Premise 1: Naturalism Offers No Hope In The Midst Of Suffering
Modern Western culture is perhaps less equipped to deal with suffering than any other society in history. We are taught to see pain as nothing more than a senseless interruption to our pursuit of comfort, success, and happiness—something to be eliminated, medicated, or ignored at all costs. Yet Scripture presents a radically different perspective: suffering is not meaningless, nor is it outside of God’s purposes. Instead, it can be the very instrument through which God shapes character, deepens faith, and brings about transformation.
In today’s secular worldview, suffering is seen as nothing more than a meaningless interruption in the pursuit of personal happiness. If comfort is life’s ultimate goal, then suffering becomes not just painful but intolerable, stripping life of its perceived value.
If the universe is nothing more than the product of blind, impersonal forces—matter and energy governed by chance—then suffering has no ultimate meaning. Pain and tragedy may evoke emotional responses in us, but at the cosmic level they are simply byproducts of a random evolutionary process. A naturalistic worldview cannot say that suffering is unjust, because there is no higher moral standard to violate; it cannot say that suffering is purposeful, because there is no overarching plan guiding history.
At best, naturalism reduces suffering to an evolutionary mechanism. One creature’s pain may result in another’s survival, but that does not make it “good” or “bad”—it just is. Under this view, the heartbreak of losing a child, the injustice of oppression, or the devastation of natural disasters have no inherent significance. They are, in the starkest terms, accidents in a cold and indifferent universe.
The total amount of suffering per year in the natural world is beyond all decent contemplation. During the minute it takes me to compose this sentence, thousands of animals are being eaten alive, many others are running for their lives, whimpering with fear, others are slowly being devoured from within by rasping parasites, thousands of all kinds are dying of starvation, thirst, and disease. It must be so. If there is ever a time of plenty, this very fact will automatically lead to an increase in population until the natural state of starvation and misery is restored. In a universe of blind physical forces and genetic replication, some people are going to get hurt, other people are going to get lucky, and you won’t find any rhyme or reason in it, nor any justice. The universe we observe has precisely the properties we should expect if there is, at bottom, no design, no purpose, no evil, no good, nothing but pitiless indifference.
Richard Dawkins—River Out of Eden: A Darwinian View of Life
Richard Dawkins’ description of a universe governed by “blind physical forces and genetic replication” leaves no room for ultimate meaning or comfort in the face of suffering. If reality is, at bottom, nothing but matter in motion, then pain is not unjust, loss is not tragic, and cruelty is not truly evil—it is simply the natural outcome of indifferent processes. A starving child, a cancer diagnosis, or the devastation of an earthquake carry no higher purpose; they are mere accidents of biology and physics.
The problem is not only that such a worldview provides no answers, but that it strips away even the possibility of answers. If the universe is ultimately indifferent, then our cries for justice, our longing for comfort, and our instinctive sense that suffering is wrong are all illusions—evolutionary tricks played on our minds for survival, not reflections of any deeper reality. To say, “This should not be,” becomes meaningless, because there is no “should” built into an indifferent cosmos.
This view leaves the sufferer doubly impoverished: first by enduring the pain itself, and second by being denied any assurance that the pain could ever serve a greater purpose or be redeemed. Under Dawkins’ naturalism, suffering is not only agonizing but also futile. It begins in chaos, ends in silence, and offers no hope in between.
Suffering And The Naturalistic Worldview
| Aspect | Implication under Naturalism |
|---|---|
| Source of Suffering | Random accidents of biology, physics, and natural processes (e.g., disease, disasters, genetic flaws). |
| Moral Weight | No objective “good” or “evil.” Cruelty, injustice, or loss are simply natural outcomes of indifferent forces. |
| Meaning of Suffering | Ultimately meaningless; pain serves no higher purpose beyond survival mechanics. |
| Human Longing for Justice | Cries of “this is wrong” are illusions—products of evolutionary conditioning, not reflections of reality. |
| Hope for Resolution | None. Suffering cannot be redeemed, explained, or reversed on a cosmic scale. |
| Final Outcome | Life begins in chance and ends in silence; suffering fades into oblivion with no lasting significance. |
| Emotional Impact | Double burden: enduring the pain itself and facing the futility of its pointlessness. |
In a purely naturalistic worldview, suffering is reduced to the accidental byproduct of biology and physics—disease, disaster, or genetic flaw. It carries no inherent moral weight, since there is no higher standard by which to call pain unjust or evil. While human beings instinctively cry out that suffering is wrong, naturalism explains these impulses as nothing more than evolutionary conditioning for survival, not reflections of ultimate reality. As a result, suffering has no deeper meaning, no redemptive purpose, and no hope of resolution. It begins in chance, ends in silence, and leaves the sufferer bearing not only the weight of pain itself but also the futility of its pointlessness.
By contrast, the Christian vision insists that suffering is real, grievous, and painful—but never meaningless. The God who created the universe is not indifferent, but personal and loving, entering into suffering Himself at the cross and promising that one day every tear will be wiped away. Where naturalism offers “pitiless indifference,” the gospel offers present comfort and future restoration.
Challenge Question: If suffering is ultimately meaningless, does naturalism provide any genuine comfort to the sufferer, or does it add a second burden—the burden of futility?
Premise 2: God Does Not Minimize Suffering But Gives It Meaning And Purpose
The Bible is refreshingly honest about the reality of suffering. the topic of suffering is mentioned over 150 times in the New Testament alone. The Bible does not gloss over the depths of human pain, nor does it offer shallow platitudes. Instead, it acknowledges grief, loss, and injustice in raw and unvarnished terms. Entire books of Scripture—Job, Lamentations, and many Psalms—are filled with the anguished cries of men and women who pour out their pain to God. The Bible’s candor validates the suffering we feel; it tells us our tears are real and seen by God (Psalm 56:8).
Yet Scripture goes beyond simply acknowledging pain—it frames it within a greater purpose. While suffering is not good in itself, the Bible presents it as something God can redeem, shape, and use for good ends. The suffering of Joseph led to the preservation of nations (Genesis 50:20). The suffering of Paul’s imprisonment advanced the gospel (Philippians 1:12–14). Above all, the suffering of Christ on the cross—history’s greatest injustice—became the means of salvation for the world.
The Bible gives suffering four main purposes:
- Refinement of Character – Suffering produces endurance, maturity, and hope (Romans 5:3–4; James 1:2–4).
- Exposure of Idols – It strips away false securities and reveals what we truly depend on.
- Deepened Fellowship with God – Trials draw believers closer to God’s presence (2 Corinthians 12:9–10).
- Preparation for Glory – Earthly pain is temporary and prepares us for an eternal weight of glory (2 Corinthians 4:17).
This perspective gives suffering meaning without minimizing its severity. Pain is not dismissed, but neither is it pointless. It is placed in the hands of a sovereign God who works through it to bring transformation, redemption, and hope. Where the world sees only tragedy, Scripture insists that God is at work in the hidden places of our sorrow, weaving purposes we may not yet understand but which will one day be revealed in full.
Suffering: Biblical Purposes and Theological Insights
| Theme | Bible Verse | Theologian Quote |
|---|---|---|
| The Bible’s Honesty About Suffering | Psalm 56:8 – “You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?” | Tim Keller: “The Bible is full of people who weep, and the psalms give us language for our tears. The Christian Scriptures do not deny or downplay the sorrow of life in this world.” |
| Refinement of Character | Romans 5:3–4 – “We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.” | J.C. Ryle: “Trials are intended to make us think, to wean us from the world, to send us to the Bible, and drive us to our knees.” |
| Exposure of Idols | Ezekiel 14:3 – “These men have set up their idols in their hearts…” | Tim Keller: “Suffering is actually at the heart of the Christian story. It is the way we expose our idols and find out whether God is our ultimate treasure.” |
| Deepened Fellowship with God | 2 Corinthians 12:9 – “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” | A.W. Tozer: “It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until He has hurt him deeply.” |
| Preparation for Glory | 2 Corinthians 4:17 – “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.” | C.S. Lewis: “The real problem is not why some pious, humble, believing people suffer, but why some do not. For suffering is not the end of the story—it is a preparation for glory.” |
St. Augustine said that “God would never have allowed suffering if He could not bring good out of it”. In the end, the Bible does not deny the weight of human suffering, but it refuses to leave it meaningless. Where naturalism sees pain as the cruel byproduct of blind forces, Scripture reveals it as the raw material out of which God forges endurance, faith, and glory.
Challenge Question: If suffering is truly meaningless, as naturalism suggests, why do we instinctively cry out for justice, comfort, and purpose in our pain—and could those universal longings point beyond an indifferent universe to a deeper reality?
Premise 3: God Uses Suffering To Bring About Beauty And Growth
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 1:2-4
James, the half-brother of Jesus, was no stranger to suffering. Drawing from his own experience, he opened his letter to believers who were facing tremendous persecution—men and women who had seen friends martyred, others thrown into prison, and who themselves lived under the constant fear of losing their lives. To such a weary and battered community, James gave what seems like the exact opposite of expected counsel: he urged them to “consider it all joy.” His point was not to deny the pain of trials, but to reveal their deeper value. Severe suffering, though difficult, is profoundly beneficial to the soul. It produces what James calls “perseverance,” a word that carries the sense of strength and endurance. Just as muscles are strengthened when tested under strain, so too the soul is fortified through trials, shaping believers for maturity and equipping them to be a blessing to others.
8 Purposes of Suffering in the Christian Life
| Purpose | Explanation | Scripture |
|---|---|---|
| Test the Genuineness of Faith | Trials reveal whether our trust in God is real or superficial, proving the authenticity of faith. | “The tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold… may be found to result in praise and glory and honor.” (1 Peter 1:6–7) |
| To Teach Humility | Suffering breaks pride and self-reliance, teaching us dependence on God. | “To keep me from becoming conceited… a thorn was given me in the flesh.” (2 Corinthians 12:7–9) |
| Wean from Dependence on Worldly Things | Pain exposes the emptiness of worldly security and redirects our trust to God. | “This happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.” (2 Corinthians 1:9) |
| Set Hope on Eternity | Trials remind us this life is temporary and awaken us to the glory that is to come. | “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.” (2 Corinthians 4:17) |
| Reveal What We Really Treasure | Hardship exposes idols and clarifies whether God is our ultimate delight. | “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21) |
| Teach the Value of God’s Blessings | Loss sharpens our gratitude for God’s provision and blessings we often take for granted. | “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.” (Psalm 119:67, 71) |
| Develop Us for Greater Usefulness | God shapes us through suffering so we can serve Him and others with greater wisdom and strength. | “Let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be |
The Christian up to his eyes in trouble can take comfort from the knowledge that in God’s kindly plan it all has a positive purpose, to further his sanctification. In this world, royal children have to undergo extra training and discipline which other children escape, in order to fit them for their high destiny. It is the same with the children of the King of kings. The clue to understanding all his dealings with them is to remember that throughout their lives he is training them for what awaits them, and chiseling them into the image of Christ. Sometimes the chiseling process is painful and the discipline irksome, but then the Scripture reminds us: “The Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son. Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons . . . No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
J.I. Packer—Knowing God
It is not merely the knowledge that suffering is temporary which sustains the Christian, but the firm conviction that whatever God permits, He ultimately permits for good. Though He did not create suffering or evil, He sovereignly repurposes them, weaving even the darkest experiences into His redemptive plan.
Bravery, Beauty, and Grace are Forged In the Fires of Suffering
Joni Eareckson Tada was paralyzed at the age of seventeen after a diving accident left her a quadriplegic. In the years that followed, she endured chronic pain and severe physical limitations, yet her suffering became the foundation of a global ministry. Through her writing, advocacy, and leadership of Joni and Friends, she has devoted her life to helping people with disabilities find dignity, purpose, and hope in Christ—demonstrating that faith does not eliminate suffering but gives it eternal meaning.
“God permits what He hates in order to accomplish what He loves.”
— Joni Eareckson Tada
Helen Adams Keller was born on June 27, 1880, in Tuscumbia, Alabama. At the age of 19 months, she contracted an illness—likely scarlet fever or meningitis—that left her both blind and deaf. Unable to communicate, she grew increasingly frustrated until, at age seven, her family sought help from Anne Sullivan, a young teacher from the Perkins School for the Blind. Through Sullivan’s patient instruction, Keller learned to communicate by feeling words spelled into her hand.
Helen Keller was raised in a Christian family, but her personal faith was awakened when she learned language through Anne Sullivan’s teaching. One of the first abstract concepts she grasped was the idea of God. Once Sullivan spelled the word “God” into her hand, Keller responded that she already “knew about Him” but did not have a name for Him. She seemed to have an intuitive sense of God’s presence even before she could communicate it. Throughout her life, Keller described God as the source of her courage and joy despite blindness and deafness. She wrote:
For three things I thank God every day of my life: thanks that He has given
Helen Keller
me knowledge of His works; deep thanks that He has set in my darkness the
lamp of faith; deepest thanks that I have another life to look forward to.
It is hard to imagine greater trials than those faced by Helen Keller. From her earliest years she endured an isolation that few could comprehend—cut off from both sight and sound, with the world around her reduced to unrelenting silence and darkness. As a child she bore the humiliation of being different from her peers, the painful sense of being a burden to her family, and the crushing frustration of being locked inside herself with no way to learn, to express her thoughts, or even to communicate the simplest needs. But consider if Helen Keller had been a naturalist, viewing her condition as nothing more than the product of pitiless nature and a meaningless existence. Stripped of any larger purpose or hope, her suffering would have been reduced to little more than a cruel accident of biology—a life defined by despair rather than redeemed by meaning.
Fortunately Helen Keller found God and throughout her life she expressed how Christ love made her confident that suffering was temporary and that joy awaited her in eternity. Christ was both a companion in her struggles and the guarantee of her future hope.
Helen Keller on God and Faith
- On thankfulness and faith
“For three things I thank God every day of my life: thanks that He has given me knowledge of His works; deep thanks that He has set in my darkness the lamp of faith; deepest thanks that I have another life to look forward to—a life joyous with light and flowers and heavenly song.” - On discovering God’s presence
“I knew about God before I was told, only I did not know His name. I had been conscious of a presence that was close to me even before I had any words to express my thoughts.” - On God’s love in suffering
“I thank God for my handicaps, for through them I have found myself, my work, and my God.” - On her hope in eternal life
“Death is no more than passing from one room into another. But there’s a difference for me, you know. Because in that other room I shall be able to see.” - On joy in God’s providence
“What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us. And when we trust in God’s goodness, even sorrow has its beauty.”
Helen Keller went on to lead an extraordinary life. She become the first deaf-blind person to earn a college degree, graduating from Radcliffe College in 1904. She became a celebrated author, lecturer, and activist, writing 14 books and numerous essays and received numerous international honors.
Major Awards & Honors
- Presidential Medal of Freedom (1964) – One of the United States’ highest civilian honors, awarded by President Lyndon B. Johnson.
- Elected to the National Women’s Hall of Fame (1965) – Among the first group of women inducted when it was established.
- The Theodore Roosevelt Distinguished Service Medal (1936) – Recognizing her contributions to society.
- French Legion of Honor (Chevalier, 1952) – France’s highest order of merit, awarded for her humanitarian work.
- Honorary Academy Award (1955) – For the documentary Helen Keller in Her Story, which won Best Documentary Feature.
- India’s Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding (1964) – Recognizing her efforts to foster global humanitarian cooperation.
What set Keller’s life apart was her unwavering faith: that God loved her, that He was present with her in the midst of her trials, that He had good purposes in allowing them, and that her suffering was only temporary. Because of this conviction, Keller was not merely a victim of her circumstances but a victor over them. Her remarkable fruitfulness and the inspiration she offered to countless others stand as vivid testimony of how God can repurpose even the most difficult suffering for lasting good.
Challenge Question: If suffering is merely the blind product of pitiless nature with no larger purpose, how do we explain lives like Helen Keller’s—where extraordinary hardship was transformed into hope, inspiration, and lasting impact?”
Premise 4: God Offers Hope In The Midst Of Suffering
The theme of suffering appears more than 150 times in the New Testament, making it unmistakably clear that God is not indifferent to human pain. Scripture shows that He fully understands suffering and, in His wisdom, uses it for good. Yet a careful study also reveals that whenever suffering is addressed, it is consistently accompanied by the theme of hope—hope in God’s presence, His purposes, and His promise of ultimate restoration.
For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.
2 Corinthians 4:17-18
The topic of hope is mentioned 100 times in the New Testament , almost as many times as suffering. The two are inextricably linked in the eyes of God. When God sees suffering on earth He sees it from an eternal perspective. He knows that suffering is a real result of the fall and that people made in His own image go through tremendous trials during their average life span of 80-85 years or so. But he views it in light of eternity which is literally forever which is precisely what Paul encourages Christians to do in the last line in 2 Corinthians 4:17-18.
Whereas the naturalist believes suffering is constant and inevitable due to the harsh reality of survival and that this is all there is, the Christian sees suffering from the backdrop of temporary vs forever. If you believe in eternal life which Jesus promised anyone who puts their faith in Him in John 3:16.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16
One of the most profound consolations for the believer is the promise that earthly suffering, however severe, is only temporary. Scripture describes it as “light and momentary affliction” when set against the backdrop of eternity (2 Corinthians 4:17). Even if a Christian were to endure pain, loss, or persecution for an entire lifetime, that hardship would be brief compared to the endless years of joy, peace, and wholeness that await in God’s presence. This perspective transforms how suffering is endured—it is real and painful, but it is not ultimate.
When the apostle Paul describes the suffering of this life as a “light and momentary affliction” (2 Corinthians 4:17), it can sound almost satirical—until you weigh the average human lifespan against the vastness of eternity. Imagine it this way: if each of the 78 years of an average life were represented by a marble, your entire lifespan would fit into a single mason jar—something you could hold in your hands. Now contrast that with eternity: picture both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans filled to the brim with marbles, and even then you would only begin to scratch the surface of how long eternity truly is. Against that backdrop, Paul’s words make perfect sense—our present trials, though real and painful, are fleeting compared to immeasurable eternal life in heaven where no suffering of any kind exist.
By contrast, the naturalist has no such consolation. If life ends in nothingness, then suffering is not only unavoidable but also final. Pain carries no redeeming purpose, no hope of relief beyond the grave, and no assurance of ultimate justice. The naturalist must face suffering as both agonizing in the moment and meaningless in the long run.
For the Christian, however, the hope of eternal life is not wishful thinking but a firm promise sealed by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It means that every tear will be wiped away (Revelation 21:4), every injustice made right, and every sorrow replaced by joy. Thus, the believer can say with confidence that even the darkest valleys are only for a season, while glory, peace, and fulfillment stretch on forever. This contrast is an epic consolation that naturalism simply cannot offer.
The Same Hope Available To Us Is What Helped Jesus Endure The Suffering of the Cross
Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2
The same hope that sustained Jesus through the darkest hours of His suffering is the very hope offered to us. Hebrews 12:1–2 calls believers to “run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith.” It was not the agony of the cross or the shame He bore that defined Him, but the joy set before Him—the vision of redeemed humanity, the triumph over sin and death, and the glory of returning to the Father’s side. That hope enabled Him to endure what otherwise would have been unbearable.
For the Christian enduring suffering in a fallen world and demonstrating a dependence on a real God who cares and offering that same God to others in the midst of trials, suffering and death is a primary calling. Throughout the New Testament Christians are implored to participate in this challenge of being an enduring witness of God’s grace and be an ambassador of hope in situations where hope is incredibly hard to come by.
For the Christian, enduring suffering in a fallen world while demonstrating dependence on a God who truly cares—and offering that same God to others in the midst of trials, hardship, and even death—is a central calling. Throughout the New Testament, believers are exhorted to embrace this challenge: to live as visible witnesses of God’s sustaining grace and as faithful ambassadors of hope, especially where hope seems impossible to find.
Suffering as a Platform for Witness and Hope
| Theme | Scripture | Connection to Witness & Hope |
|---|---|---|
| Comfort Shared with Others | 2 Corinthians 1:3–4 | God comforts us in our affliction so we can extend that same comfort to others, turning suffering into ministry. |
| Suffering as Part of Christian Calling | Philippians 1:29 | Believing in Christ and suffering for His sake are both privileges granted to the believer. |
| Hope as a Witness | 1 Peter 3:15–16 | Trials provide opportunities to give a reason for our hope, demonstrating faith to a watching world. |
| Suffering Produces Hope | Romans 5:3–5 | Affliction shapes endurance and character, which blossom into hope that does not disappoint. |
| Sharing in Christ’s Sufferings | 1 Peter 4:12–13 | Enduring fiery trials links us to Christ’s suffering now and His glory to come. |
| Endurance for the Sake of Others | 2 Timothy 2:10 | Paul endured hardship so that others might receive salvation—a model of suffering as service. |
| Joyful Endurance with Eternal Perspective | Hebrews 10:32–34 | Believers endured persecution joyfully, knowing they had an eternal inheritance that could not be taken. |
Christians suffer willingly—whether for their faith or under the weight of a broken world—for the very same motivation that moved Jesus to leave the perfection of heaven, enter a world of sorrow, and endure the cross: love for God, love for others, and the joy set before Him.
The Joy Set Before Christ
- The Father’s Approval and Glory
- Christ endured the cross knowing He would be exalted and glorified at the right hand of the Father (Philippians 2:9–11).
- His suffering was not the end but the pathway to honor and vindication.
- The Redemption of Humanity
- The joy of bringing many sons and daughters to glory (Hebrews 2:10).
- Seeing the fruit of His sacrifice — forgiven sinners reconciled to God — was His great reward (Isaiah 53:11).
- The Defeat of Sin, Satan, and Death
- Enduring the cross secured final victory (Colossians 2:15; 1 Corinthians 15:54–57).
- The joy of knowing evil would be conquered once and for all.
- Everlasting Fellowship Restored
- Through His suffering, He opened the way for eternal communion between God and His people (John 17:24).
The Joy Available to Believers After Suffering
- Sharing in Christ’s Glory
- “If we suffer with Him, we will also be glorified with Him.” (Romans 8:17–18).
- Just as Christ was exalted, believers will share in His eternal glory.
- Vindication and Reward
- “Well done, good and faithful servant… enter into the joy of your master.” (Matthew 25:21).
- Earthly losses will be reversed in heavenly reward (2 Corinthians 4:17).
- Victory Over Sin and Death
- Believers will be free from sin’s power and death’s sting forever (Revelation 21:4).
- Every tear wiped away, no more pain, sorrow, or separation.
- Unbroken Fellowship with God
- Eternal life in God’s presence — “In your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11).
- The same fellowship Christ returned to with the Father is shared with all who are in Him (John 14:3).
The joy that carried Christ through the cross — glory, victory, redeemed people, and eternal fellowship with the Father — is the very joy promised to Christians. Our suffering, like His, is temporary, but our reward is eternal.
Challenge Question: Why do we so naturally cling to hope—that suffering can be redeemed, that justice will prevail, that life has more to offer—if the universe is silent? Could this deep, universal longing for meaning in suffering be pointing us to a reality beyond naturalism?
ThinkCube Truth Veracity Grid
- Have I considered the facts carefully and with an open mind?
- Is my conclusion the result of a careful examination of the facts, or is it a conclusion made in spite of the facts?
- Is my conclusion the one that makes the most sense of the evidence?
