My Husband is Agnostic

[Tonks40]

I was in conversation today with my husband in regards to Catholicism and religious beliefs. Though my husband claims to be Anglican, upon further discussion, I came to know what his true feelings are.

He says that he believes in God or “a god”. He prays to Him all the time. But he’s hesitant about Christianity in general, Catholicism more specifically. He claims that over the years, Vatican archeologists and scientist have blocked the release of relevant sociological and archeological finds of ancient times that could possible disprove Christianity. Also, he feels that man may not have been created by God, that the possibility is out there that we came from “alien races” and they populated the Earth and other planets, among other things. The gist of his philosophy goes like this: I believe there’s a God, but I cannot ignore/dispute scientific evidence that we came from somewhere else. Until I can find a happy medium between science and religion, I will stay the way I am until proven otherwise."

sigh I’m exasperated! I want so much to explain to him about the Truth in God and Jesus Christ, but admittedly, I am not well-versed in agnosticism, and I don’t even know where to begin. I pray for him everyday that God may help plant the seed of faith and belief, so that he may understand the glory of God’s mercy and grace. But I don’t think he’s even close to that at this point in his life.

BTW, in case you’re wondering, my re-conversion back to the Catholic faith is very recent, so the issue of religion (other than state that I’m Catholic and his claim of being Anglican) was as far as we got in the pre-marriage discussion prior to this year.

I’d appreciate any ideas, suggestions, resources that you kind folks can give me!

God Bless,
Tonks40

 

[needmorelight]

Tonks40:

Also, he feels that man may not have been created by God, that the possibility is out there that we came from “alien races” and they populated the Earth and other planets, among other things. The gist of his philosophy goes like this: I believe there’s a God, but I cannot ignore/dispute scientific evidence that we came from somewhere else. Until I can find a happy medium between science and religion, I will stay the way I am until proven otherwise.":

When you described your husband, it actually reminded me of someone–me . I used to read those books by Zechariah Sitchin where he proposed this idea about an alien race that populated the Earth . Now, as for his "philosphy ", all I can say is this: I am not aware of any empirical data that would support his claims that we came from somewhere else. There is a panspermia hypothesis on how life on earth came to be but whether or not science eventually finds evidence for this should not shake nor shape his faith. Science can never prove nor diprove the existence of God, that is its limitation.

Now, God is a matter of faith. I must admit that I was an agnostic before during my college years and it took me a while to come back to the Catholic faith and curb by rationalist tendencies. I guess reading Mark Shea’s book “By what authority?” was the clincher for me. I too had a lot of questions: "Why Christianity, not Islam or Buddhism? Is there any truth in Christianity? Why should I believe those people who say Jesus is real and divine? Why believe in what the bible says? what about the gnostic “gospels”? These are probably the same questions your husband is asking and Shea’s book has a lot of insights that touches on those questions. I realize that Christians believe what they believe because God revealed His Truth to us through Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition.

Tonks40:

I’d appreciate any ideas, suggestions, resources that you kind folks can give me!

God Bless,
Tonks40

Pray to God and to St. Monica’s intercession. I’m sure that your husband still has that spark of faith brough by his Anglican tradition. Books on Christian apologetics might help. “Mere Christianity” by CS Lewis (a former atheist) is one. I haven’t read “the Everlasting Man” by GK Chesterton but I heard that this is the book that convinced CS Lewis abouth the truth of Christianity. Chesterton was an Anglican before converting to Catholicism. Hope this helps.

 

[b_justb]

Tonks40:

He claims that over the years, Vatican archeologists and scientist have blocked the release of relevant sociological and archeological finds of ancient times that could possible disprove Christianity.

If they are kept oh so secret, how does he know of their existence? Aren’t agnostics by nature skeptics? Where is the critical thinking in this department? Where is the proof of these documents?

“I need proof to believe in Christianity!” OK so research it. Start from DAY 1. Begin with the Gospel accounts of the evangelists, then go to The Didache, then the Early Church Fathers. Just begin researching the history of Christ and His Church. If after doing that one still holds that Traditional Christianity is suspect, then OK, at least you checked it out first rather than saying, “I need proof” and then not seeing the proof that is already there.

 

[Tonks40]

b_justb:

If they are kept oh so secret, how does he know of their existence? Aren’t agnostics by nature skeptics? Where is the critical thinking in this department? Where is the proof of these documents?

I did ask him about his sources, and he said that he "saw it on programs a couple of times (he’s a frequent viewer of the Discovery Channel and the History Channel).

I can’t really hand him books on the ECF or other books/documents proving the existence of God and Christ because he does have a learning disability (reading) and he has a bad case of astigmatism. He does enjoy listening to tapes. Thus my dilemma. Any ideas?

Thanks for your replies.

 

[b_justb]

Tonks40:

I did ask him about his sources, and he said that he "saw it on programs a couple of times (he’s a frequent viewer of the Discovery Channel and the History Channel).

I can’t really hand him books on the ECF or other books/documents proving the existence of God and Christ because he does have a learning disability (reading) and he has a bad case of astigmatism. He does enjoy listening to tapes. Thus my dilemma. Any ideas?

Thanks for your replies.

I think, but I might be wrong, but I think New Advent has the ECF on CD. Now this might be text files. I wonder about sites that deal with research for the blind that might have audio, but I don’t know of any, just an idea.

I love the History Channel, what I like is that when ever they have contraversial stuff on religious they try to give both sides of the argument.

 

[catsrus]

originally posted by Tonks40
The gist of his philosophy goes like this: I believe there’s a God, but I cannot ignore/dispute scientific evidence that we came from somewhere else.

This sounds like my DH except that he doesn’t actually believe there is a God. It’s the “proof” thing with him also. He was raised in a religion free home with a father who is a world renown scientist.
Everything with these people has to be “proven” to be acceptable.
I have come to understand that faith is a gift and you either have it or you don’t.
I placed a green scapular under his side of the mattress a year ago and just pray for him. If he asks me a question about Catholicism, I answer it but as briefly as possible.
If he is meant to come to belief, he will, if not, all the explaining and preaching in the world will make no difference, only antagonize him.

 

[Tonks40]

catsrus:

I have come to understand that faith is a gift and you either have it or you don’t.
I placed a green scapular under his side of the mattress a year ago and just pray for him. If he asks me a question about Catholicism, I answer it but as briefly as possible.
If he is meant to come to belief, he will, if not, all the explaining and preaching in the world will make no difference, only antagonize him.

I understand where you’re coming from. I learned a long time ago, and it has been re-enforced recently, that by preaching does nothing but agitate him.

I guess I can go and see things in a more positive light: He has not rejected my faith; since we married outside of the Church, he’s not at all closing the door of recieving the Sacrament of Marraige (after my annulment goes through). He attends Mass with me and the family when he can (hard with his schedule), and he has no qualms whatsoever about having our son being raised Catholic.

 

[kage_ar]

My DH was an agnostic for years and years – with a couple of short lived foreys into Christianity and one flirt with Scientology, he remained agnostic until he had a profound conversion experience. He finished RCIA Easter ’04 and now co-teaches 7th grade CCD J

My first bit of advice, pray pray pray pray pray.

My second bit of advice is some books/authors. You mentioned needing books on tape – and the first may take some digging, but, find some material by Gerald Schroeder. One year my son bought his dad Schroeder’s “The Science of God” – that book is now dogeared from use. He has also written “Genesis and the Big Bang Theory”, “The Hidden Face of God”. This author is not Catholic, he is Jewish –

Next, you should be able to find C. S. Lewis “Mere Christianity” in audio format – it is a wonderful book. Lewis, as you may know, was an atheist before his conversion – a very rational conversion J

Pray!

 

[kildare]

needmorelight:

When you described your husband, it actually reminded me of someone–me . I used to read those books by Zechariah Sitchin where he proposed this idea about an alien race that populated the Earth QUOTE]

Belief in aliens is todays big superstition, just like belief in faries and dragons were hundred of years ago. Belief in God, however is not the same, in fact when thought through rationally, I would say its probably more of a stretch to believe that the beginning of the Universe, life and the laws of nature are the result of one huge coincidence rather than being the product of an ultimate intelligence, which is God. Many of the supposedly “rational atheist/agnostics” are not however not always acting rationality.

I think its good to think rationally. In the end we will find that true rationality comes from God.