A part of me has always recognized what you mentioned about the role of “truth” in this discussion. There’s simply no way to verify the existence or nonexistence of a higher power or afterlife. Everyone knows this, of course. But for some people, myself included, that knowledge doesn’t seem to do much in terms of suppressing the desire to keep looking for that truth. I know I’ll never find it, but the question still keeps nagging me. I guess it’s just the way I’m wired. Or maybe it’s about everything else I’m learning along the way — about myself, other people, etc. I think it’s a worthwhile topic to explore even if I’m destined to hit a dead end, but your point is indisputably true, and I wish I could just accept it and move on.

I really like the comparison you made to choosing a mate, though. I’ve never thought of it that way before, but it’s a super accurate comparison. In this case, I suppose the choice is between the girlfriend who makes me feel safe and comfortable or the girlfriend who prefers to tell it like it is. There are upsides and downsides to both. Though there is the third option: the girlfriend who just wants to have fun and doesn’t worry too much about the serious stuff. That sounds like a good option, too. In any case, it’s an interesting way to think about faith!

P.S. Sorry for taking so long to respond! My notifications kind of blew up on me one day and I just lost track of my responses. My apologies! And thank you for reading and commenting! :)