Knowing God through Creation Chapter 1

How do you know that God exists? Can you prove it? St. Thomas Aquinas could!

The First Mover Anything moved is moved by something else. Someone has to move the first domino (video clip).

The First Cause Anything caused is caused by something else.

Necessary Being Everything is dependent on something else for existence.

Greatest Being There is a source of all greatness – God is the best of everything.

Intelligent Designer The creator is always smarter than the creation.

Man = body and soul Body Soul – 2 special powers How do our bodies help us? What can we do because we have a body? Soul – 2 special powers Intellect: power to understand Free will: ability to choose Man is unique because he is part of the material world and the spiritual world.

Inanimate Creation (rocks, water, etc.) Man is like a bridge. Material (Visible) World Body Spiritual (Invisible) World Soul Man is the highest of the material world. Why? Man is the lowest of the spiritual world. Man Animals Plants Inanimate Creation (rocks, water, etc.) God Angels Man

Man knows God by reason Reason – using our minds St. Thomas Aquinas’ 5 Proofs Observing order and design in the universe Read student book p. 13, paragraphs 1-4 Explaining order and design as chance is quite foolish!

Man knows God by revelation God reveals himself to us Revelation = the truths of the faith which God has made known to us through Scripture and Tradition. Scripture – 2 meanings 1. Word of God written in the Bible 2. Word made Flesh, Jesus Christ, who reveals God most fully because Jesus is God. Tradition - the Word of God, taught in its fullness by the apostles, and by the doctrine, life and worship of the Church.

The Church Magisterium Passes on and protects the truths of our Faith Magisterium = the Pope and bishops in union with him. Their “job” is to pass on the fullness of truth and guard it from error. The Holy Spirit guides them and protects from error the truths needed for salvation. Church disciplines may change, but doctrines do not. Example: The manner in which a wedding is celebrated may change from the 3rd century to present day, but the Sacrament of Matrimony does not change.

Closing Prayer Act of Faith O my God, I firmly believe that You are one God in three divine Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I believe that Your divine Son became man and died for our sins, and that He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe these and all the truths that the Holy Catholic Church teaches because You have revealed them, Who can neither deceive nor be deceived. AMEN.