What strategies can help you understand complex philosophical theories?

Reading actively with the goal really to understand the text is a communication. It is not just reading. It is not possible just to breathe the context in, so to speak. The inner process is crucial for understanding and it even "burns a lot of calories", meaning it is real work and it should feel so. The relief when the process is a success is priceless. Also it is "easy" to distinguish if other people have understood the context in certain texts when discussing it. One cannot fake this deep process in my opinion. To dive into the "heart of a matter" is a deep experience which transforms the person in many cases.

We should first view everything we read from the perspective of common sense. The real world reality as expressed by others, combined with our own personal experience, gives us an insight which cannot be replaced by simply reading a text that someone else has written. We must ask ourselves, “Does the ideology expressed meet the test of reality?” Bertrand Russell once said, “Is there any knowledge in the world which is so certain that no reasonable person could doubt it?”

In a book with complex ideas, the only way I grasp and retain things is: 1. As suggested here break into fundamental ideas 2. Select 3 of 5 of these ideas early in the book ?? as fundamental elements and use that as a lens to study the rest of the text, discarding the side ideas and building up on these fundamental ideas. Think deeply, discuss with others and revisit in your summary notes over theses these 3-5 fundamental elements. It leads to layers of understanding accumulating over time and becoming a part of one’s thinking over time.

Reflecting deeply on complex philosophical theories is indeed the right approach. The reflection process includes all other answers mentioned here. Active reading, where you annotate, summarize, and question the text as you go, helps break down complex ideas into manageable parts. Engaging in discussions and debates with peers or mentors can provide new perspectives and clarify misunderstandings, as defending your interpretation and understanding different viewpoints enhances comprehension.

My entire life I’ve been asking religious questions since age 13 roughly After joining the military I have had a slight increase in diversity of beliefs where I was. Learning slightly with an initial bias. But now that bias has changed after enough similar compelling beliefs making me question my initial belief statements. When asking for proof aside from just text and personal words and finding that proof. And sincerely asking for proof beyond statements and with sincerity finding the answers. Now it is just unlocking the truth. That is what the search is always about. How do you find philosophical truth and answers?