EXTERNAL PROOFS OF THE EXISTENCE OF
GOD
The era of humanism made man look at
his own importance so much so that his proofs of the existence of
God and the truth of his religion came from within him rather than
outside him.
There is no way by which he can check
whether his inner experience corresponds to reality. If he must
base his belief in the existence of God from within, it would not be
out of conviction but, more often than not, through his emotions.
A more reliable way to approach the
problem is through a combination of science, philosophy and
theology. Science shows us external creation, which is
the object of science; philosophy presents to us the principle of
prime mover; and theology reasons out the existence of God.
The Vatican Council of 1870, confirming
the Book of Wisdom, and St. Paul's letter to the Romans had
declared that the existence of God can be inferred from
consideration of the works which He has made. And, to that, we
Catholics are committed.
Conviction of the existence of God through the
popular five proofs of St. Thomas Aquinas is essential to having a
stable and strong faith. . .a conviction most Catholics do not have
because we have merely presumed that there is a God.
The existence of God can be surmised from a
posteriori. . .i.e. though we cannot know the cause, we can know
their effects. And so from what God had created, we can reason
out the existence of a Creator. This is valued reasoning. Though from
its effects we cannot know the exact essence of the cause; we
can only surmise it. And so, the need of continuous meditation
and contemplation on God. The way we know God now is
insufficient. We do not really know Him. We must,
without ceasing, contemplate on His Divine Presence.
(10-06-10)
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