I'm a confused atheist

[fisherman_carl]

About Catholicism and Evolution Theory. I was listening to a Catholic Apologist on EWTN radio and he was saying that Catholicism rejects Evolutionary theory as it is now being that it is from an atheistic point of view and does not acknowledge the possibility of God. It does not reject science and says that God could have used evolutionary processes to create us. But it does not say what we should believe about evolution, only that it rejects the idea that we are all here due to chance rather than by a divine creator.

I have studied evolution in detail in the past. My personal opinion on the idea of chance as an explanation for the formation of the universe is that it does not adequetly explain things. The possibility of random chance being responsible for the creation of the world is perhaps zero in my mind. There is no way to really determine what those numbers are. But we know intuitively that they get smaller for every random event that needs to occur during the universe formation. And when you think of how many billions of random events would have needed to occur in order to form the universe the random chance theory becomes less probable to the point of it not even worth considering.

To illustrate my point I will borrow someone elses illustration that I heard on Catholic radio. It went something like this.

Two men were walking on the beach. One was an atheist and the other a Christian. As they were walking they came upon a beautiful sand castle. It was perfectly formed with little windows, tiny little rooms inside. It had little figurines occupying the castle and flags flying up top. Now, did the atheist say, ‘wow what a castle. It occurred because of wind and waves eroding the sand over 1000’s of years with many random weather events causing it to come into shape.’

‘No, that would be ridiculous’, said the Christian. It’s obvious there was an intelligent creator that made this castle.

It would be ridiculous to our minds to think that such a beautiful sand castle could randomly appear. It would be such a low probability that it would not even be worth considering. Yet the probability that we are all here from random chance is even less than the sand castle. And the end result, being us, even more spectacular, and is therefore also ridiculous, to conclude as the result of random chance. No, the probable conclusion is a creator.

There is too much uncertainty and low probability for random chance to be a real consideration. I believe this alternative theory exists because atheists want to justify their belief that God doesn’t exist, not because there is anything particularly more logical about it. In my mind it would be more logical to assume there is an intelligent creator just like in the sand castle illustration. And if there is a creator then it would make sense to me that we would want to know this creator. That we would do everything possible while we still have the chance to get to know him.

God Bless

 

[Stjudeprayforus]

Jesus is working hard on you.

He must have great things planned for your life.

How cool is that?!

you might like to read about St Augustine… he didnt exactly start life off as a saint. But he answered the call.

catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=418

O Lord, help me to be pure, but not yet.
Saint Augustine

God Bless you!

 

[Monica4316]

that’s so wonderful that you’re going to Mass!
hope it goes well

God bless!!

 

[RACJ]

There is a hole in everyone’s heart that can only be filled by God. That is how we are made. I never apologize for my theism to anyone. I can put anyone on the defensive in a heartbeat by asking them to explain how random atoms came to assemble themselves into a life form, say an amoeba; then to elucidate how exactly, step by step that amoeba transformed itself into the millions of wondrously complex life forms that we may all observe. To me, believing in naturalism takes far more faith than belief in a Creator.
You are beginning your journey down the right and true road. I wish you well!! Rob

P.S. What good are “friends” if they can’t accept you for who you really are? If you must act fake around them, what is the point?

 

[Pi314]

My mom and I went to a really early mass. It was nice, I really liked it. I didn’t know the words that everyone else seemed to know (even my mom knew them).
I thought a lot of what the priest was saying was very interesting. He talked a lot about thinking what God wants us to do with our lives, and how we need to change sometimes to do what God wants from us. Which coincidently is something I’ve been thinking about quite a lot lately.
I’m really glad I went, I’m going to go next week too I think.

 

[Lief_Erikson]

My mom and I went to a really early mass. It was nice, I really liked it. I didn’t know the words that everyone else seemed to know (even my mom knew them).
I thought a lot of what the priest was saying was very interesting. He talked a lot about thinking what God wants us to do with our lives, and how we need to change sometimes to do what God wants from us. Which coincidently is something I’ve been thinking about quite a lot lately.
I’m really glad I went, I’m going to go next week too I think.

I can’t tell you how often that happens to me . . . The Mass very frequently parallels whatever is going on in my life and discusses it in homily, readings and/or hymns. It’s because the Mass is Jesus’ voicebox.

 

[usemelord]

Yeah!!! Baby steps will take you where you need to go, where you’ve been call to walk.

 

[Stjudeprayforus]

I can’t tell you how often that happens to me . . . The Mass very frequently parallels whatever is going on in my life and discusses it in homily, readings and/or hymns. It’s because the Mass is Jesus’ voicebox.

Me too!

Amazing… isnt it.

 

[Student09]

My mom and I went to a really early mass. It was nice, I really liked it. I didn’t know the words that everyone else seemed to know (even my mom knew them).
I thought a lot of what the priest was saying was very interesting. He talked a lot about thinking what God wants us to do with our lives, and how we need to change sometimes to do what God wants from us. Which coincidently is something I’ve been thinking about quite a lot lately.
I’m really glad I went, I’m going to go next week too I think.

Glad you liked it! I can’t remember if you said - is your mom Catholic? I’m assuming she is, since she knew the words of the liturgy. For me, it took me probably five or six masses to learn all the responses. I found it very helpful to read this, which has all the texts that the people say at Mass: catholic-resources.org/ChurchDocs/Mass.htm

 

[stanncie]

How nice that you went to mass! I’m so excited for you because you don’t know it yet but you are in the beginning of a very exciting path in your life.

Don’t worry if you don’t know the responses yet that will come with time or you can look at the missalette if you want.

God Bless you and I will keep you in my prayers

 

[Lief_Erikson]

Lief Erikson:

I can’t tell you how often that happens to me . . . The Mass very frequently parallels whatever is going on in my life and discusses it in homily, readings and/or hymns. It’s because the Mass is Jesus’ voicebox.

Me too!

Amazing… isnt it.

Yep, it’s incredible. I love how God does that. Also when I bring family members to Mass, I often see that the message is speaking directly to their situations too. Only they aren’t expecting such a direct message from God for them, so they aren’t expecting words of God directly for them, so they miss it.

Yesterday I was struggling to find good information about Our Lady of Guadaloupe to help someone along in her faith, and boom, this Mass the homily was all about our Lady of Guadaloupe and had some incredible points in it. Also I have been dealing with worries from time to time about my family’s conversion, and the readings today were about not losing hope because the exiles (Protestants) will be restored to Jerusalem (the New Jerusalem), something I don’t bind God to – I renounce my will completely to His, whatever His may be – but it does give heart as I persist in my prayer campaign .

I think I might start warning people who accompany me to Mass to watch for Jesus’ message for their particular situation in the words of the Mass, because Jesus speaks to His people in it so directly and explicitly, it’s amazing.

 

[Pi314]

Glad you liked it! I can’t remember if you said - is your mom Catholic? I’m assuming she is, since she knew the words of the liturgy. For me, it took me probably five or six masses to learn all the responses. I found it very helpful to read this, which has all the texts that the people say at Mass: catholic-resources.org/ChurchDocs/Mass.htm

She was when she was little, she stopped going when she was young, and she never got communion or anything. I didn’t even know that, I asked after I saw that she knew the responses. She’s going to start going back to Mass now, since she’s driving me anyway. I told her that I might do RCIA and she said she wants to go to RCIA with me, when that starts up (they’re in the middle of one now I guess?). Good thing my new school won’t be far away, I can still come home for Mass/RCIA.
I talked to one of my best friends today, and I mentioned that I’d gone to church. Her response: “Ok, cool, whatever makes you happy. Wanna see a movie Wednesday?” Haha. I guess she doesn’t think I’m weird or whatever.
Today has been good.

 

[Monica4316]

She was when she was little, she stopped going when she was young, and she never got communion or anything. I didn’t even know that, I asked after I saw that she knew the responses. She’s going to start going back to Mass now, since she’s driving me anyway. I told her that I might do RCIA and she said she wants to go to RCIA with me, when that starts up (they’re in the middle of one now I guess?). Good thing my new school won’t be far away, I can still come home for Mass/RCIA.
I talked to one of my best friends today, and I mentioned that I’d gone to church. Her response: “Ok, cool, whatever makes you happy. Wanna see a movie Wednesday?” Haha. I guess she doesn’t think I’m weird or whatever.
Today has been good.

awesome!

 

[Lief_Erikson]

Lovely .

I think the next RCIA starts in January.

 

[prodigalson12]

That is just awesome, very happy you are going to mass, also, very happy your grandmother is as well. I call this the God cluster, as in, often he will cluster many things into place in order to make things happen, including having two people that know each other, coming home to him at the same time. You get the added bonus, both of you, for being there for each other in the process making it much less lonely of a situation. Also happy you are going straight to the Catholic church, often it takes people smaller steps to get to that stage, obviously this is a direct calling on both of your parts. Understand this as well, he knew you before you were born, he already had placed his hand upon you in blessing, knowing full well that you would be joining him in eternity.

Also glad to see your apprehension has subsided, glad to see at least one of your friends in support of you, regardless of what decision you make, that is a true friend!

 

[lumenorientale]

How this thread has uplifted my own faith! Pi, I’d like to thank you for this. I remembered you at Divine Liturgy today. God bless you.

 

[Pi314]

How this thread has uplifted my own faith! Pi, I’d like to thank you for this. I remembered you at Divine Liturgy today. God bless you.

Thank you for remembering me today. And thanks to everyone here for helping me with all my questions and confusion. I hope asking a few more things is okay.

I noticed Mass isn’t just on Sundays. Is it weird to go more than once a week when I’ve got time? I’d like to, but I’m not sure if you’re only supposed to go once a week or something. It would be a nice way to start off what is sure to be a long and tiring day of studying (but at least I get to study at the museum).

Secondly, if it’s okay to go more than once a week, I’m still confused. The church a few blocks from the train station has Mass at 8am, which says Celebration of The Eucharist. A different one is at 8:10am and it says Liturgy of the Hours. What is the difference? Then there’s a whole other thing that says St. Jude devotions. What does that mean?

Ack, and another question! Am I supposed to wear a skirt? For some reason I thought I was supposed to or something. I will either way since I like wearing skirts, but I’m just curious.

 

[usemelord]

One of the many things I appreciated about converting five years ago was that I didn’t have to wait seven days to go to church again. I go Tuesday mornings for Mass, Tuesday evenings to pray the Rosary and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, Wednesday morning, and Thursday evening Masses. Frankly, I can’t get enough of it. The highest compliment was unwittingly given to me by my “cradle Catholic wife” who accused me of being “too Catholic.” I hope you will find that the Mass experience will grow on you like a well worn suit, and become almost addictive. But, don’t get too overwhelmed by doing too much at once; i.e. attending RCIA and Mass, and reading all the books that everyone has recommended to you. Go at a pace that will make you feel comfortable. And, as always, stay blessed.

 

[Monica4316]

Hi

yes, it’s perfectly alright to go more than once a week, if you want to! I’d love to go to daily Mass, except I have class

there are people who go daily.

Celebration of the Eucharist is the Mass. The Liturgy of the Hours is a prayer service without the Eucharist… it’s not a Mass, but composed of psalms that people either recite or sing (chant). It’s typically done by monks/nuns/priests but lay people can do it too. I used to go to Vespers (evening part of the Liturgy of the Hours) and it was wonderful.

If the church ever has Eucharistic Adoration, that’s a great thing to attend it’s basically silent prayer before the Eucharist. It’s very powerful and grace filled… though perhaps takes some time getting used to. (the first time I went I could only stay for 10 minutes )

St Jude devotions is probably just a prayer they say to St Jude… that’s cool I’ve never been to one of those before.

If you want to wear a skirt, that’s definitely a great idea we don’t have to wear skirts for Mass (as long as we dress modestly), but wearing ‘something nice’ is encouraged, and is a great sign of respect for Our Lord. I personally want to wear a skirt every time I go to Church.

God bless

 

[Student09]

You can go to Mass every day if you want to. I just started going to daily masses a couple of times a week. I love it. It’s so good to be in Jesus’ living presence even though it’s frustrating not to be able to receive the Eucharist yet.

As usemelord said, do just what you’re comfortable with and don’t get overwhelmed by trying to do too much! You can always start out with Mass once or twice a week, and work your way up when you feel the need.