In the 16th Century, the Catholic Church maintained that Earth was the center of the universe. This was the common belief, not only among laypeople, but also in the scientific world. However, scientist Nicolaus Copernicus was skeptical. Inspired by the works of other astronomers he began asking questions followed by detailed observation. Around 1514 he published Commentariolus, a 40-page manuscript that outlined his ideas about the movement of heavenly bodies in the universe. His most audacious claim that Earth revolves around the sun, contradicted the Church.
Religious leaders were so unnerved by his claims that they openly denounced his scientific work. Lutheran minister, Andreas Osiander, said of Copernicus, "This fool wants to turn the whole art of astronomy upside down."
A fool, he was not. Astronomy needed to be turned upside down and shaken up a bit. Without skeptics to challenge commonly held beliefs throughout history, our intellectual, technological, and spiritual advancement would suffer.
A skeptic is someone who is less inclined to agree with accepted schools of thought. It is someone who applies critical thinking skills to new concepts and information. To be clear, skepticism is very different than cynicism. A cynic often stubbornly clings to beliefs despite concrete evidence to the contrary. A skeptic may not be easily convinced but is not unreasonably resistant to concrete evidence or a solid argument.
What skeptics throughout history have learned is that asking questions leads to greater understanding. In the Biblical story named after Korach, a Levite steps forward to question Moses’ position amongst the Israelites. Korach says to Moses, "You have taken too much (authority) for yourself, for all the congregation is holy and Hashem rests within them. Why then do you exalt yourself over the congregation of Hashem?"
Kabbalists view Korach as an elevated and righteous man, which can be confusing for those who read the story literally. Why is someone who questions Moses’ place as a spiritual leader considered elevated? Kabbalists value the desire to seek deeper understanding, even if it means questioning authority or commonly held beliefs.
In the book, God Does Not Create Miracles, You Do!, it is explained, “If you’re a skeptic, that’s a good thing. The ancient kabbalists appreciated the value of skeptics a lot because skeptics are doing what they should be doing: thinking critically and questioning everything.” It goes on to suggest that everyone embrace his or her inner skeptic.
Do not mistake skepticism with doubt. Doubt is attractive, because it lets us off the hook, taking the easy way out. For example, a great job opportunity comes your way, but you don’t apply because you doubt you’d get hired. Or you share the secret a friend confided in you, because you doubt she’ll ever find out that you told. Doubt is an opposing force that plays on your fears and insecurities. Doubt can overtake our actions very quickly, leading us to make impulsive or lazy choices.
Skepticism, by its very definition, requires one to think outside the box, and challenge the norm. This is by no means easy, as Copernicus could attest to. Those who succumb to doubt are rarely interested in changing the status quo, enlightening others, or making the world a better place. Skeptics, on the other hand, are not afraid to put themselves in an uncomfortable position for the sake of deeper understanding.
While Moses was a great leader and worthy of maintaining the trust of the Israelites, we can find inspiration in the stories of Copernicus, Korach, and many great skeptics who dared to question the norm and perhaps change history.
