Knowing God’s Existence through Reason

CCC #31-35“Proofs” = converging and convincing

argumentsFrom the perspective of the world and the human personAristotle --- one First CauseSaint Thomas Aquinas --- The 5 Ways of coming to know God’s existence

Natural Revelation--- what God communicates simply through the existence of creation

(We can know something about God from the visible works of creation--- “a cause is known by its effects”)

Difficulties in coming to know God by reason alone:

Some truths are beyond the grasp of human reason (they are above human reason, not irrational)

As a consequence of original sin, our intellect is darkened and we can sometimes make wrong conclusions… thus the need for Revelation

Fallen reason means it would be difficult, fraught with doubt, and with an admixture of error

Principle Errors Regarding the Existence of God

AtheismAgnosticismRationalismFideism(See Handout)

Science and Reason

• Are they the same thing?• How can we distinguish them?

Think about it!

Science• Cannot prove that God exists• Is a way of knowing about the world of nature• Systematic observation of the world• Seek to understand laws and structure that

govern nature• Science is a restriction of reason, not reason

itself• Seeks those truths which can be demonstrated

Consider……Examples• Human person• Hamlet and a stack of papers• Science makes use of reason, but reason is much more than

science.• Science can measure some things well, but it can’t measure

everything well.• Why is this important??? Some would argue that things that

cannot be measured scientifically either do not exist or cannot be known. (Scientism)

• Scientists also depend on the world being knowable (intelligibility of the world…not chance)

See 1 John 4:7-18

•What is meant by Divine Revelation? CCC #50-53•What is our response to Divine

Revelation? CCC #150-165

Divine Revelation CCC #50-53

o God comes to meet us!o He chooses to reveal Himselfo He makes known his plan of loving goodnesso Revealed by deeds and wordso Gradually communicatedo Culminates in the definitive Revelation of his

Son, Jesus Christo No further Revelation after Christ

YouCat #7

God opened Himself to us out of LoveSeen in Creation, the patriarchs, the prophets,

and ultimately His Son

“In Him, He has poured outHis heart to us and made His inmost being visible for us.”

Faith---An Individual Response

To respond to God means to believe Him:• To listen• To be attentive• To believe Him• To trust Him completely• To learn to understand Him better and better• To accept His will

Faith

• Read CCC #142-144• CCC #166

“Faith is a personal act--- the free response of the human person to the initiative of God who reveals himself…”

7 Characteristics of Faith

Sheer GiftSupernaturalPersonal assent/free willAbsolutely CertainFaith Love (action follows being)Element of GrowthForetaste of Heaven(Parachute example)