[betty boop]

The concept of “intuition” is universal to scientific discussion and study. Not to equate intuition with spiritual knowledge, necessarily, but it is an example of intelligibility which is other than sensory.

Wonderful insight, reasonisfaith!

Einstein was a man who placed great importance on intuition, in particular as the principal means of access to mathematical beauty. Or as Robert Godwin notes, quoting him:

Einstein was convinced that the instantaneous emergence of [the] physical laws implied a sort of immaterial, Platonic overmind, "an intelligence of such superiority that, compared with it, all the systematic thinking ... of human beings is an utterly insignificant reflection."

You wrote:

It seems extremely likely that most or all of those from the materialist side of the debate reach their conclusion about divine existence not as a result of objective analysis, but upon deciding which answer they prefer to be true.

Jeepers, dear reasonisfaith it looks that way to me, too.

Thank you so much for your outstanding observations!

[reasonisfaith]

Betty, although I don’t have the privilege of speaking with you very often, I have long been inspired by your wisdom and your kindness.