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Catherine Mendenhall-Baugh discusses scientific ways we can know the truth of God's existence.


I admit to being fascinated with people who call themselves atheists. From what I’ve learned, atheists believe that almost everything can be explained by science. Many atheists have studied the Bible and are fascinated with the subject of Jesus. Atheists are just like you and I: everyday people in all walks of life; they just don’t believe in God. They believe they were born, they live their lives to the fullest, and then they die and cease to exist. There are some who believe in an afterlife, but only as it translates to another realm. Basically, they believe that life is lived and then you die. 

Astrophysicist Robert Jastrow, a self-described agnostic, stated, “The seed of everything that has happened in the Universe was planted in the first instant; every star, every planet and every living creature in the Universe came into being as a result of events that were set in motion in the moment of the cosmic explosion…the Universe flashed into being and we cannot find out what caused that to happen. It was literally the moment of creation.” The universe had to have started somehow. Who started the explosion of light and matter? Jastrow concludes: “For the scientist who has lived by his faith in the power of reason, this story ends like a bad dream. He has scaled the mountains of ignorance, he is about to conquer the highest peak, and as he pulls himself over the final rock, he is greeted by a band of theologians who have been sitting there for centuries" ("Did God Create the Universe? See the Scientific Evidence," EveryStudent.com)

 

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In 1948, atheist scientists concluded that this was because the universe was infinite in age. But in the 1960s this theory was refuted. The primordial background radiation pointed to an explosive start of the universe, as did levels of hydrogen, lithium, deuterium and helium.

We know that God is real because He has revealed Himself to us in three ways: in creation, in His word and in His Son, Jesus Christ. The most basic proof of God’s existence is simply what He has made. (GotQuestions.org)

 

As Catholics and Christians, so much of what we learned about God is through the Bible. Remember that it took over 1500 years to write the Bible. It had approximately 40 or more authors. Logic would make you question how something that took this long to write could be real, or whether the messages could be real and true. The story of Creation, for example, is written in the Bible: 

The earth was without form or shape, with darkness over the abyss and a mighty wind sweeping over the waters—Then God said: Let there be light, and there was light. God saw that the light was good. (Genesis 1:2-4a)

What makes the Bible unique (and the largest selling book in the world, I might add) if it’s not even real? Jason Lisle  describes it this way:

The Bible is unique. But then the other thing that sets it apart as true is it is remarkably self-consistent. God’s moral law, man’s rebellion against God’s law and finally and most important, God’s plan of salvation. These are continuing themes throughout the Bible. (AnsweringGenesis.org)

 

One author I read stated that the real source of why the Bible is true is God Himself. He wants to be known and He finds ways to work with us to make that happen.

I would tend to agree with that assessment. I am questioned all the time about why I write these articles for Catholic websites. I’m not sure the reason, other than I get these ideas and feel an overwhelming need to write them down. If I were honest, many times it doesn’t even feel like I’m writing them. It feels like I’m in a hurry to get this stuff out there and written. Father Dave, my pastor for more than 15 years, tells me it’s the Holy Spirit working within me. I do believe in God, though, and I believe He does work within each of us to let His presence known.

There is a great deal of information we now know that proves God’s existence. The perfect size of the earth, the distance from the earth to the sun, the DNA code which is in each of our cells, the complexity of the human brain, how we process more than a million messages a second along with our thoughts and emotions, just to name a few.

 

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There will always be believers and non-believers. My mom used to say that most people will have to face the reality of God the moment they die. As usual, I think my mom had a lot of wisdom about these things, but her faith was undeniable and strong.

There is a certain irony in what she’s saying.

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. (John 3:16)

 

This is true for everyone, even atheists.

 

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Copyright 2022 Catherine Mendenhall-Baugh
Images: Canva