Tuesday, November 01, 2005

What in the world...



I have seen a lot of the Darwin icthus' lately, and frankly, it makes me sick. Not only are those who display this their cars making fun of those that are Christians, but they are also taking a symbol that is sacred and making a mockery of it.

The icthus happened back in early Christianity when it was dangerous to display faith. People drew the outline of this fish to symbolize that they were Christians, so they could quitely display their faith, and see those who also wore their faith.

I understand that people are going to believe what they want. Why do they have to make fun of what we believe? What I don't understand, is why they believe something that is so hard to believe. They think that our faith has questions...they have so many more questions in what they believe, and the more they research, the more they have to back up and change what they originally thought.

Aquinas wrote in his Summa Theologiae about "The Five Proofs of God". His first proof states that since some things move, there must be a cause to which they move other than itself. This could be one of two things: Either there is a chain that infinitely regresses, or there is an unmoved mover, one that moves everything. Since an infinite chain that goes back and back is impossible, it must be there is an original mover, and that is God.

His second proof is almost the same, except that he talks about cause. Everything is caused and there must be something uncaused that is causing them, therefore, God.

The third proof states that there are things that are contingent; they come into being and then they pass away. These things are logically contingent and not necessary. There must be something that is logically necessary and that is God.

His fourth proof talks about the different degrees of perfection found in the world. If things are thought of as more or less good, there must be a source that is the definition of perfect goodness, and this is God. How can we say some things have more good than another, if there isn't an ultimate good?

The fifth and final proof is the argument from design, often called the teological argument (from the greek telos, meaning end or goal). The universe is designed with us in mind (anthropic principle). If the earth were a little farther, we'd freeze. If the earth were a little closer, we'd die of heat. Everything is in the perfect place suitable for us to live in. This argument also goes on to say that everything works together for an ending or goal. How can things act in such awareness if they aren't drected by an intelligent being, this being God?

I love to talk about the different proofs for the existence of God. It just makes sense to me...there is a God, who created us, who still exists, who offers eternal life to us, and those who do not take this path...well, you know the answer to that.
I love getting off on tangents...

1 comment:

keith sandison said...

Sorry, Candy, I'm not bored or cute. You shouldn't have such high criteria.

As for Shaundra...Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Don't put too much faith in our reason...it'll only let you down. But it is kinda fun to talk about.