We consider the philosophical arguments which show Christianity to be the most reasonable religion, and Catholicism to be the most reasonable and original version of Christianity.
Listen online [here]!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
High School Youth Group – Spring 2021 – The Catholic
Response to Atheism
January 24th - Session 11 – Why Be Catholic?
“The fool hath said in his heart: There is no
God.” -Psalm 13:1
I. Calendar: Classes continue
until May 2nd. No class on March 7th, 28th,
and April 8th.
II. Review of whether atheists can go to heaven
A. It is not our place to judge
either way, but the Lord has only revealed baptism as the means of salvation.
This inspires us to spread the Gospel to all peoples, and call all to the
sacraments!
B. When an atheist lives a truly
good life (following the natural law etc), that is an indication that God’s
grace is working in his soul. Surely, God desires the salvation of all.
III. Monotheism compared to Polytheism
A. If God is the uncaused cause,
then he must be pure existence – his very nature is to exist. However, if he is
existence itself, unlimited existence, then he must be perfectly simple without
any parts and without any potency. This
means that there could not be two Gods, because there would be nothing to
distinguish the one from the other.
Hence, monotheism is proven by reason alone.
B. Furthermore, note that the pagan religions do not claim that any of the gods
is the Creator, but all the gods are somehow born within an already existing
world. But the monotheistic God is
Creator.
C. Again, if God created the
world and sustains it, then it is reasonable to think that he would reveal
something of himself to us. Not that he has to, but because he clearly loves
the world he has made.
IV. Christianity/Judaism compared
to Islam
A. Christianity/Judaism insists
that God must be the perfection of wisdom and reason. Therefore, God cannot
contradict himself nor can he deny himself. God could not one day define one
thing as true, and then the next day define it as false – because God’s nature
is the source of all reason/logic.
B. The God of Islam, although the
monotheistic God of Judaism and Christianity, is a God “above reason.” Islam so
emphasizes God’s transcendence as to claim that he transcends even logic. God
can deny himself, and he is not bound by reason. Reason and logic are subject to changing
Divine Will.
V. Christianity compared to
Judaism
A. Even as Man stands above every
animal, so does Christ rise above every man. Whether the Lord was speaking
truly or falsely, we must admit that he has claimed what no other man has ever
claimed – to be truly God.
B. Comparing Christianity to Judaism, we consider whether Jesus fulfilled the
prophecies of the Old Testament. And, if he did not fulfil them, then clearly
they have not been fulfilled – even after the line of David has been destroyed.
Thus, if Christ didn’t fulfill the Old Testament, it seems that no one every
will.
C. Modern Judaism and
Christianity are two rivals claiming to have fulfilled ancient Judaism. It is a
common mistake to think that modern Judaism is the same religion as ancient
Judaism – rather, we maintain that Christianity is truly the religion of
Abraham and Moses. This is why we do not
encourage participating in modern Jewish religious customs that explicitly
reject Jesus as Messiah.
VI. Catholicism compared to
Protestantism
A. The Sacraments: If Jesus took
on our flesh, it is reasonable to believe that he would use material substances
and works to bring his grace to the world. This is the place of the sacraments.
B. The Order of the Church: If Jesus established a Church as his own body, it
is reasonable to think that he would establish a single Head for this single Body
– which is the Pope. Further, as a body
has order, so the Church has order through the Bishops and priests.
C. Historical proofs: Jesus must
have told his Apostles how he desired his Church to progress, and they surely
would have told their first disciples. But from the very early days of the
Church and even in the generation that was taught by the Apostles, we see both
the Eucharist and Holy Orders (bishops, priests, deacons). Therefore, the True
Church of Jesus Christ would have belief in the Eucharist and in the
Priesthood.
