SJSinNYC
Cognitive Dissidence is human nature, and so is being lazy. We all know certain things are aveirot yet we do them anyway. Our thoughts and actions are also influenced by our bodies’ needs. It’s not farfetched to say that someone will either choose not to believe in Hashem because of a off the wall possibility that every piece of evidence you throw at them is mistaken, or still ignore that reality and carry on as they please.
I have my emunah and bitachon B”H but I don’t pretend there is rock solid “proof” for it (There is obviously- at least to me- much evidence). Otherwise it wouldn’t be emunah and bitachon… and there wouldn’t be so many followers of other religions and athiesm. It wouldn’t be a test and we wouldn’t get schar.
Chalilavchas is right; there are many brilliant non religious Jews and non-jews. But we have bechirah chofshi and Hashem gave the opportunity for both to exist.
Mussar sfarim always discuss how one must strive to make one’s emunah in Hashem and his presence LIKE a yediah, like you KNOW that you see your friend in front of you. This wouldn’t be such an axiomatic endeavor if it was really so simple to achieve.
This may be a scary reality but I firmly believe this is true.