Comment by serverholic

> I think he said something more like I am now open to the possibility that they might be real.

People use the word 'but' all the time to justify beliefs that they worry others will view negatively.

"I think Donald Trump is an asshole but..."

"I'm not racist but..."

"I'm a rational person but..."

I think, deep down, he believes the god stuff but is trying to justify it and soften it so that we don't think he's crazy.