IS IT TRUE THAT WE PROVE THE EXISTENCE OF GOD BY FAITH ONLY?

This photo is not a picture of the human brain, it is not a photograph of molecules or genes... It is not the skin of animals but The Formation of Stars in the Galaxy taken by the Hubble Telescope. We can see the formation and order of the stars as they are governed by Universal System and Laws of Nature. Is this order, system and laws of the Universe are product of mere chance or made by an Intelligent Creator?

Anonymous said...

you prove that there is GOD because of your faith therefor if you no faith,there is no God....

April 23, 2011 4:49 PM

Bro. Jub Alabastro said...

God's existence can be proven by reason. See St. Thomas Aquinas' FIVE PROOF OF GOD'S EXISTENCE

http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/apologetics/ap0149.html

God bless!

April 24, 2011 8:26 AM

Fr. Abe, CRS said...

[you prove that there is GOD because of your faith therefor if you no faith,there is no God....]

THIS IS VERY UNREASONABLE REASONING... IN SHORT ILLOGICAL.

THE EXISTENCE OF SOMETHING OR SOMEONE DOES NOT DEPEND ON FAITH OF ANOTHER BUT ON THE FACT THAT IT IS OR HE IS A BEING ACTUALLY PRESENT. OTHERS SIMPLY CONFORM THEIR MINDS TO WHAT IS REAL OR BASING THEIR FAITH ON AN ESTABLISHED FACT.

IT IS TRUE THAT WE PROVE THE EXISTENCE OF GOD BY FAITH, BUT NOT BY FAITH ONLY. WE ALSO PROVE THE EXISTENCE OF GOD BY REASON AND BY ANALYZING THE MATERIAL UNIVERSE JUST LIKE THE DETECTIVE SEARCHING AT THE SCENE OF CRIME TO IN ORDER TO FIND THE CRIMINAL WHO COMMITTED THE MURDER EVEN THOUGH HE DIDN'T PERSONALLY WITNESSED THE EXECUTION OF THE CRIME.

THE EXISTENCE OF GOD IS BASED ON WELL ESTABLISHED REASON AND LOGICAL CONCLUSIONS. WHILE YOUR DENIAL OF GOD IS BASED ON HEARSAY AND SIMPLE DENIAL WITHOUT PROVING ANYTHING.

May 4, 2011 10:26 AM

Katanungan Hinggil sa Theism at Atheism

God the Creator and Divine Providence

Anonymous said...

father, ako po ay isang estudyante ng philosophy. isa po sa klase namin ay ang theodicy-philosophy of God. ang mga opinions po ng mga theists ay masyadong dogmatic. yun na, di na pwedeng i.question samantalang ang sa mga atheists naman ay practical at hindi rin imposible dahil talaga namang kapanipaniwala. paano po natin ito i.reconcile....

February 1, 2011 10:13 AM

Fr. Abe, CRS said...

[father, ako po ay isang estudyante ng philosophy.]

VERY GOOD.

[isa po sa klase namin ay ang theodicy-philosophy of God.]

O YAN ANG FAVORITE SUBJECT KO WHEN I WAS TAKING BACHELOR OF ARTS IN PHILOSOPHY.

[ang mga opinions po ng mga theists ay masyadong dogmatic. yun na, di na pwedeng i.question]

HA, HA, HA... HINDI KO ALAM KUNG SINO ANG MGA THEISTS NA BINABANGGIT MO. SUBALIT HINDI GANYAN ANG CATHOLIC PHILOSOPHY OF GOD. IT IS BASED ON THOMISTIC OR IN GENERAL SCHOLASTIC PHILOSOPHY NA ISA-ISANG SINASAGOT ANG MGA TANONG NG KALABAN.

CATHOLIC PHILOSOPHY IS ANALYTICAL, LOGICAL AT ARGUMENTATIVE. IT SEEKS THE TRUTH BY ANALYZING ITS OWN POSITION AND THAT OF THE OPPONENTS. KAYA NGA ANG THESIS MAKING AND DEFENDING E GALING YAN SA SCHOLASTIC PHILOSOPHY NG CATHOLIC CHURCH... THE SAME INSTITUTIONS THAT FOUNDED THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM IN EUROPE AND IN THE ENTIRE WEST.

HINDI NGA KAYANG SAGUTIN NG MGA ATHEISTS KUNG BAKIT AT ANO ANG GUMAWA NG DAIGDIG? YUNG MGA BIG-BANG NILA E NANGANGAILANGAN PA RIN NG IBANG KAPANGYARIHAN PARA MANGYARI. BAKIT NAGKA-BIGBANG? SAAN GALING ANG NAPAKALAKAS NA ENERHIYANG IYON? BAKIT KAPAG BA MAY SUMASABOG E NAGLILITAWAN NA AGAD ANG MGA PLANETA? BAKIT NUNG NAGPASABOG NG ATOMIC BOMB SA HIROSHIMA AT NAGASAKI E WALANG SOLAR SYSTEMS NA NABUO? HA HA HA...

ISA PA, ANG CATHOLIC PHILOSOPHY AY RATIONAL AT HINDI DOGMATIC. ITO AY NAKABASE SA MALAYA AT SOLIDONG PAG-IISIP NG TAO NA SINUSUSUGAN NG REVELATION OF GOD. ANG DOGMA AY NASA THEOLOGY AT HINDI SA PHILOSOPHY KAYA PALPAK IYANG TINURAN MO. HIGIT PA DIYAN, ANG DOGMA AY NANGANGAHULUGAN NA DALISAY NA KATOTOHANAN MULA SA DIOS. UPANG MAUNAWAAN NG TAO ANG DOGMA DAPAT NIYANG GAMITIN ANG KANYANG ISIP AT TALINO. HINDI TUTUO NA HINDI PWEDENG I-QUESTION ANG DOGMA. KAYA NGA MAY MGA DOGMATIC FORMULATIONS BILANG KASAGUTAN SA MGA TANONG NG TAONG BAYAN AT NG MGA TUMUTULIGSA SA ARAL NG SANTA IGLESIA..

[samantalang ang sa mga atheists naman ay practical at hindi rin imposible dahil talaga namang kapanipaniwala.]

ANG POSISYON NG MGA ATHEISTS AY KABALIWAN AT ILLOGICAL. IMAGINE, THEY ARE DENYING SOMETHING THAT THEY BELEIVE TO BE NON-EXISTENT. KUNG HINDI PALA NAG-E-EXIST ANG GOD BAKIT NILA DINEDENY? HALIMBAWA, NANINIWALA AKONG WALA KANG KULUGO SA KILI-KILI. BAKIT KITA PIPILITIN O KUMBINSIHIN NA MAY KULUGO KA SA KILI-KILI. HE HE HE... HINDI KO PAG-AAKSAYAHAN NG PANAHON ANG ISANG BAGAY NA PARA SAKIN AY HINDI TUNAY AT HINDI TUTUO.

ISA PA, ANG ATHEISM IS A PARASITIC PHILOSOPHY. ITO AY TULAD NG ISANG GARAPATA NA UMAASA LANG SA IBA PARA MABUHAY... PARASITE. KASI KUNG WALANG BELIEVERS OF GOD E DI INUTIL AT WALANG SILBI ANG ATHEISM. SAMANTALANG ANG CATHOLIC PHILOSOPHY CAN STAND ON ITS OWN WITH OR WITHOUT ATHEISM.

[paano po natin ito i.reconcile....]

MARE-RECONCILE MO YAN KUNG GAGAMITIN MO ANG UTAK MO NG MAAYOS. READ AND STUDY CATHOLIC PHILOSOPHY PARA HINDI GALING SA HANGIN ANG IYONG PANG-UNAWA NITO. KASI ITS OBVIOUS NA HINDI MO PINAG-ARALAN NG MABUTI ANG PHILOSOPHICAL ARGUMENTS IN FAVOR OF THE EXISTENCE OF GOD.

February 1, 2011 9:47 PM

MORE ON THE GOD OF THE MOSLEMS AND THE REVELATION TO MOHAMMAD

The Lord Jesus as the Pantocrator - the All-Powerful Lord. He is holding the Book signifying that He is the Logos - the Word of God in Person, the Final Revelation of God. He is the Fulfillment of All-Prophecies.

Greg said...

Greetings of peace!

I've been following your discussions here and I have two things to ask. First, where can I find the complete text of Pope St. Gregory VII's letter to Anzir (Nacir), King of Mauritania? Patron saint ko po kasi si Pope St. Gregory VII because I was born on his feast day (May 25) kaya interested ako sa mga works niya. Moreover, I was named after him.

My second question is this: I read somewhere that only the Hebrew God (consequently, the Christian God) revealed Himself to man. Hindi po ba't nag-reveal din si God (Allah) kay Mohammed at yung revelations na yun ang naka-record sa holy book ng Islam na Koran? If God really made a revelation to Mohammed, bakit ang sabi ng Vatican II eh wala nang susunod pang revelation after Jesus Christ because He is the Father's definitive revelation? So what kind of revelation was given to Mohammed?

Thank you very much. May God bless you for your work of enlightening us to the truths of our Faith...

October 18, 2010 9:13 AM

Fr. Abe, CRS said...

Dear Greg,

I've been searching for the text also in the web but nothing comes out except the same citation in Nostra Aetate of Vatican II. We know that the quote is valid and true. Nobody questions that. But it seems that the text is not yet completely translated into English and no scholar has thought of posting it completely. Well, let us continue searching. May be we can find it in Latin or Arabic. He, he, he...

CONGRATULATIONS HA. YOU ARE NAMED AFTER A GREAT SAINT AND POPE. THE CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA CALLED HIM: ONE OF THE GREATEST EVER.

Now going to your second question:

[My second question is this: I read somewhere that only the Hebrew God (consequently, the Christian God) revealed Himself to man.]

THE ONE AND ONLY GOD REVEALED HIMSELF TO MAN. THE HEBREW GOD IS THE GOD OF ALL. AND YOU MUST BEAR IN MIND THAT IN THE BIBLE BESIDES THE REVELATION THERE IS THE MANIFESTATION OF GOD IN NATURE OR IN CREATION. IT IS THE OFFICIAL TEACHING OF THE CHURCH THAT GOD CAN BE KNOWN BY NATURAL REASONS EVEN WITHOUT THE AID OF REVELATION. EVEN HIGH SCHOOL CATHOLICS OR THOSE WHO SIMPLY READS THE CATECHISM KNOW THAT.

LET ME CHECK THE PRE-VATICAN II CLASSIC CATECHSIM, MY CATHOLIC FAITH by Msgr. Louis LaRavoire Morrow, STD (p. 12):

How do we know by our reason that God exists? - We know by our reason that God exists, because of:

1. The existence of the world.

2. The order and harmony of the whole universe.

3. The Testimony of our conscience.

NOW, ARE THE ARABS IGNORANT OF THE EXISTENCE OF THE WORLD? HE, HE, HE.. ARE THEY RECOGNIZING THE ORDER AND HARMONY OF THE WORLD? NO... IN FACT THEY ARE USING THE SAME ARISTOTELIAN PHILOSOPHY THAT ST. THOMAS AQUINAS USED. THE ARISTOTOLEAN PHILOSOPHY OF GOD AS:

1. UNMOVED MOVER

2. THE UN-CAUSED CAUSE

3. THE NECESSARY BEING

4. THE MOST PERFECT BEING

5. THE GOVERNOR OF THE WORLD

THIS FIVE WAYS OF ST. THOMAS IS DERIVED FROM ARITSTOTLE AND WERE DID THE MEDIEVAL THINKERS GOT THEIR COPY OF ARISTOTLE? FROM THE ARAB PHILOSOPHERS. ACTUALLY THE ARABS ARE USING THE SAME ARGUMENTS FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD. I AM NOT SPEAKING OF CHRISTIAN ARABS BUT OF THE MOSLEM ARABS.

ST. PAUL TEACHES THIS. THE BIBLE TEACHES THIS. THE CHURCH TEACHES THIS. THAT THE PAGANS AND ALL HUMAN BEINGS ARE CAPABLE OF KNOWING GOD IF THEY WILL ONLY LOOK AT CREATION:

Romans 1:19-20 "Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse"

THIS IS NOT ONLY FOR THE ARABS BUT THE SAME FOR THE GREEKS. ST. PAUL RECOGNIZES THE PRESENCE OF THE TRUE GOD AMONG PAGANS. HE IS NOT AS NARROW MINDED AS DECLARING THEM TO BE ALL HEATHENS AND DEVIL-WORSHIPERS. LOOK AT THIS:

Act 17:22-23 "Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you."

IMAGINE, EVEN THOUGH THE AREA IS SURROUNDED BY IDOLS AND PAGAN gods and goddesses ST. PAUL STILL PROCLAIMED THAT THE ATHENIANS UNKNOWINGLY WORSHIP THE TRUE GOD. ST. PAUL IS TOO ECUMENICAL HERE. IF THE SSPX AND THE SEDEVACANTISTS WERE PRESENT THEY WOULD HAVE CONDEMNED HIM AS HERETICAL, MODERNIST AND UNFAITHFUL TO THE 2,000 YEAR SACRED TRADITION. HE, HE, HE...

THE MOSLEMS LOOKED AT CREATION AND THEY FOUND THE CREATOR MANIFESTED IN THEM. THAT IS WHY IT CAN BE SAID THAT THE MOSLEMS MAKE NATURAL ACTS OF RELIGION. AS ONE COMMENTER IN RORATE CAELI HAD EXPLAINED BEAUTIFULLY:

The great Jesuit scholastic of the Counter-Reformation, Francisco Suarez, explains in one of his commentaries on St. Thomas:

"Thomas, however, rightly distinguishes two kinds of religious practices: there are those which go against reason and against God insofar as he can be recognized through nature and through the natural powers of the soul, e.g., the worship of idols, etc. Others are contrary to the Christian religion and to its commands not because they are evil in themselves or contrary to reason as, for example, the practices of Jews and even many of the customs of Mohammedans and such unbelievers who believe in one true God."

Suarez, Tract. de Fide Disp. 18 Sect. III

This is why Muslims have traditionally been classified as infidels or even heretics, rather than heathens. They are not idolators as are those who worship created things or imaginary beings with a contingent essence.

ACTUALLY, EVEN SOCRATES, PLATO AND ARISTOTLE AND SOME PRE-CHRISTIAN PHILOSOPHERS HAVE ATTAINED TRUE CONCEPT OF GOD, BUT THEIR KNOWLEDGE IS INCOMPLETE AND IMPARTIAL STILL DUE TO THE ABSENCE OF REVELATION OF CHRIST.

GOD MANIFESTED HIMSLEF TO ALL. BUT HE REVEALED HIMSELF TO THE HEBREW RACE FIRST... AND THROUGH THE JEWS THE REVELATION SHALL BE SPREAD TO ALL PEOPLE AND ALL PLACES [CATHOLIC]. BUT THE GOD WHO REVEALED IS NOT JUST THE HEBREW GOD. HE IS THE GOD OF ALL.

[ Hindi po ba't nag-reveal din si God (Allah) kay Mohammed at yung revelations na yun ang naka-record sa holy book ng Islam na Koran?]

AH, IBANG USAPAN NA YAN. DIYAN NA TAYO NAGKAKATALO. HE, HE, HE...

WE RECOGNIZE THAT THEIR ALLAH [ONE AND ONLY GOD] IS THE SAME WITH THE GOD OF ABRAHAM. BUT WE DO NOT AGREE THAT ALLAH [TAKE NOTE, THE NAME OF OUR CHRISTIAN GOD OR THE HEBREW GOD IN ARABIC IS ALSO ALLAH. IF YOU WILL SPEAK ARABIC YOU WILL NOT SAY GOD, YOU WILL SAY ALLAH] REVEALED THE FULLNESS OF TRUTH TO MOHAMMAD. INSTEAD, JESUS THE CHRIST IS THE FINAL AND ULTIMATE REVELATION OF GOD.

[ If God really made a revelation to Mohammed, bakit ang sabi ng Vatican II eh wala nang susunod pang revelation after Jesus Christ because He is the Father's definitive revelation?]

WE DO NOT ACCEPT THAT GOD REVEALED TO MOHAMMAD. JESUS IS THE FINAL AND DEFINITIVE REVELATION. THE PERFECTION OF REVELATION WAS GIVEN BY JESUS AND THERE IS NO OTHER REVELATION THAT CAME AFTERWARD.

[ So what kind of revelation was given to Mohammed?]

A FAKE REVELATION.

EVEN THOUGH WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT OUR GOD IS THE SAME THERE IS STILL A GREAT DIVIDE BETWEEN CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM. ONE OF THEM IS ON DIVINE REVELATION. WE ARE TEACHING THAT JESUS IS THE DEFINITIVE REVELATION OF GOD. THE SUMMIT, THE PERFECTION OF GOD'S REVELATION BECAUSE HE IS THE INCARNATE-GOD. NO HUMAN BEING CAN REPLACE OR SURPASS THE PROPHET WHO IS GOD IN THE FLESH.

POPE JOHN PAUL THE GREAT AND JOSEF CARDINAL RATZINGER REITERATED THIS POINT IN DOMINUS IESUS. THERE IS NO ONE WHO CAN EQUAL OR SURPASS CHRIST.

[Thank you very much. May God bless you for your work of enlightening us to the truths of our Faith...]

PRAISE THE LORD. THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU TOO.

October 18, 2010 11:48 AM