Why do you believe?

[fred_conty]

I have a friend who really likes to discuss morality stuff and we’ve been on this topic of “believing” for a while and I believe I’m stuck. He is saying “there is no reason to believe due to the current lack of evidence.” Essentially, the burden of proof falls upon the person who says it exists. In this case, it would be up to me, the Catholic, to show evidence of God. I have failed to provide empirical evidence (probably due to my own lack of skills) and thus, there is no reason to believe in it.

The question does not fall into the realm of “Does God exist or not” but more of why do you believe in something that you cannot prove?

As said previously, I’m not sure how to answer my friend, so I turn to you, the Catholic community. I don’t want to know what you would say to him, but I’m more curious:

Why do you believe?

St. Paul says:

“The language of the cross may be illogical to those who are not on the way to salvation, but those of us who are on the way see it as God’s power to save. … And so while the Jews demand miracles, and the Greeks look for wisdom, here we are preaching a crucified Christ; to the Jews an obstacle they cannot get over, and to the pegans madness…” I Cor. 1;18-24

St. Paul says it may be illogical to believe. The language of the cross is tough to accept.
Then why does anyone believe in the cross?

Faith is seeing truths not possible with reason alone, the cross.
Faith is certainty beyond any certainty reached by reason alone, based on God’s truthfulness.
Faith is one power to know supernaturally, reason is another power to know naturally, his Son Jesus.

“An unspiritual person is one who does not accept anything of the Spirit of God: he sees it all as nonsense; it is beyond his understanding because it can only be understood by means of the Spirit.” I Cor 2;14-15

The reason I believe is the Holy Spirit, pure and simple, who enlivens my faith.
The reason I someday might not believe is if I block the Holy Spirit, or doubt the Spirit.
The reason I might lose my faith is if I don’t use it or do not protect it, those things contrary to the faith.

Interview with an Exorcist by Fr. Fortea P.85

“…there were people in Jesus’ time who did not believe in Him even after witnessing His miracles. We have to understand that, regardless of what we see, grace is required for faith. If a person freely decides to resist grace’s interior and invisible invitation, he could see the heavens open and hear God speaking to him from on high through the clouds and still believe he was having a hallucination. It is not what we experience that ignites the interior of our immortal souls with the flame of faith; it is the grace of God.”

Just some thoughts.

 

[nuntym]

+JMJ+

@Contra Mundam and nuntym:

I want this to be more of a focus on why you personally believe. Care to reply back why?

blink That WAS my answer: I examined the axioms of Catholic Christianity, and it seems to be the best of all the others. The axioms of the Catholic Faith built Western civilization, after all. That’s why I pointed to you that documentary series.

And besides, the Catholic Faith from the very beginning apparently knew all that would happen at our very point in history. Have you ever read this?

After the year 1900, toward the middle of the 20th century, the people of that time will become unrecognisable. When the time for the Advent of the Antichrist approaches, peoples minds will grow cloudy from carnal passions, and dishonour and lawlessness will grow stronger. Then the world will become unrecognisable. Peoples appearances will change, and it will be impossible to distinguish men from women due to there shamelessness in dress and style of hair. These people will be cruel and will be like wild animals because of the temptations of the Antichrist. There will be no respect for parents or elders, love will disappear, and Christian pastors, bishops, and priests will become vain men, completely failing to distinguish the right hand way from the left. At that time the morals and traditions of Christians and the Church will change. People will abandon modesty, and dissipation will reign. Falsehood and greed will attain great proportions, and woe to those who pile up treasures. Lust, adultery, homosexuality, secret deeds and murder will rule in society.

-- St. Nilus, 430 AD​

Pretty spooky, eh?

 

[mh2007]

The universe has not always existed. It had an origin, a starting point…what caused that? Scientists have no explanation beyond what they believe started the physical universe we know. They believe it all started from a sudden explosion of light and matter they call the “Big Bang.”

But something eternal had to trigger the start of this physical universe. That something was God. He existed before the universe. God is the great soul, and spirit, and energy that created the universe we live in, and ponder. He will exist forever after this physical universe is long gone. God created all of it. He is existence and non-existence, energy and non-energy.

The source of the physical existence we have, and the life we live is all from God. Every aspect of human existence is authored by God. Mankind is no accident. The Earth and the planets are no accident. It is all God’s design, and cosmic recreation.

I believe we are here to know Him, and to praise him with every ounce of energy our soul and our being can muster - every day of our lives.

And who revealed God to humanity? It was Jesus, for He explained

(John 14:6-21) “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. {7} If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” {8} Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” {9} Jesus answered: "Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? {10} Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. {11} Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. {12} I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. {13} And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. {14} You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. {15} “If you love me, you will obey what I command. {16} And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-- {17} the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. {18} I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. {19} Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. {20} On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. {21} Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.”

(John 14:26-27) But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. {27} Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

(John 15:7-14) If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. {8} This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. {9} "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. {10} If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. {11} I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. {12} My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. {13} Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. {14} You are my friends if you do what I command.

(John 15:16) You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit–fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.