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THE CHURCH


 

 

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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