Currently non-religious making inquiry

[TheLittleLady]

It has been many years, half a lifetime ago, and my belief has been in place for so long it is hard to remember the exact course that study took

My advice, three things.

This website https://strangenotions.com/

Peter Kreeft’s books (start with “Because God Is Real”)

My son introduced me to this podcast and I have shared it many times (do not be put off by the term “red pill”, this is not about the masculinity movement but a reference to The Matrix)

 

[Viator]

Everything you see is contingent, that is, receives it’s existence from something else. This could not go on indefinitely, so there has to be a non contingent being.

Yes, I know the argument. The crazy thing is that some of the newest stuff out of quantum physics shows how it’s physically possible for the universe to have come from nothing. Which puts us in an interesting spot, I think. That either shows that the universe is random in the atheist sense, or it confirms that it came from nothing in the theist sense. We’re left with the same question of, what do I believe?

 

[Viator]

Thanks for the recommendations LittleLady, I’ll check them out.

 

[EZweber]

Yes, I know the argument. The crazy thing is that some of the newest stuff out of quantum physics shows how it’s physically possible for the universe to have come from nothing. Which puts us in an interesting spot, I think. That either shows that the universe is random in the atheist sense, or it confirms that it came from nothing in the theist sense. We’re left with the same question of, what do I believe?

I’ve heard that argument. It is directly addressed in an issue of the Catholic Answers magazine, which you might be interested in. The problem with it is that the quantum fields that generate particles are not nothing. They are very specific fields of energy. I’ll see if I can find the article.

 

[EZweber]

Yes, I know the argument. The crazy thing is that some of the newest stuff out of quantum physics shows how it’s physically possible for the universe to have come from nothing. Which puts us in an interesting spot, I think. That either shows that the universe is random in the atheist sense, or it confirms that it came from nothing in the theist sense. We’re left with the same question of, what do I believe?

Quote from theoretical physicist David Albert Ph.D., taken from the Catholic Answers article “Faith and Quantum Physics” by Trent Horn.
"Vacuum states-no less than giraffes or refrigerators or solar systems-are particular arrangements of elementary physical stuff… [T]he fact that particles can pop in and out of existence, over time, as those [quantum] fields rearrange themselves, is not a whit more mysterious than the fact that fists can pop in and out of existence, over time, as my fingers rearrange themselves. And none of these poppings-if you look at them aright- amount to anything even remotely in the neighborhood of a creation from nothing. (“A Universe from Nothing”).

 

[on_the_hill]

are you a practitioner of Eucharistic Adoration? I’ve always been interested in this practice, as I’ve heard that it’s a very powerful experience.

Only insofar as our parish has a few moments of adoration at the end of Mass once a month.
Otherwise, no, I have not participated in other forms, such as part of a Forty Hours devotion.

 

[Viki63]

How do you know when it’s real?

I have had undeniable experiences which I suppose could be called mystical, especially at the beginning of my journey. When God (or maybe it was an angel) has spoken to me, it’s very laconic: “Read the Bible.”
Aside from that, when I read the gospels the first time, it became clear to me that Jesus is speaking the truth. No question.
Perhaps you could pray the Rosary daily to see what happens.
God bless.

 

[EZweber]

By aesthetic experience I mean simply being moved by the music, the art, the candlelight, incense, etc. No, I’ve never experienced a vision. I think what I keep tripping over is that there are similar moving experiences to be had from going to a museum, the symphony, etc. Hope that clarifies what I mean.

Aesthetic experiences such as this often help to bring the mind to God, even if He does not directly inspire them. Because of this, the liturgy is meant to encourage such experience. That is my guess anyway.