Why doesn't God let himself be known?

[CarmeliteKnight]

God did that all the time for Israel in the OT and even they had a hard time believing. The same people that were freed them from egyptian slavery not long after started to complain that God should have just let them stay in slavery. These are the same people that murdered their own Messiah out of pride. Even in our day and age with all the documented miracles, secularists /atheists/modernists with rationalize it away somehow. Even if photographic evidence or flim comes out with Jesus raising someone from the dead, someone will claim it is video editing or photoshop.

Besides, as a King, Jesus doesn’t have to make these grandiose gestures for people. We in the Church Militant are tasked with evangelizing people. It’s our jobs to get people to have faith, love God, and obey His church. It’s our job to make the world a better place.

 

[Magnanimity]

He is hiding. That’s what it feels like. People can see their mother and father but we can’t see God.

I don’t know much about you, but feeling that God is hidden may be indicative of a need you have, something lacking. If I felt as you do, I’d probably see a spiritual director of some sort for guidance.

U know today’s atheists have an answer to all those questions and they teach all the kids that at school. So by the time they grow up and start working they have a naturalistic view of everything.

It’s not so bleak as all that. Star Wars, Harry Potter, the Marvel universe—what, precisely, is naturalistic about any of that? Nothing whatsoever. It is fantastical, magical and spiritual. There is little evidence that kids are drawn toward the boring, naturalistic picture presented by an atheistic materialist. That story makes everyone yawn and rightly so.

So while it may be easy for us to find God because we were taught about him

Quite a few of us (myself included) were found by God-and found him-despite not being taught anything about him as a child. My parents were New Age hippies, so there was some loose spirituality I suppose, but nothing more. I think you’re painting too simplistic a picture that makes the whole situation seem desperate. But it isn’t desperate. It is not the case that 90% of the world’s population is atheist. The reverse of that is likely true.

And what about the billions of people in Asia, practicing other religions.

You tell me. What about it? If someone is practicing a religion/spiritual path, there is good reason to believe that that person is connecting to as much of the divine Source as she can (see Lumen Gentium, 16).

My original question should of been “Why doesn’t God let himself be known among non Christians.”

As I said above, I don’t know you personally, so I would never presume to advise you. But anyone who asks these types of questions could probably benefit from some good spiritual direction. I hope you reach out for some in your local parish or elsewhere. Peace be with you.

 

[EXdrinker]

Why doesn’t God just make himself known by appearing to everyone in the sky or even on the news?

In my understanding the following from Wilfrid Stinisen’s book “Into Your Hands Father, Abandoning Ourselves to the God Who Loves Us”, best states the catholic understanding for this question…

quote- God created mankind out of generosity. He wants, not to keep his life to himself, but rather for other beings to share in his abundance. That is why he created man “in his own image” (Gen 1:27). He wanted man to be like himself to the degree that that is possible. But who is God, and what is he like? He is self-gift. In the Holy Trinity, the Father gives himself completely to the Son. He does not say “I” but “you”. To give himself is characteristic of his being; yes, this is the very heart of the matter. If God had created us in a celestial state from the beginning, so that we beheld him face to face, we would surely never have sinned, but something important would have been missing. We would not be able to share in the mutual giving, which is the essence of the Trinity. Our desire to give ourselves would never be satisfied, since we would see clearly that we gave nothing, that it was God who gave everything, even our love for him. We would see that we were carried away by the waves of love, borne on an irresistible current, without even being able to say a personal Yes to it. Life in heaven would have something unavoidable and irresistible about it. Each of us would be obliged to say: we have only received, and we have never given anything. If we are subject to trials here on earth, if we must struggle to say Yes to God, it is because in eternity God wants to say to us: “You have given me something. It is not only I who give, but rather we give to each other. I give myself in gratitude because you have given me something that you could have refused to give. Now you can no longer give me anything, but at one time you did, and it has an eternal value. I never forget.” -end quote

 

[Gab123]

This changes so many things now in my mind and takes me back to my original belief which was that we don’t know what God is or looks like.

Every civilization since the dawn of mankind has formulated their own concept and idea of what and who God is. This is because reason demands a Creator. But since man is a finite creature, and God is the infinite Creator, for man to know the truth about God, God Himself has to reveal Himself. Thus the Old Testament is a record of God beginning to reveal Himself to humankind (to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; revealing a His name to Moses; forming and purifying a people with laws and commandments with this revelation, and preparing the world for His coming, ultimately culminating with the Incarnation, that is, God Himself taking flesh and entering human history (Jesus Christ) to save, teach and lead us to heaven, the True Promised Land. Thus the Old Testament is full of typology, i.e., the exodus from Egypt to the promised land, the manna that fell from the sky to feed and sustain the People of Israel on their journey through the desert to the promised land, the raising of the serpent high on the pole for all the Israelites bitten by snakes in the desert to see and be healed, the hundreds of prophecies about the messiah (where He was to be born, how He would teach, how He was to die, etc.) were all part of God’s pedagogy (education) and preparation of the world for His coming, fulfilled by Jesus Christ. Thus God entering time and space split history in two.

 

[Gab123]

He is hiding. That’s what it feels like. People can see their mother and father but we can’t see God. In the old testament God had direct relationships with the prophets now he never makes an appearance

Miracles abound in the Church, and the miracle of the sun at Fatima is an examples of God’s power witnessed by the people of God. But God a Himself is perfectly visible, thus He calls on us to be perfect thus to see Him in heAven which is the Beatific Vision. Right now, looking at God for us would be like trying to look directly at the sun with our bare eyes. It is impossible. Thus God manifests Himself through His creation, and ultimately Himself through Jesus Christ.

 

[fhansen]

Why doesn’t God just make himself known by appearing to everyone in the sky or even on the news?

Adam “walked” with Him, knowing Him much more directly than we do-and yet denied and rejected Him for all practical purposes. In order for God to have His will be done, for His perfect wisdom to be adhered to, man must trust and love Him in an ongoing relationship, in a communion. This only occurs as we become bound to Him as the catechism teaches. He’s already here waiting like the prodigal’s Father, waiting for us to become jaded by the world’s attractions-and its lies, and injustices-and so be drawn to His love and righteousness and justice instead-drawn to Him. But He won’t force any of that on us; we must decide whether or not we want Him, whether or not we prefer ourselves to Him as the catechism also teaches that Adam did. The Church shows us what we already know in our hearts-and we determine whether or not we even want to know it.

 

[Jen7]

Beautiful.

 

[CelticWarlord]

Genesis clearly says that God made man in his image. That means he looks like a human

This is true only if one insists on a literal interpretation of the text. Again, this is not what Catholicism teaches. If you wish to view it in that way I don’t believe any harm is done, but it does limit what our already very finite human perceptions can envision of the vastness of God.

But to answer you original question in another way, looking at it from your perspective; what would be gained by God letting Himself be known in the way you mean? If, as I believe, we are here to experience growth through uncertainty and adversity, then having God more visible only hinders that. Where is there room for faith if none is any longer needed?

 

[CelticWarlord]

Are you sure? That seems like pantheism.

It does seem that way, yes. But I don’t think we need ever be alarmed at the commonalities that exist between many diverse branches in the history of religious and philosophical thought. In his series, Catholicism, Bishop Robert Barron explores all this and states, “God is not a being, or even a Supreme Being; he is all of being… He insinuates Himself into every nook and cranny of His creation”. This can be found in the companion book to the series as well, chapter 3, The Ineffable Mystery of God. There is a much briefer expose to be found in the video below.

 

[fhansen]

He is hiding. That’s what it feels like. People can see their mother and father but we can’t see God. In the old testament God had direct relationships with the prophets now he never makes an appearance

God does make direct “appearances” even now, ineffably profound and yet as matter-of-factly real as any encounter with another person. But it apparently happens the closer we grow to Him, the more we believe in and seek Him, and even then only at His discretion and for His own purposes.

 

[TheLittleLady]

Because that would have little or not impact on people.

 

[PatK63]

To see God face to face is a totally intoxicating experience. Afterward our total desire would be to know, love and serve Him. That would make us slaves. He does not want slaves but people who want to know, love and serve Him with their own free will. If we ask, He will give us t he faith to do that!

 

[tafan2]

The question presumes no such thing. Can you point me to Bishop Barron’s description of your theory?

ETA: nevermind on the question, I see you already have.

 

[Totus_tuus118]

God is a Mystery , but He has made himself known in a limited capacity through the Church. We know that God is supreme spirit , He is Being itself and we participate in His Being as human beings.

We don’t have the capacity here in this earthly life to comprehend his essence . Only the souls in Heaven see this , they behold the Beatific vision which surpasses every joy and happiness ever imaginable because man was made for God and that vision is our ultimate end. It is an intellectual vision where our minds will be completly opened up to God, and to rest in his love for all eternity .

 

[Prodigal1984]

He has. He does every day.
People choose to ignore it by being blind to the world.
I see Him every day face to face at Mass or Adoration.

 

[Neithan]

I love that series. I seriously doubt that Bp. Barron would agree that creation is a manifestation of God, though. The genius of Catholic theology is the perfect intersection of divine immanence and transcendence. Hinduism and Islam emphasize immanence and transcendence, respectively, which limits God in one way or another.

 

[CelticWarlord]

I love that series.

It really is a great series. I bought the dvd set and have watched all ten programs twice over. Episode 6 is available on You Tube and I’ve listened to it at work many dozens of times.

However we view God, the important thing is that we express our love for Him and for one another in ways that are both respectful and contain a significant personal understanding. How that best works for me won’t be how it is for you on some points, and we two will differ from others. What I like about this forum is that we can discuss those insights we feel have meaning and relate them to those who see things differently in a civilized manner without coming to blows. Blessings to you, my friend.

If you haven’t seen it there is an episode of Father Mitch Pacwa’s EWTN Live where he interviews both Barron and Matt Leonard, the series director, on the making of the Catholicism programs. Here ya go;

 

[Pai_Nosso]

It is not the case that 90% of the world’s population is atheist.

I never said that. I was going to respond to your falsehoods but the fact that you have resorted to lying about me reveals an unstable spirit that cannot be trusted for any direction.
May God’s mercy, peace and grace be with u through our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

[Pai_Nosso]

Because that would have little or not impact on people.

what would be gained by God letting Himself be known in the way you mean?

The thing that would be gained would be that everyone in the world would know the truth. Billions of people that are being taught false teachings would be all in agreement about the true God. And so every human would be saved. So where it would make no impact to us it would make a massive impact to mankind.
Wouldn’t that be nice if we all praised the one true god or do u prefer all these different religions creating division in the world?

God did that all the time for Israel in the OT and even they had a hard time believing. The same people that were freed them from egyptian slavery not long after started to complain that God should have just let them stay in slavery. These are the same people that murdered their own Messiah out of pride.

All the more reason to let himself be known among the populations that are far from him

 

[Bluebright]

Oh that is so funny
He does let himself be known… it’s called the Bible… he is in it and is known by it’s pages. It’s a biography and an autobiography. the more you read it, the more you get to know God. Another way to know him is to talk to him, otherwise known as prayer. He is right there, closer than you think waiting to be known. He is literally at your side just waiting for us to turn off our tv’s computers and phones and say hello and spend some time with him, we dont need a wifi signal or any equipment just us and him. As soon as we give the slightest hint of letting him in, he’s inflowing. But he’s not going to override our freewill and force us. A nun once said if God could be described in human terms he’d be called very polite as he doesnt interrupt us and butt in, he just patiently waits for us to want to talk to him and love him. He’s always there, just like he said he would be.