1. The Existenceof Godnv09

The Existence of God The Existence of God Religion and AtheismReligion and Atheism

ldquoI believe in GodrdquoldquoI believe in Godrdquo

Can we see GodHow

The living and true God can be known with certainty by

the natural light of human reason

through created things

(Vatican I)

Why are we here on Why are we here on EarthEarth

We Christians have had We Christians have had the chance to know our the chance to know our purposepurpose here on Earth here on Earth Jesus preached this and Jesus preached this and the Church teaches itthe Church teaches it

Response to the Response to the fundamental questionsfundamental questionsbull where do I come where do I come

fromfrombull who am Iwho am Ibull where am I going towhere am I going to

1Natural Knowledge of God Through 1Natural Knowledge of God Through Our Knowledge of Creatures Our Knowledge of Creatures

It is necessary It is necessary to to wantwant to know to know GodGod

IF WE IF WE DONrsquoT WANTDONrsquoT WANT TO BELIEVE TO BELIEVE WE WONrsquoT EVER BELIEVE IN GODWE WONrsquoT EVER BELIEVE IN GOD

The quest for God is the quest for the The quest for God is the quest for the meaningmeaning of life of life

After creating After creating world and world and

animals God animals God said said ldquolet us ldquolet us

make man in my make man in my own image and own image and

likenessrdquolikenessrdquo

Why did God create usTo have a special

relationship with himMan is a child of GodMan is a child of God

After the original sinWe lost communication

with GodWe find more difficult to

understand himBUT WE CAN USE OUR REASON TO FIND HIM

We have a natural knowledge We have a natural knowledge of God starting with our of God starting with our knowledge of natural thingsknowledge of natural things

The things of natureThe things of natureGod has caused all the God has caused all the

minerals vegetables minerals vegetables animals and human animals and human beings beings

Man can know the Man can know the existence of God in two existence of God in two ways ways

- in a natural way - in a natural way - through supernatural - through supernatural

means (faith)means (faith) Natural wayNatural way starting point the starting point the

creationcreationbull With the sole light of reasonWith the sole light of reason

bull We are contingent created We are contingent created and dependent beings We and dependent beings We have not created the Universehave not created the Universe

bull Man can get to know the Man can get to know the existence of God the Creator existence of God the Creator the necessary and eternal the necessary and eternal Being first cause and ultimate Being first cause and ultimate end of everythingend of everything

MICHELANGELO BuonarrotiCreation of the Sun Moon and Plants (detail)1511FrescoCappella Sistina Vatican

2 From the Material World to God 2 From the Material World to God

Proofs of the Proofs of the existence of Godexistence of God

St Thomas Aquinasrsquo St Thomas Aquinasrsquo 5 ways5 ways

movementmovement causecause necessary necessary

contingent Beingcontingent Being intelligent Beingintelligent Being perfectionperfection

Awesome novel Awesome novel The Lord of the The Lord of the RingsRings

Author gtgt TOLKIENAuthor gtgt TOLKIEN

Awesome Awesome UniverseUniverse At randomAt random Author hellip WHOAuthor hellip WHO Do the words come together by Do the words come together by

change without an intelligent change without an intelligent beingbeing

Parts of a car coming togetherParts of a car coming together Everything in the Universe is Everything in the Universe is

organized in such a perfect organized in such a perfect wayhellipwayhellip

Author is the One we call GODAuthor is the One we call GOD

The designer of the universeWe call GOD

The First WayThe First Way

The first way in based on The first way in based on ldquomotionrdquoldquomotionrdquo

Everything that moves is Everything that moves is moved by anothermoved by another

Through this way we arrive at Through this way we arrive at God as the First unmoved God as the First unmoved movermover

CAUSALITY

The Fourth WayThe Fourth Way

This way is based on This way is based on degrees degrees of perfection in thingsof perfection in things

The cause of perfection in The cause of perfection in things must be the most things must be the most perfect being who is Godperfect being who is God

The Fifth WayThe Fifth Way The starting point The starting point of this way is the of this way is the observation of observation of order and order and finalityfinality in the in the worldworld

We arrive at God We arrive at God as the as the IntelligenceIntelligence who who has put order and has put order and finality in the finality in the whole of creationwhole of creation

3 From the Human Spirit to God3 From the Human Spirit to God

Man discerns signs of Man discerns signs of his his spiritual soulspiritual soul in in

1 His openness 1 His openness to truth to truth and beautyand beauty

AND GOD IS TRUTH and AND GOD IS TRUTH and BEAUTYBEAUTY

2 His sense of moral 2 His sense of moral goodnessgoodness

3 His 3 His freedomfreedom and voice and voice of his conscienceof his conscience

4 His aspiration for the 4 His aspiration for the infinite and for happinessinfinite and for happiness

Proof from inner experienceProof from inner experience

The moral sense and conscienceThe moral sense and conscience WHO HAS CREATED OUR TENDENCY TO WHO HAS CREATED OUR TENDENCY TO

GOOD GOOD (the supreme lawgiver)(the supreme lawgiver)

Spontaneous Spontaneous difference between good and difference between good and evil and evil and the obligation to do goodthe obligation to do good leads to the supreme good that is Godleads to the supreme good that is God

Eg to tell a lie is evil To kill is evilhellipEg to tell a lie is evil To kill is evilhellip

The Desires of the Human SpiritThe Desires of the Human Spirit Manrsquos longing for Manrsquos longing for

happiness is infinite happiness is infinite and insatiableand insatiable

It can It can only be only be satisfied by the satisfied by the infinite good who is infinite good who is GodGod

The desire for God is The desire for God is written in the human written in the human heart because man is heart because man is created by God and created by God and for God amp God never for God amp God never ceases to draw man ceases to draw man to himselfto himself

GOOD EVILGOOD EVIL

God created a good world He has destined God created a good world He has destined us to eternal happiness (there is no evil in us to eternal happiness (there is no evil in heaven)heaven)

Evil entered the world as a consequence Evil entered the world as a consequence of sinof sin

Difference between sin sufferingDifference between sin suffering With the Incarnation and Redemption (He With the Incarnation and Redemption (He

voluntarily accepted the consequences of voluntarily accepted the consequences of sin) suffering becomes a means of loving sin) suffering becomes a means of loving and of uniting our human will to the Divine and of uniting our human will to the Divine WillWill

From the Human Spirit to GodFrom the Human Spirit to God

His soul can only His soul can only have origin in Godhave origin in God (CCC 33) (CCC 33)

BUTHow do we prove the existence of the soul

We can see the action of the soulWe thinkWe love

We are alive

4 4 What if I decide to ignore the What if I decide to ignore the Maker Do I have the choiceMaker Do I have the choice

Man does Man does not grasp the existence of God not grasp the existence of God with immediate evidencewith immediate evidence

AtheismAtheism is never a reasonable stance is never a reasonable stance because because reason can demonstrate that reason can demonstrate that God existsGod exists and because man without God and because man without God cannot find a coherent answer to the cannot find a coherent answer to the ultimate problems of existence ultimate problems of existence

AgnosticismAgnosticism maintains that it is impossible maintains that it is impossible to to affirm or denyaffirm or deny the existence of God the existence of God

A man who has abandoned God knows deep A man who has abandoned God knows deep in his conscience that his in his conscience that his freedomfreedom has has intervened in doing sointervened in doing so

WHY a free-thinkerWHY a free-thinker

Many factors can contribute to giving up the Many factors can contribute to giving up the search for God or rejecting Him --search for God or rejecting Him --

ignoranceignorance rebellionrebellion against evil in the world against evil in the world the religious the religious indifferenceindifference of so many of so many the the bad examplebad example of some believers of some believers excessive seeking of excessive seeking of temporal well-beingtemporal well-being attitude of the sinner who hides from God attitude of the sinner who hides from God

because of because of fearfear to to justifyjustify his conduct his conduct flight from his vocationflight from his vocation etc etc

5 Natural amp Revealed 5 Natural amp Revealed (Supernatural) Religion(Supernatural) Religion

Religion is the relation or Religion is the relation or bondbond of the creature of the creature with his Creatorwith his Creator manifested through acts of manifested through acts of worship norms of conduct worship norms of conduct and an ensemble of beliefsand an ensemble of beliefs

It is therefore an objective It is therefore an objective reality -- reality -- not simple not simple subjective sentiment or subjective sentiment or just feelingsjust feelings

By virtue of religion By virtue of religion man man gives to his Creator his gives to his Creator his duedue realising he owes Him realising he owes Him every good he hasevery good he has

Revealed ReligionRevealed Religion In the case of In the case of

Christianity God Christianity God chose to reveal chose to reveal himself to ushimself to us

God did this God did this gradually first gradually first through the through the Prophets Then Prophets Then finally through Jesus finally through Jesus ChristChrist

51 Natural Religion51 Natural Religion

With his own reasonman can With his own reasonman can know know

1 about 1 about GodGod Himself Himself 2 about the 2 about the moral lawmoral law 3 about the spontaneous 3 about the spontaneous

worshipworship man gives to God man gives to God

Throughout history prayers Throughout history prayers rituals Sacrificesrituals Sacrifices

52 Revealed Religion 52 Revealed Religion God coming to usGod coming to us

Because man has Because man has difficulties in coming to difficulties in coming to know God by reason know God by reason alone God wanted to alone God wanted to reveal Himself so He can reveal Himself so He can be be ldquoknown with ease ldquoknown with ease certainty and no errorrdquo certainty and no errorrdquo (CCC 38 50)(CCC 38 50)

Christianity is not just a Christianity is not just a search by man it is God search by man it is God who reveals himselfwho reveals himself

52 Revealed Religion52 Revealed Religion

QUESTIONSQUESTIONS Do I read the BibleDo I read the Bible Do I understand itDo I understand it Does the Bible help Does the Bible help

me to understand the me to understand the problems of todays problems of todays world world

Does it help me in my Does it help me in my relationship to God relationship to God

Does it help me to Does it help me to understand myself understand myself and my relationships and my relationships with others with others

Does it help me to Does it help me to appreciate the Liturgy appreciate the Liturgy and the Sacramentsand the Sacraments

6 There is Only One True Religion 6 There is Only One True Religion

As there is only one true God there is As there is only one true God there is only one true religiononly one true religion

ChristChrist is the only mediator 1 Cor is the only mediator 1 Cor 86 Jn 118 Mt 1127 1 Tim 86 Jn 118 Mt 1127 1 Tim 25 25

Revealing Himself to men God Revealing Himself to men God established the established the oneone sole supernatural sole supernatural religion the Catholic Religion religion the Catholic Religion

Religious indifferentismReligious indifferentism is a grave is a grave errorerror

Importance of the apostolate Importance of the apostolate ad ad fidem (bring people to the faith)fidem (bring people to the faith)

7 What about other Religions7 What about other Religions

M Baker Eddy (Christian Scientist)M Baker Eddy (Christian Scientist) Adam Smith (Quakers)Adam Smith (Quakers) LutheranLutheran MethodistMethodist PresbyterianPresbyterian CalvinistCalvinist JewsJews IslamIslam BuddhistBuddhist HinduHindu

The System of Private Interpretation is The System of Private Interpretation is UnworkableUnworkable

The proof is in the puddingThe proof is in the puddingbull The existence of so many denominationsThe existence of so many denominations

Luther started inLuther started inbull 1517 ndash Lutheranism1517 ndash Lutheranismbull 1520 - Reformed Church broke away which is turn was 1520 - Reformed Church broke away which is turn was

further fragmented into-further fragmented into-bull 1525 ndash Anabaptist1525 ndash Anabaptistbull 1560 ndash Presbyterian1560 ndash Presbyterianbull 1534 ndash Anglican 1534 ndash Anglican further broken intofurther broken intobull 1612 ndash the Baptist1612 ndash the Baptistbull 1787 ndash The Methodist1787 ndash The Methodist

bull and the continuous fragmentation of the various and the continuous fragmentation of the various ecclesia communities in the Protestant system ecclesia communities in the Protestant system continues to be a scandal against Christian unitycontinues to be a scandal against Christian unity

In the US alone there are more than 20000 In the US alone there are more than 20000 denominations in less than 500 yearsdenominations in less than 500 years

Resolutions to move forwardResolutions to move forward To put effort inTo put effort in 1 getting to know well 1 getting to know well

God with the reading God with the reading of a good book and of a good book and prayerprayer

2 giving thanks for 2 giving thanks for creating the Universe creating the Universe and myselfand myself

3 putting into practice 3 putting into practice the Christian doctrinethe Christian doctrine

4 Avoid anything that 4 Avoid anything that separates me from separates me from GodGod

The Existence of God Religion and Atheism ldquoI believe in Godrdquo
Slide 2
Slide 3
Why are we here on Earth
1Natural Knowledge of God Through Our Knowledge of Creatures
Slide 6
Slide 7
Slide 8
We have a natural knowledge of God starting with our knowledge of natural things
Slide 10
2 From the Material World to God
Slide 12
The First Way
Slide 14
The Fourth Way
The Fifth Way
3 From the Human Spirit to God
Proof from inner experience
The Desires of the Human Spirit
GOOD EVIL
From the Human Spirit to God
4 What if I decide to ignore the Maker Do I have the choice
WHY a free-thinker
5 Natural amp Revealed (Supernatural) Religion
Revealed Religion
51 Natural Religion
52 Revealed Religion God coming to us
52 Revealed Religion
6 There is Only One True Religion
7 What about other Religions
The System of Private Interpretation is Unworkable
Slide 32
Resolutions to move forward