The absence of objective knowledge about God inevitably led man to seek answers within himself, turning his faith into a reliance on his own thinking.

Inner Revolution: Faith Rooted in Self-Discovery

The absence of objective knowledge about God inevitably led man to seek answers within himself, turning his faith into a reliance on his own thinking. This situation not only united the realms of the sensory, intellectual, and spiritual but also stimulated the development of creative self-sufficiency. In an environment where external authority was lacking, the drive was turned inward—to personal experience, self-awareness, and the independent pursuit of truth. It is precisely this dynamic, imbued with confidence in one’s own abilities, that spurred not only the advancement of cognitive activity but also spiritual growth, transforming inner processes into a source of strength and personal victory. Thus, faith based on a deep conviction in its own unique intellectual and emotional foundation remains a powerful impetus for the search and self-improvement, helping each individual discover an inexhaustible source of creative energy.

How could the absence of knowledge about God play a positive role for humanity if faith is interpreted as an expectation of one’s own thinking?

The lack of objective knowledge about God could have stimulated the development of internal autonomy and creative self-sufficiency in man by transforming faith into a means of relying on one’s own reasoning. If faith is understood as the expectation and confidence in one’s own intellectual and sensitive processes, then not knowing God forced man to seek answers within himself. On one hand, as proponents of idealism pointed out, cognitive activity could unite feeling, thought, and faith, where resorting to faith emerged as a way to affirm the existence of some other substance—a goal that could not be achieved by empirical or strictly rational means (“According to supporters of idealism, especially those asserting the identity of thought and being... In cognitive activity, all three components are necessary: feeling, thought, and faith...” (source: link txt, page: оскости)). This means that the initial lack of knowledge about God prompted people to rely on personal, inner knowledge and to develop thinking—these very processes became the starting point for the pursuit of truth.

On the other hand, such an approach fostered the development of confidence in one’s own creative power and the ability for self-improvement. As noted in one discussion, “Faith in oneself is the confidence in this inner, mysterious, creative, and ultimately victorious dynamic…” (source: link txt, page: его зрения). This indicates that the absence of an external authority—for example, concrete knowledge about God—compelled individuals to build their faith on the foundation of personal experience, reflection, and inner exploration, which could positively affect their spiritual and intellectual development.

Thus, if faith is interpreted as the anticipation and confidence in the results of one’s own thinking, then the absence of specific knowledge about God could have played a positive role by stimulating inner growth, independent thought, and the search for profound, personal foundations for faith.

Supporting citation(s):
"According to supporters of idealism, ... In cognitive activity, all three components are necessary: feeling, thought, and faith. Apparently, initially turning to faith as the capacity that verifies for us the existence of another substance,..." (source: link txt, page: оскости)
"Faith in oneself is the confidence in this inner, mysterious, creative, and ultimately victorious dynamic. Faith in oneself, therefore, entails the confidence that within every person—and within me in particular—there is an area that is elusive even to myself;..." (source: link txt, page: его зрения)