our catholic faith living what we believe chapter 1 our loving god: father and creator one, true...

OurOur Catholic Catholic FaithFaithLiving What We BelieveLiving What We Believe

CHAPTER 1CHAPTER 1

Our Loving God: Father and CreatorOur Loving God: Father and Creator

One, True GodOne, True God

Beliefs about GodBeliefs about God

Divine RevelationDivine Revelation

Who Is God?Who Is God?

Creator of Heaven and EarthCreator of Heaven and Earth

Chapter 1 Chapter 1 Our Loving God: Father and CreatorOur Loving God: Father and Creator

One, True GodOne, True God

The heavens declare the glory of God;

the sky proclaims its builder’s craft.

Psalm 19:2

We need never fear the journey if we realize that We need never fear the journey if we realize that God is our Father, a loving Father, and that he God is our Father, a loving Father, and that he is in charge, directing us to our destination.is in charge, directing us to our destination.

Belief in one true God is central to all other Belief in one true God is central to all other aspects of our Catholic faith.aspects of our Catholic faith.



Few questions are more important than the Few questions are more important than the question of God’s existence. question of God’s existence.

Through history, the vast majority Through history, the vast majority of people have worshiped of people have worshiped some kind of deity. some kind of deity.



Monotheistic religionsMonotheistic religions

JudaismJudaism

ChristianityChristianity

IslamIslam

Polytheistic religionPolytheistic religion

HinduismHinduism

monomono – one – one

theostheos – God – God

polypoly – many – many



DeistsDeists – believe that God created the – believe that God created the universe, but that he takes no further universe, but that he takes no further interest in itinterest in it

AtheistsAtheists – do not believe in the existence of – do not believe in the existence of GodGod

Secular humanistsSecular humanists – claim the world can – claim the world can operate without any recourse to Godoperate without any recourse to God

AgnosticsAgnostics – people who claim that God’s – people who claim that God’s existence cannot be knownexistence cannot be known



By natural reason man can know God with By natural reason man can know God with certainty, on the basis of his works. But certainty, on the basis of his works. But

there is another order of knowledge, which there is another order of knowledge, which man cannot possibly arrive at by his own man cannot possibly arrive at by his own powers: the order of divine Revelation. powers: the order of divine Revelation.

Through an utterly free decision, God has Through an utterly free decision, God has revealed himself and given himself to man. revealed himself and given himself to man. This he does by revealing the mystery, his This he does by revealing the mystery, his plan of loving goodness, formed from all plan of loving goodness, formed from all

eternity in Christ, for the benefit of all men. eternity in Christ, for the benefit of all men. God has fully revealed this plan by sending God has fully revealed this plan by sending us his beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, us his beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,

and the Holy Spirit. and the Holy Spirit. Catechism of the Catholic Church no. 50Catechism of the Catholic Church no. 50



Intellectual Proofs for God’s ExistenceIntellectual Proofs for God’s Existence1. 1. The Unmoved MoverThe Unmoved Mover – whatever is in motion must – whatever is in motion must

be moved by something elsebe moved by something else

2. 2. First CauseFirst Cause – nothing causes itself – nothing causes itself

3. 3. Everything Comes from SomethingEverything Comes from Something – “nothing” – “nothing” cannot create “something” cannot create “something”

4. 4. Supreme ModelSupreme Model – we can only speak of different – we can only speak of different degrees of qualities (truth, beauty, goodness) by degrees of qualities (truth, beauty, goodness) by comparing them to a reference pointcomparing them to a reference point

5. 5. Grand DesignerGrand Designer – the beauty, immensity, symmetry, – the beauty, immensity, symmetry, and power in the world forces us to conclude that a and power in the world forces us to conclude that a Grand Designer made it allGrand Designer made it all

Intellectual Proofs for God’s ExistenceIntellectual Proofs for God’s Existence1. 1. The Unmoved MoverThe Unmoved Mover – whatever is in motion must – whatever is in motion must

be moved by something elsebe moved by something else

2. 2. First CauseFirst Cause – nothing causes itself – nothing causes itself

3. 3. Everything Comes from SomethingEverything Comes from Something – “nothing” – “nothing” cannot create “something” cannot create “something”

4. 4. Supreme ModelSupreme Model – we can only speak of different – we can only speak of different degrees of qualities (truth, beauty, goodness) by degrees of qualities (truth, beauty, goodness) by comparing them to a reference pointcomparing them to a reference point

5. 5. Grand DesignerGrand Designer – the beauty, immensity, symmetry, – the beauty, immensity, symmetry, and power in the world forces us to conclude that a and power in the world forces us to conclude that a Grand Designer made it allGrand Designer made it all



Heartfelt Proofs for God’s ExistenceHeartfelt Proofs for God’s Existence1. 1. An unquenchable thirst for joy and happinessAn unquenchable thirst for joy and happiness – God – God

implanted a homing device that causes us to be implanted a homing device that causes us to be restless until we find himrestless until we find him

2. 2. An experience of beauty and truthAn experience of beauty and truth – when we – when we experience profound joy and truth, we get a taste of experience profound joy and truth, we get a taste of God’s beauty and truthGod’s beauty and truth

3. 3. A sense of personal conscience, moral goodness, A sense of personal conscience, moral goodness, and justiceand justice – we sense there is an absolute moral – we sense there is an absolute moral authority that teaches the standard of human authority that teaches the standard of human behaviorbehavior

4. 4. LoveLove – love comes from love itself: God – love comes from love itself: God



Divine RevelationDivine Revelation – God’s self-revelation – God’s self-revelation

HumanHuman

ReasonReason

SalvationSalvation

HistoryHistory

BibleBible

CovenantCovenant

NoahNoah

AbrahamAbraham

SinaiSinai

Jesus ChristJesus Christ



The Deposit of FaithThe Deposit of Faith

►► entrusted by Christ to the Apostles entrusted by Christ to the Apostles

Sacred TraditionSacred Tradition

the living “handingthe living “handing

on” of the Church’son” of the Church’s

Gospel messageGospel message

Sacred ScriptureSacred Scripture

divinely inspireddivinely inspired

writings writings



SacredSacred

TraditionTradition

& &

Sacred Sacred

ScriptureScripture

SacredSacred

TraditionTradition

& &

Sacred Sacred

ScriptureScripture

Christ

MagisteriumMagisteriumPope & bishopsPope & bishops

dogmadogma

central truthscentral truths

The ApostlesThe Apostles



YahwehYahweh““I Am”I Am”

Omnipresenteverywhere

Omnipotentalmighty

Unique

Eternal

Infinite

Immense

Contains allthings

Utterlysimple

Immutableunchanging

Personal

Holy



The Blessed TrinityThe Blessed Trinity

God

Father

HolySpirit

Son

The central mystery of faith



Truths about God’s creation:Truths about God’s creation:

God freely created an orderly and good world God freely created an orderly and good world out of nothing.out of nothing.

God is totally beyond us. At the same time, God God is totally beyond us. At the same time, God is present to us, upholding and sustaining is present to us, upholding and sustaining creation.creation.

God guides creation through divine providence.God guides creation through divine providence.

God created human beings in hisGod created human beings in hisimage and likeness.image and likeness.

In the beginning,when God created the

heavens and the earth… Genesis 1:1



Truths about God’s creation:Truths about God’s creation:

God created us male and female out of love and God created us male and female out of love and for love. for love.

God is the creator of all that is seen and unseen.God is the creator of all that is seen and unseen.

Though essentially good because God made us, Though essentially good because God made us, humans are tainted with sin.humans are tainted with sin.

Through Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Through Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit, God invites us into a personal Spirit, God invites us into a personal relationship with him.relationship with him.



The Fall and Original SinThe Fall and Original Sin

Adam Adam

& Eve& Evemisuse of freedom

disobedience

Loss of Original Holiness and Loss of Original Holiness and JusticeJustice

Disunity between God and their Disunity between God and their descendants descendants

Disharmony between nature and Disharmony between nature and humanshumans

Alienation from each otherAlienation from each other

OriginalOriginal

SinSin



Our fallen human nature:Our fallen human nature: IgnoranceIgnorance SufferingSuffering ConcupiscenceConcupiscence DeathDeath

Liberation from Original Sin:Liberation from Original Sin: Only through Jesus ChristOnly through Jesus Christ BaptismBaptism Constant help of Holy SpiritConstant help of Holy Spirit



The rewards for those who believe in the The rewards for those who believe in the one, true God:one, true God:

1. We come to knowledge of God’s 1. We come to knowledge of God’s greatness and his love for us – God greatness and his love for us – God loves us unconditionally loves us unconditionally

2. Our life has meaning – we have dignity 2. Our life has meaning – we have dignity and should care for one anotherand should care for one another

3. God will always care for us – 3. God will always care for us – God will not abandon us when we sinGod will not abandon us when we sin


VOCABULARYVOCABULARY Atheist Atheist (16)(16) Monotheistic Monotheistic (17)(17) Polytheistic Polytheistic (17)(17) Deism Deism (18)(18) Secular Humanist Secular Humanist (18)(18) Agnostic Agnostic (18)(18) Doctor of the Church Doctor of the Church (21)(21) Revelation Revelation (22)(22) Salvation History Salvation History (22)(22) Covenant Covenant (22)(22) Bible Bible (22)(22) Sacred Tradition Sacred Tradition (25)(25)

Dogma Dogma (25)(25) Omnipresent Omnipresent (26)(26) Omnipotence Omnipotence (26)(26) Yahweh Yahweh (26)(26) Blessed Trinity Blessed Trinity (27)(27) Abba Abba (27)(27) Divine Providence Divine Providence (30)(30) Original Sin Original Sin (30)(30) Original Holiness and Original Holiness and

Justice Justice (31)(31) Concupiscence Concupiscence (31)(31)


The LORD is my shepherd; there is nothing I The LORD is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack.lack.

In green pastures you let me graze;In green pastures you let me graze;

to safe waters you lead me;to safe waters you lead me;

you restore my strength.you restore my strength.

You guide me along the right pathYou guide me along the right path

for the sake of your name.for the sake of your name.

Even when I walk through a dark valley,Even when I walk through a dark valley,

I fear no harm, for you are at my side;I fear no harm, for you are at my side;

your rod and your staff give me courage.your rod and your staff give me courage.

You set a table before me as my enemies You set a table before me as my enemies watch; watch;

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Psa

lm 2

3P

salm

23

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