining the reliability of sensory perception, observing that the senses often prove deceptive—objects may appear smaller at a distance or become distorted under certain conditions. Extending this skepticism further, he considered the possibility that the external world itself might be an illusion, akin to dreams that feel real yet lack substance. He even went as far as to entertain the notion of an all-powerful deceiver, a hypothetical "evil demon" capable of manipulating thoughts and perceptions entirely.​​

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​Through this rigorous process of doubt, Descartes was left with nothing he could affirm with certitude aside from one seemingly undeniable fact. Even if everything he perceived was false or manipulated, the very act of doubting required a “doubter.” The existence of his own thoughts, and therefore the self as a thinking agent, appeared inescapable. From this realization, he concluded, cogito ergo sum—"I think, therefore I am." ​​

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That being said, Friedrich Nietzsche, among others, famously challenged Descartes’s conclusion by arguing that the foundation of skepticism lies not in the self but in consciousness itself. Specifically, he questioned the existence of a distinct ‘I,’ suggesting that selfhood is not a fundamental reality but an illusion emerging from one’s relational experience with the world. In other words, since the self can only be defined in contrast to what it perceives as external (to itself), it cannot be proven to exist as an independent, fixed entity, separate from those very physical and mental experiences Descartes had set aside. According to this view, what remains truly undeniable, then, is not a personal self, but rather the simpler fact of conscious awareness, preceding any distinction between subject and object.​

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​Modern society, however, frames reality in a way that prioritizes the external world, treating consciousness as secondary. The prevailing assumption in today’s world is that an objective, material reality exists independently, while consciousness is merely a byproduct of it. However, this assumption is itself unprovable. Every perception of the world—sight, sound, even reason—is mediated through consciousness. Consequently, those who dismiss religion on skeptical grounds, in turn, undermine their own principles by presupposing something they cannot verify—an external reality that exists apart from conscious experience.

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On the other hand, the recognition of skeptics—that consciousness is the only undeniable reality—aligns, in fact, with the insights of religious traditions like Islam. Indeed, while modern perspectives attempt to ground consciousness in the external world, Islam maintains that the essence of consciousness transcends the confines of both individual subjectivity and the material world, existing instead as an unchanging, fundamental awareness that unites all experience. What is more, Islam alludes to the fact that this pure awareness is not simply a mere feature of reality but rather a reflection of the divine nature—independent, absolute, and unchanging—“So when I have shaped him and breathed into him of My Spirit (ruh), then fall down before him in prostration.”—Quran 38:72

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True skepticism, then, does not undermine religion—it ultimately affirms it. If everything external is uncertain, but consciousness remains undeniable, then the worldview that places consciousness at the heart of reality ought to be considered the one most consistent with reason. Islamic monotheism does precisely this, not just by positing consciousness as some immaterial or supernatural substance but by identifying it with God’s very essence, which, in Islam, is itself viewed as the ultimate foundation of reality. Hence, skepticism does not lead one away from faith; instead, by dissolving presuppositions and false certainties, it reveals that religious truth was always its inevitable conclusion.​​​

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