Defending the Faith

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Defending the Faith

• Truth, the Existence of God, and the Problem of
  Evil

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So Many Religions So Little Time

• According to the World Christian Encyclopedia
  there are over 10,000 distinct religions in the
  world
• There are about 33,830 Christian denominations,
  which one is right?
• 150 religions have more than a million members
• How do you know which one is right?

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Five Life-Changing Questions

• Is there Truth?
• Does God Exist?
• Is there Revelation?
• Is Jesus God?
• Did Jesus start the Catholic Church?

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Is there Truth?
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What is Truth?

• Truth is the minds correspondence to reality
• When our mind perceives reality the way it really
  is
• Objective vs. Subjective Truth
• Objective Truth something is true independent
  of whether I believe it
• Subjective Truth something is true if I believe
  it so

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What is Truth?

• False theories of Truth
• Relativism
• Agnosticism Skepticism
• Are Religious Truths Objective?
• Yes
• How can matters of faith be objective?
• Faith is not believing something you cant prove
  because its contrary to reason, but believing
  something thats beyond reason

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Finding the Truth

• The truth doesnt conform to us, we conform to
  the truth.
• Seeking the truth is not about finding what
  works for you but finding the truth of how
  things really work
• We shouldnt be a member of a religion simply
  because it agrees with us, but because it is the
  truth.
• Catholicism is not Burger King its not our way
  right away

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What is Faith?

• Faith is a personal adherence of the whole man to
  God who reveals himself. It involves an assent of
  the intellect and will to the self-revelation God
  has made through his deeds and words.
• "To believe" has thus a twofold reference to the
  person, and to the truth to the truth, by trust
  in the person who bears witness to it.
• Catechism of the Catholic Church 176 177

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Faith Science

• Faith Science do not conflict
• Methodical research in all branches of
  knowledge, provided it is carried out in a truly
  scientific manner and does not override moral
  laws, can never conflict with the faith, because
  the things of the world and the things of faith
  derive from the same God. CCC 159
• Creation vs. Evolution

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Is There a God?

• Argument from Causality
• If everything that exists in the universe has a
  cause for its existence (a reason why it exists
  the way it does)
• There must be a First Cause to start everything
  going
• We call HimGOD

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Is There a God?

• Kalam Cosmological Argument
• Whatever began to exist, has a cause for its
  coming into being
• The universe time began to exist
• Therefore, both the universe time have a cause
  for their existence
• Outside of time
• Outside of the universe
• We call HimGod

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Is There a God?

• Pascal's Wager
• Not sure? What is the best bet? Only two
  options...either believe or not believe
• If you believe in God
• If He doesn't exist ? live a good life die
• If He does exist ? live a good life heaven
• If you don't believe in God
• If He doesn't exist ? live a sinful life die
• If He does exist ? live a sinful life hell

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What about Evil?If God is good and
All-Powerful, then how can evil exist?
What about Evil?If God is good and
All-Powerful, then how can evil exist?
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The Problem of Evil

• All from the Fall of Adam Eve
• Evils of Nature only a problem because we are
  in the way
• Never meant to be outside the Garden
• Entropy Material reality falls apart
• Evils from Sin whether ours or others
• Free will
• The preciousness of love is worth the risk of
  free will
• Still Not Enough

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The Final Word on Truth

• "If you continue in my word, you are truly my
  disciples, and you will know the truth, and the
  truth will make you free." John 831-32

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Catholic Cool Stuff St. Padre Pio

• Handbook of Catholic Apologetics by Peter Kreeft
  and Ronald Tacelli
• The Journey by Peter Kreeft
• www.peterkreeft.com
• Prove It! God by Amy Welborn
• Because God is Real Sixteen Questions, One
  Answer by Peter Kreeft

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Defending the Faith

• Truth, the Existence of God, and the Problem of
  Evil