If I say that things in the universe are either necessary--that is, they have existence in themselves--or contingent--that is, they rely on another for their existence, and that there must be logically something that is the Necessary Thing, source of all existence for the contingent things, that's a logical argument. You don't need a religious text, or a special kind of faith or knowing to see the truth of it. You could argue I suppose that is a certain kind of sleight-of-hand, to call the Necessary Thing "God," especially if you are some sort of evangelist, as I am. Then again, what else are you going to call it?
Frankly, I think a lazy sort of agnostic likes to have arguments about the weirder aspects of allegedly supernatural truth, because he can point to some crazy person handling snakes in the mountains of West Virginia, and rail about the pernicious influence of religion on the body politic. But the truth is that this whole first paragraph is philosophy, not religion. It considers the question of whether God exists. To answer the question of whether God exists in the affirmative is not to instantly become a spiritual or religious person, because the question of God's existence is not a religious question. The Catholic Church has always maintained that there is a distinct difference between intellectually knowing that God exists, versus being in a spiritual relationship with God, and acknowledging him as Father.
Supernatural faith is indeed a gift from God, but when and where it exists, it is something which supplements the fact derived from reason that God exists. I do hope that everyone believes, in this deeper spiritual sense. It is in fact something that I pray for. But I also hope that what is logical and reasonable is apparent to all seekers of truth, prior to any considerations about the intimate, spiritual, miraculous, and supernatural.
Frankly, I think a lazy sort of agnostic likes to have arguments about the weirder aspects of allegedly supernatural truth, because he can point to some crazy person handling snakes in the mountains of West Virginia, and rail about the pernicious influence of religion on the body politic. But the truth is that this whole first paragraph is philosophy, not religion. It considers the question of whether God exists. To answer the question of whether God exists in the affirmative is not to instantly become a spiritual or religious person, because the question of God's existence is not a religious question. The Catholic Church has always maintained that there is a distinct difference between intellectually knowing that God exists, versus being in a spiritual relationship with God, and acknowledging him as Father.
Supernatural faith is indeed a gift from God, but when and where it exists, it is something which supplements the fact derived from reason that God exists. I do hope that everyone believes, in this deeper spiritual sense. It is in fact something that I pray for. But I also hope that what is logical and reasonable is apparent to all seekers of truth, prior to any considerations about the intimate, spiritual, miraculous, and supernatural.
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