What do we really know for certain? Thinking about it critically my view is that most of what we take for certain is a result of our environment. As young people we tend to accept what we are told our parents as reality. During our school years we are “taught” and so our sense of reality continues. Eventually we are influenced by friends and mentors that we respect. However, how often do we take the time to research and learn about other perspectives. What do we know for sure? What we know for certain is that much of the historical record has changed as we get more information. This portends that what we know today about history will likely change in the future. The same goes for science. Another thing we know is that there are many, many events that are yet to be explained. Among them are persons that suddenly become “savants” after a head injury, thousands of alien abductions, UFOs that make 90 degree turns at thousands of MPH, How was Sacsayhuaman built, who built Göbekli Tepe, the Kailasa (Kaliash) temple, Lalibela’s amazing temples and hundreds of others.

One other factor that tends to form what we think we know occurs when we submit to a belief system that only requires “faith” and no evidence. In that regard we can learn a lot from reading “The Age of Reason by Thomas Paine is a philosophical work that explores religious criticism, written during the late 18th century. This volume delves into Paine’s views on theology, particularly addressing Christianity and the nature of religious beliefs, advocating for reason over faith. At the start of “The Age of Reason,” the author articulates his intentions to discuss religion candidly, prompted by societal changes in revolutionary France, where religious institutions faced upheaval. Paine presents a clear profession of faith in one God while vehemently rejecting established dogmas of all major religions, viewing them as human constructs designed to control and deceive people. He emphasizes the importance of using reason to guide beliefs about divinity, asserting that true revelation can be found in nature rather than in scripture. It establishes a foundation for a critical examination of the Bible, its teachings, and the theological principles that stem from religious traditions.