Looking to become a catholic but have some questions that are blocking my journey to truly following Jesus.

R

ripo

New member
Dear all,

I am in the process of considering becoming Catholic, but I have a few important questions that I would greatly appreciate your insight on:

1. Empirical Evidence and Faith:
- As I seek to follow Jesus, I find it challenging to embrace faith in His divinity and the Bible’s divine inspiration, particularly because there is no direct scientific proof. How does the Church address the need for faith in the absence of empirical evidence, especially when verses like John 20:29 encourage faith without seeing?

2. God’s Rest:
- In Genesis 2:2-3, it says that God “rested from all His work” on the seventh day. Since God is spirit and does not experience fatigue (Psalm 121:4), what does it mean that God rested? Is this rest symbolic, and if so, what does it signify about His nature and creation?

3. Salvation and Extraterrestrial Life:
- The Bible teaches that salvation is through Jesus (John 14:6), but if there is intelligent life on other planets, they would not know Jesus and His sacrifice. How does the Church reconcile this, especially given that Earth is presented as central to God’s plan of salvation (Genesis 1:1)?

4. Salvation Beyond Earth:
- If intelligent life exists on other planets, how would the teachings on salvation in Christ apply to them? Does Catholic theology address the possibility of extraterrestrial beings, and how would their relationship with God and salvation be understood?

Thank you very much for your time and guidance. I greatly appreciate your help as I continue on my faith journey.

Thanks,
Adam
 
Glad to hear of your seeking.
1. It is a set of beliefs rather than a limited academic field of endeavor. Rather than being discovered by man, it has been revealed to man in the metaphysical realm. Truly supernatural. As it is with gravity, we cannot observe gravity, but only its effects. consider a thought. It is immaterial, yet we must think to function. Saint Anselm of Canterbury exhorted seekers to believe so that they might understand rather than to demand understanding before they would believe. The Catholic church is the most difficult to join and the easiest to leave, as it should be. False "churches" are easy to join and difficult to leave.
2. We are limited by finite human understanding, further complicated by the vagaries of human language. "Rest" for this purpose may be taken as a cessation of creative activity without any diminution of God's sustaining activity. We teach that we are held in created state, breath given, hearts beating at the will of God.
3. Hypotheticals are pure academic endeavors, being thought and perception exercises. Since there is no hard evidence, and none has been revealed, we can speculate either way and remain Christian.
4. Honestly, we have our plates full with the challenges and tribulations of earthly life. You might contact the Magis Center which studies faith, science and all created matter.

Magis Center | Science, Reason, and Faith

Discover the intersection of science, reason and faith. Learn from Fr. Robert Spitzer on happiness, suffering, and evidence of God from science and reason.
www.magiscenter.com www.magiscenter.com
 
po18guy said:
Glad to hear of your seeking.
1. It is a set of beliefs rather than a limited academic field of endeavor. Rather than being discovered by man, it has been revealed to man in the metaphysical realm. Truly supernatural. As it is with gravity, we cannot observe gravity, but only its effects. consider a thought. It is immaterial, yet we must think to function. Saint Anselm of Canterbury exhorted seekers to believe so that they might understand rather than to demand understanding before they would believe. The Catholic church is the most difficult to join and the easiest to leave, as it should be. False "churches" are easy to join and difficult to leave.
2. We are limited by finite human understanding, further complicated by the vagaries of human language. "Rest" for this purpose may be taken as a cessation of creative activity without any diminution of God's sustaining activity. We teach that we are held in created state, breath given, hearts beating at the will of God.
3. Hypotheticals are pure academic endeavors, being thought and perception exercises. Since there is no hard evidence, and none has been revealed, we can speculate either way and remain Christian.
4. Honestly, we have our plates full with the challenges and tribulations of earthly life. You might contact the Magis Center which studies faith, science and all created matter.

Magis Center | Science, Reason, and Faith

Discover the intersection of science, reason and faith. Learn from Fr. Robert Spitzer on happiness, suffering, and evidence of God from science and reason.
www.magiscenter.com www.magiscenter.com
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Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts. I truly appreciate your explanation, especially regarding "rest"—it’s much clearer to me now. Your insights on faith and belief have been really helpful. I’ll definitely look into the Magis Center as you suggested. Also, I’m excited to share that I’ll be joining the local church here soon. My questions are all aimed at better understanding the Church, the Bible, and drawing closer to Jesus and God.
 
ripo said:
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts. I truly appreciate your explanation, especially regarding "rest"—it’s much clearer to me now. Your insights on faith and belief have been really helpful. I’ll definitely look into the Magis Center as you suggested. Also, I’m excited to share that I’ll be joining the local church here soon. My questions are all aimed at better understanding the Church, the Bible, and drawing closer to Jesus and God.
Click to expand...
Laus Deo!

Welcome to the Church. This just goes to show the true worth of websites and forums such as this one. It's worth it even for one conversion.
 
ripo said:
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts. I truly appreciate your explanation, especially regarding "rest"—it’s much clearer to me now. Your insights on faith and belief have been really helpful. I’ll definitely look into the Magis Center as you suggested. Also, I’m excited to share that I’ll be joining the local church here soon. My questions are all aimed at better understanding the Church, the Bible, and drawing closer to Jesus and God.
Click to expand...
“IF” you have not already, please consider going to Adoration of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament (also known as “Holy Hour”). Call your local parish and find out when they offer it. Then, just go and sit in silence in Christ’s Presence. Take your bible. Read scripture, pray, contemplate. Tell the Lord of your search for truth, of your doubts, worries, even fears. Then, be as patient with Him as He has been with you. When you receive the grace to know that HE IS THERE, you will be forever changed. Miracles occur in Christ’s presence - of that I can personally attest.
 
po18guy said:
“IF” you have not already, please consider going to Adoration of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament (also known as “Holy Hour”). Call your local parish and find out when they offer it. Then, just go and sit in silence in Christ’s Presence. Take your bible. Read scripture, pray, contemplate. Tell the Lord of your search for truth, of your doubts, worries, even fears. Then, be as patient with Him as He has been with you. When you receive the grace to know that HE IS THERE, you will be forever changed. Miracles occur in Christ’s presence - of that I can personally attest.
Click to expand...
Excellent advice.
 
If you have not attended a mass before, here is some counsel from three former Protestant pastors:
 
You might also check out the Traditional Latin Mass. It is beautiful. This is the Mass I attend probably 95% of the time.

The Mass itself begins at about the nine-minute mark.

 
ripo said:
3. Salvation and Extraterrestrial Life:
- The Bible teaches that salvation is through Jesus (John 14:6), but if there is intelligent life on other planets, they would not know Jesus and His sacrifice. How does the Church reconcile this, especially given that Earth is presented as central to God’s plan of salvation (Genesis 1:1)?
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I submit this is not something the church needs to reconcile until intelligent life on other planets can be proven.
We have no evidence of intelligent life beyond this planet.
 
vz71 said:
I submit this is not something the church needs to reconcile until intelligent life on other planets can be proven.
We have no evidence of intelligent life beyond this planet.
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It’s true that, at present, we lack direct proof of intelligent life beyond Earth. However, considering the vastness of the cosmos and the rapid pace of scientific discovery, many people (including theologians) find it prudent to at least explore the theological and philosophical implications now, rather than wait for evidence that could surface at any time. Engaging in these discussions doesn’t presume fact—it simply acknowledges the growing possibility that life, in some form, could exist elsewhere, and prepares us for how that might shape our understanding of creation and our place in it.
 
ripo said:
Engaging in these discussions doesn’t presume fact—it simply acknowledges the growing possibility that life, in some form, could exist elsewhere, and prepares us for how that might shape our understanding of creation and our place in it.
Click to expand...
Without a concrete example to work with, such a conversation is meaningless.
 
vz71 said:
Without a concrete example to work with, such a conversation is meaningless.
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You can say the same about the bible. “Without concrete examples to work, such a conversation is meaningless”, but yet we have faith and believe in Jesus and God.
 
Other life forms may be much worse than humans. A coin toss if we want to search for them. Find me a Sasquatch and we'll go from there.
 
ripo said:
You can say the same about the bible.
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Only if one wants to compare faith in God's word a belief in intelligent life beyond this planet.

See on the one hand is the word of God. Complete with a smattering of archeological evidence as well as his son and his church.
On the other hand, there is a belief in a statistical anomaly.

One needs concrete examples. Else there are just too many variables to make for any type of meaningful discussion.
Where is this life? How long has it been there? How exactly could it relate to us? Are they fallen like us? Are they not?
Sure, someone can come up with a series of if's and's and else's, but invariably it proves to be nothing like the reality.
 
ripo said:
Dear all,

I am in the process of considering becoming Catholic, but I have a few important questions that I would greatly appreciate your insight on:

1. Empirical Evidence and Faith:
- As I seek to follow Jesus, I find it challenging to embrace faith in His divinity and the Bible’s divine inspiration, particularly because there is no direct scientific proof. How does the Church address the need for faith in the absence of empirical evidence, especially when verses like John 20:29 encourage faith without seeing?
Click to expand...
Adam-

I will provide a different approach to your first question; perhaps it will help you. Let me know what you think.

Minimal Facts for Resurrection​


The Minimal Facts Argument, developed by Dr. Gary Habermas, is a method used to argue for the historical resurrection of Jesus Christ. This approach relies on a set of facts that are widely accepted by both skeptical and believing scholars, ensuring a common ground for discussion.

All of the following facts are supported by evidence outside of the New Testament. They are not in dispute among credentialed scholars.

1. Jesus was a real person who died from the effects of Roman crucifixion.
2. Shortly after Jesus’ death and burial, His disciples had numerous experiences which caused them to believe that Jesus was alive again.
3. Jesus’ disciples were transformed by (and willing to die for) their belief in Jesus’ bodily resurrection.
4. James, the doubting brother of Jesus, became a Christian after experiencing what he believed to be an encounter with Jesus whom James claimed had risen from the dead.
5. Saul, a Pharisee and persecutor of the early Church, became a Christian after experiencing what he believed to be an encounter with Jesus whom Saul claimed had risen from the dead.
6. The disciples’ accounts of their post-mortem encounters with Jesus were reported and recorded relatively soon after they allegedly occurred.

Using the principle of Occam’s Razor, what is the simplest explanation that accounts for all six of these facts?

"Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth." - Sherlock Holmes

Habermas is not insisting that the Bible is INSPIRED; the standard is that it contains an ancient collection of eye-witness accounts of the events. These accounts are supported by multiple attestation, the criterion of embarrassment (found by women, etc), and the obvious lack of collaboration (ie, they are not strictly harmonious) as well as archaeological corroboration, extra-biblical confirmation and more. IOW, they are historically accurate and reliable AS HISTORY.

1. If the minimal facts are true, then belief in the resurrection is reasonable.
2. The minimal facts are true.
3. Therefore, belief in the resurrection is reasonable.
4. If belief in the resurrection is reasonable, then it is reasonable to believe that Jesus' other claims about Himself are true.
5. Jesus claimed to be God.
6. Therefore, it is reasonable to believe that God exists.

Thoughts?
 
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