Continuing Intellectual Growth

[Fidei Defensor]

As you know, I recently "came back" to the Church.  However, through much contemplation and even prayer, I have not been fully convinced that there is a god. 

 

That being said, I again return to my state of unbelief and non-catholicism.

[Kateri89]

St. Augustine's 'Confessions' might be a good resource. I'm not really sure because I never got past the first or second chapter :) but his musings on God simply in those first pages are quite thought-provoking.

[eagle_eye222001]

Sorry to hear it.  Good you keep it honest though.

 

We'll keep you in our prayers.

 

 

Don't stop thinking.

[KnightofChrist]

I was over joyed when you came back to the faith, now I am equally saddened with sorrow. In the past your state of unbelief seemed to cause you great bitterness and anger, I pray God you do not at least return to that state of unbelief, and that one day you again will return and keep the Faith, so that we can meet merely in Heaven.

[Fidei Defensor]

Sorry to hear it.  Good you keep it honest though.

 

We'll keep you in our prayers.

 

 

Don't stop thinking.

 

I appreciate the prayers.

 

I was over joyed when you came back to the faith, now I am equally saddened with sorrow. In the past your state of unbelief seemed to cause you great bitterness and anger, I pray God you do not at least return to that state of unbelief, and that one day you again will return and keep the Faith, so that we can meet merely in Heaven.

 

I have grown much less bitter as I have aged.

[Evangetholic]

What's the nature of your difficulties? I won't have solutions, but I'm curious.

[Fidei Defensor]

What's the nature of your difficulties? I won't have solutions, but I'm curious.

 

My mind is very scientifically oriented — I have a degree in biology.  I don't discount the idea that an ultimate force could exist, but I have not been able to conclude that the Christian God can exist.

[Era Might]

Every year without knowing it I have passed the day   

When the last fires will wave to me

And the silence will set out

Tireless traveler

Like the beam of a lightless star

Then I will no longer

Find myself in life as in a strange garment

Surprised at the earth

And the love of one woman

And the shamelessness of men

As today writing after three days of rain

Hearing the wren sing and the falling cease

And bowing not knowing to what

 

--W.S. Merwin, "For the Anniversary of My Death"

 

I think that idea of bowing to the mystery of God is important whether you know there is someone there or not. The mystery is its own reward, the willingness to acknowledge that we have not arrived where we are going...and maybe don't know where we are going. Or as the man in the Gospel prayed, "I believe, Lord, help my unbelief." What have you lost if God is just a concept by which we make the mystery real? By committing yourself to the Gospel tradition, you have gained a community and a way of expressing and being in the world...and perhaps, some day, you will come to real faith.

 

That's my story, anyway.

[EmilyAnn]

My mind is very scientifically oriented — I have a degree in biology.  I don't discount the idea that an ultimate force could exist, but I have not been able to conclude that the Christian God can exist.

I am like that too. But nothing I have studied in science has ever contradicted my faith. Faith and science and complimentary, not opposed. 

[Fidei Defensor]

I am like that too. But nothing I have studied in science has ever contradicted my faith. Faith and science and complimentary, not opposed. 

 

It's not that I've found anything that says "God doesn't exist," but rather, I haven't found anything that necessarily convinces me that God must exist and cannot be explained without a supernatural cause.

[Evangetholic]

Well, science is out of my depth in some ways. But I'll pray for you. :)

[Fidei Defensor]

Well, science is out of my depth in some ways. But I'll pray for you. :)

Thanks :)

[EmilyAnn]

It's not that I've found anything that says "God doesn't exist," but rather, I haven't found anything that necessarily convinces me that God must exist and cannot be explained without a supernatural cause.

Science and faith teach us about different realities. But we can know that God is true through reason. 

[T-fish]

It's not that I've found anything that says "God doesn't exist," but rather, I haven't found anything that necessarily convinces me that God must exist and cannot be explained without a supernatural cause.

 

I don't blame you for losing Faith. It's a lot to take in. And the Church seems to push more people away than gather more sheep.

But what good is science? Didn't we have all we needed before modern technology? Those dang romans and greeks with their intellects! lol

 

But the best thing to do is to seek God on your own.

Do a full circle of history, etc...

 

Jesus was a Jew, so you can start there by studying the Hebrew Texts. Jesus is The Word.

Also Hinduism is an ancient One and Only God theology.

Hinduism is a great compliment to Catholicism. (some may say i'm blasphemous, but it is true)

Other protestant religions can get you into trouble, like Mormonism was created by a con-artist name Joe Smith, Buddhism is an aethiestic protestant version of Hinduism.

Think Selfless, not Selfish!

 

But all religions have come way far off the track.

And look how much trouble science has gotten us into.

The world follows mammon, not God.

 

But if you want more up to date stuff, simply read stories of Saints.

One of my favorites is St. John Bosco. We need more saints.

Become one, and see how difficult the faith path is then, even so called church people will reject you.

Buona Fortuna!

[Kateri89]

I think that one of the wonderful things about Catholicism is the different spiritualities, i.e. Dominican, Franciscan, Benedictine, etc.  They all come to the same conclusion but have different approaches.  

 

For instance, I never really questioned if God exists because there has always been something in me that just believes He does.  But that doesn't mean that I haven't questioned other aspects of the meaning and purpose of life.  In the Franciscan spirituality which I feel most comfortable with, I see God in the simplicity and beauty of life.  My belief in Him is reaffirmed when I see a mother holding her baby or someone helping the homeless.  God is love and I think that simple statement sums up my belief.  Scientifically speaking, there is no reason whatsoever for love.  There can be evolutionary arguments explaining emotions like fear, anger, etc. but love has no purpose in the "survival of the fittest" mindset.

 

To the scientifically oriented mind, beliefs are backed up by facts.  There are, however, certain things that can't be explained by facts.  I can't explain why a certain song makes me sad or why I feel empathy for the sorrows of others.  If life is just one continuous cycle of birth, life and death, there is no purpose to it at all.  We shouldn't care when a loved one dies or feel the need for human relationships if we are just organisms.  It is love that points to a Creator and purpose.

 

End of my rambling...hope it gives you a different perspective tardis ad astra!   :proud: