Living with the ‘ungetbehindability’ of the universe is frustrating, which is why we search for ways to resolve our predicament, either by convincing ourselves there is definitely nothing behind it, or there’s definitely something and we’ve met it. Since it is impossible to prove the truth of a negative factual statement – there’s no one there – absolute atheism only ever appeals to a passionate minority. But those who insist that there is someone there can’t prove it either. What they offer is testimony or witness. Religion’s most interesting characters are those who claim to have encountered the mystery behind theuniverse directly. They claim to have seen or heard it. It revealed itself to them

Living with the ‘ungetbehindability’ of the universe is frustrating, which is why we search for ways to
resolve our predicament, either by convincing ourselves there is definitely nothing behind it, or there’s
definitely something and we’ve met it. Since it is impossible to prove the truth of a negative factual
statement – there’s no one there – absolute atheism only ever appeals to a passionate minority. But those
who insist that there is someone there can’t prove it either. What they offer is testimony or witness.
Religion’s most interesting characters are those who claim to have encountered the mystery behind the
universe directly. They claim to have seen or heard it. It revealed itself to them