Is God fundamental goodness?

[abucs]

I think most of us believe (feel) that in being good we are getting closer to God.

Most of us also believe that God cannot do ‘bad’ things by His very nature.

So what is good and bad nature and how does it work ?

In the materialist view of the world, it would be said that everything is made up of atoms/quarks and that ‘goodness’ or ‘badness’ would be attributes we assign to the observed behaviour that would come from each persons ‘survival’ instincts including a highly evolved consciousness.

So if God is goodness itself (as well as intellect) which we all try to be close to, can someone expand on this ‘goodness is fundamental’ concept instead of ‘goodness is attribute’ concept.

Is holiness simply the viewing of goodness as fundamental (i.e. God) and the seeking, obeying and living in this reality that transcends much of the perceived material world ?

Is this what prayer is all about ?

Is this world set up for that purpose by the fundamental good God for us to choose Him or materialism/selfishness ?

So is real reality much much different to our day to day perceived reality, and being holy is simply getting in touch with the former - God ?

 

[nablaise]

Hi,

I think the answer is ‘YES’ to most of your questions.

This subject is beautifully articulated in the CCC.
St. John says that ‘he who does not love does not know God because God is love’.

So we can see here that the word ‘know’ is used like in Genesis, which means being into intimate communion with something.

Those who love they know God because God is love.

By loving we are ‘worshipping’. Dr. Scott Hahn does a good job of explaining Revelation. He explains how christians worship in their everyday life. A worship which culminated in the Mass.

As humans, and being religious being, we are always worshiping. The question is are we worshiping God or something else. It is by our worshiping which is characterised by what preocupies our minds (head) and what is in our hands ( our actions) that we get marked with either the mark of the Lamb, or the mark of the Beast.

We are familiar with the saying that God can do everything because he is powerful, but I think in the modern world this statement should be updated. God can not do anything. Because he can not do anything which is against his nature. For example. He can not lie, or be unfaithul to himself.

III. God, “He Who Is,” Is Truth and Love (CCC)

 

[abucs]

Thanks nablaise,

just reading John’s 1st letter now mentioning what you posted.

I guess you couldn’t go too far wrong simply living the concept he presented there.

God Bless.