What do you think?

This is a new feature on our web site. We want to hear from you.
Tell us what you think about some thought-provoking questions.

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What language did Adam and Eve use?

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Are we spiritual or human first?

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Why do you believe in God?
This is not "what do you believe?"  but why do you believe?

From Walter in Brazil. 

                             Many philosophers have already demonstrated the existence of God. Some of them, under the scientific and mathematic point of view, others in conformity to religious vision, among them Descartes, saint Augustine, saint Thomas Aquinas. But for me, since I’m not a philosopher, just like almost all human beings, it’s very difficult, if not almost impossible to understand their proposals, explanations and conclusions. Therefore, we would have to believe them without having clearly understood that sort of proof.

                        But if men could not accept that kind of proof of the existence of God they had to invent theories in order to explain reasonably how have us been created, we and everything more, really and concretely existing. One of those theories, maybe the one that may more reasonably explain the beginning of everything, including us ourselves, is the Theory of the Big Bang, that explains the beginning of everything, except, of course, the existence of who made that theory start working, I mean, God. Otherwise, who could it be?

                        Our ancestors, however, didn’t have the knowledge we have today to create theories like that one of the Big Bang, but felt, even without knowing why, the necessity, the impulse to invent for themselves, idols and gods they could fear, respect, ask for protection and so on. No ancient civilization we have heard of, didn’t have idols and gods. They could have been manufactured of ceramics, wood, stones or gold, or could also be natural entities like the sun, the moon, the thunderbolt or the thunder and all polytheistic mythology.

                        During the more recent period, about three thousand years ago, in Mesopotamia, when men were more mature, there was a direct manifestation of God upon Abraham and Sarah by Himself or by means of angels, giving them the Promise of special descendants who would be the elect people. And they believed in God. Abraham and Sarah had two sons: Isaac and Ishmael, the beginning of the Jewish and the Arab people. The Arabs, descendants of Ishmael, had their prophets, of which the last one, Mohammed, received the Koran – the Law - from Allah (their name for God).

                        On the other hand, the Jews had also many prophets who thought them the Word of Yahveh (their name for God), and made many prophecies that either came or are coming true exactly as they had first prophesized, including the prophecy that God would send us His son, Jesus Christ two thousand years ago, who would suffer and die for us to give us the remission of our sins to those of us who had faith on Him and reneged sin.

                        And all this happened according to the Holy Scriptures, there being confirmation and testimony in the history of other peoples and of the Roman Empire, as well as physical remains of venues where all took place.

                        During the end of his life in Palestine, Jesus made many miracles reported in details by the Gospel and also by other documents. Jesus made the most important miracle, his Resurrection, rising from death three days after having died on a cross, winning over Death and going up to heaven before everybody around. And until now, miracles go on occurring everywhere all over the world, fruits of our faith, the faith of those who believe in God. And wouldn’t all this seem like a good proof of the existence of God? And Jesus promised to his disciples: "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. 22If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." (Mat 21,21-22)

                        This is our vision of Christians and Catholics, that believe in God and in His promise and don’t need any proof else. But that sort of scientific and mathematical concrete proof that many people insist on asking for, doesn’t exist. The existence of God, in spite of all well known facts confirmed by History, is a matter of faith. And as a matter of faith, it doesn’t need and doesn’t admit any proof. And if there were a proof, it would defeat the very concept of faith.

                        But, anyhow, difficult really – or even impossible – would be for someone to prove the inexistence of God!


Portuguese version
 

                         DA EXISTÊNCIA DE DEUS                                      

Já vários filósofos provaram a existência de Deus. Uns, do ponto de vista científico e matemático, outros conforme a visão religiosa, entre eles, Descartes, santo Agostinho e são Tomás de Aquino. Mas para mim, que não sou filósofo, como, aliás, a quase totalidade da humanidade, é muito difícil, senão quase impossível entender suas propostas, suas explicações e finalmente, suas conclusões e acabamos tendo que acreditar neles, sem na verdade, ter entendido bem essa tal prova. Mas se os homens não puderam aceitar esse tipo de prova da existência de Deus, tiveram que inventar teorias que explicassem como fomos criados, nós e tudo o mais que existe realmente. Uma dessas tentativas, talvez a que mais razoavelmente possa explicá-lo é a Teoria do Big Bang. Ela, porem, explica a origem de tudo, enceto a de quem promoveu esse início, que, do ponto de vista de todos os não-ateus, é o Deus eterno. Senão, quem poderia sê-lo?

       Mas os nossos ancestrais, que não tinham os recursos de que dispomos hoje para criar teorias como a do Big Bang, sentiram, mesmo sem ter outras explicações, essa necessidade, esse impulso inexplicável da criação por eles mesmos, de ídolos ou deuses a quem devessem temer, respeitar, pedir proteção, etc. Nenhum povo antigo de que se tem notícia, deixou de ter seus deuses. Podiam ser fabricados de argila, de madeira ou de ouro ou prata ou podiam ser naturais como o sol, a lua, o raio e o trovão, e toda a mitologia do politeísmo.

       Durante o período mais recente, há aproximadamente uns três mil anos, talvez, na Mesopotâmia, quando os homens já estavam um pouco mais maduros, houve uma manifestação de Deus a Abrão e Sara, diretamente ou através de anjos, fazendo-lhes a Promessa de uma numerosa descendência, que seria o povo eleito de Deus. E Abrão e Sara creram em Deus. Eles geraram dois filhos: Isaac e Ismael, que foram o início do povo judeu e do povo árabe. Os árabes, descendentes de Ismael, tiveram seus profetas, tendo o último deles, Maomé, recebido de Alah (seu nome para deus), o Al Corão – que é a sua Lei. 

De seu lado, os judeus tiveram, também inúmeros profetas que lhes transmitiram a palavra de Javé, seu Deus, anunciando com antecipação de séculos, até, muitas profecias que se cumpriram todas ou que se estão cumprindo ainda hoje, confirmando com absoluta exatidão, inclusive a vinda de Jesus Cristo, o filho de Deus que veio ao mundo há dois mil anos para ensinar a Palavra e para morrer por nós para remissão de nossos pecados antigos e atuais aos que crerem nele e renegarem o pecado. E tudo isso se cumpriu conforme as Escrituras Sagradas que aí estão, confirmando as épocas e os fatos históricos e relacionando-os com os de outros povos, com o testemunho do Império Romano e em ambientes conhecidos.

Durante o final de sua estada na terra, Jesus fez inúmeros milagres relatados detalhadamente nos evangelhos e citados também em outros documentos e fez o maior de todos os milagres, que foi sua Ressurreição, ressuscitando ao terceiro dia de sua morte na cruz, vencendo a Morte e subindo aos céus à vista de todos. E até hoje continuam a acontecer milagres todos os dias e em todas as partes do mundo, frutos da nossa fé, dos que crêem em Deus. E não será, talvez, isso tudo uma prova da existência de Deus? E Jesus prometeu a seus discípulos: “Se tiverdes fé, sem duvidar, se disserdes a esta montanha: Ergue-te e lança-te ao mar, isso acontecerá. E tudo o que pedirdes com fé, em oração, vós o recebereis.” (Mat 21, 21-22).

From Patricia in Brazil

My personal opinion is that if you want to prove the existence of God, you will have to seek Him with all your might in meditation and actions until you find Him. Not many are up to the task...

 

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