Thoughtful conversations, combining inquisitive questioning and respectful listening, shouldn’t be unusual—but they are.
Robert Lawrence Kuhn is an international corporate strategist, investment banker, and public intellectual. He is trained as a scientist, with a PhD in brain research. He created and hosts the public television series Closer to Truth, where he interviews the world’s greatest thinkers on fundamental issues of existence—particularly cosmos, consciousness, and philosophy of religion.
Kuhn, who grew up as a theist, is now noncommittal on the Big Questions:
What do I think? Does God make sense? To me, honestly, nothing makes sense! God? No God? Both hit circularities, regresses, dead-ends. Arguments? I love them all, but in the end, they all falter. Theistic arguments, atheistic arguments—none are dispositive. I’ve (half) joked that if I had to chose, I’d have to say that I find the atheistic arguments more palatable to swallow but the theistic conclusion more satisfying to digest. That doesn’t make sense, of course. And I guess that is my point. It’s not scientifically becoming to admit belief without reason. But to me, honesty trumps image. Throughout this multiyear adventure of producing and hosting Closer To Truth, perhaps I’ve progressed. I now see a richer, more textured picture of what a Supreme Being, if such a being exists, might be like. Many people seem certain of their beliefs. I wish I were certain. I may continue lurching and lapsing in my beliefs, but I will never cease wondering, striving, searching. As for me, for now, passionate uncertainty is closer to truth.
Below is his two-hour conversation with William Lane Craig (author of one of Christianity’s most influential works of apologetics, Reasonable Faith). Dr. Craig says it may be the best interview he’s ever received. Kuhn models a refreshing example of respectful listening, processing, and pressing for clarification. (The video is broken down into various parts here.)
