God
Scripture
Humor
Duncan, Henrietta, and myself spent part of the afternoon discussing metaphysics and proofs for God's existence. They didn't like my "tree-and-seed" metaphor on these grounds: "What if the universe is infinite? Just an endless series of 'Big Bangs'? Then there is need to explain an origin."
In other words and after a lot of discussion and banter, we posed this hypothetical to ourselves:
There! Does this not eliminate the necessity of any argument for God? The universe is self-sufficient on its own.
Then Thomas Aquinas figuratively walked into our conversation: "Cool story bros! So if you had to name this thing in your three bullets, what would you call it?" I don't know, maybe Fred? "Neat! Good name! Can I propose a different word?"
"How about God?"
Perhaps my favorite part in all of Scripture-- I actually got to read this at Mass once; when Moses asked God what He should be called, God replied: "I am who am."
Aquinas was simply recognizing a phenomenon which so obviously exists. It's helpful to apply some handle, so we can then discuss it using language. But then you marry it to Scripture, and it becomes apparent that this phenomenon is God-- why not just use that as the handle?
In the Catholic faith the tabernacle has the "alpha" and "omega" symbols on it. We also have the "Gloria Patri":
And the Eternal Rest prayer:
These things make a lot more sense after today's conversation.
In other words and after a lot of discussion and banter, we posed this hypothetical to ourselves:
- The universe always has been and always will be; it has no beginning or end. No need to explain a creator.
- There is a perpetual force which operates on its own motive power. Being perpetual, it also has no creator.
- All other motion in the universe is driven by the force in bullet two. No need to attribute some other force.
There! Does this not eliminate the necessity of any argument for God? The universe is self-sufficient on its own.
Then Thomas Aquinas figuratively walked into our conversation: "Cool story bros! So if you had to name this thing in your three bullets, what would you call it?" I don't know, maybe Fred? "Neat! Good name! Can I propose a different word?"
"How about God?"
- Acts 17:28: "For in Him we live and move and have our being."
- Colossians 1:16-17: "In him all things hold together."
- Hebrews 1:3: "Sustaining all things by his powerful word."
Perhaps my favorite part in all of Scripture-- I actually got to read this at Mass once; when Moses asked God what He should be called, God replied: "I am who am."
Aquinas was simply recognizing a phenomenon which so obviously exists. It's helpful to apply some handle, so we can then discuss it using language. But then you marry it to Scripture, and it becomes apparent that this phenomenon is God-- why not just use that as the handle?
In the Catholic faith the tabernacle has the "alpha" and "omega" symbols on it. We also have the "Gloria Patri":
"Glory be to the Father, and to the Son:
and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be:
world without end. Amen."
and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be:
world without end. Amen."
And the Eternal Rest prayer:
"Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord,
and let Your perpetual light shine upon them.
May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed
rest in peace."
and let Your perpetual light shine upon them.
May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed
rest in peace."
These things make a lot more sense after today's conversation.