“In order to express something about God, we use imperfect images and limited notions. And so everything we say about God is subject to the reservation that our language is not equal to God’s greatness. Therefore we must constantly purify and improve our speech about God” (Youcat, p.16).
If God exists, and He is infinite, then there must therefore be an infinite number of ways to express something about God.
—
This past semester I had the opportunity to take a class on the philosophy of religion, which I’m confident has expanded my perspective on the search for God through reason. Catholicism makes the claim that man is receptive to God, and that man’s longing for God, which can be sought through reason, is ultimately what religion is there to address. The personal difficulty I have which, at times, prevents me from fully embracing Catholicism, is that a closed system can either be consistent OR complete, but never both. However, I do recognize the benefit from devoting oneself to a closed system in the sense that it allows for a life of consistent integrity based on that system’s beliefs.
Witnessing difference in religion is like a group of friends each giving their own personal reflection on a giant abstract painting that goes well beyond their peripheral vision, and for some reason the artist is nowhere to be found, also the painting has no title.
Catholicism is universal, but is it complete?
It’s pretty clear that all religions will consider their view on God as valid, and Christianity is no different. We believe that Jesus Christ has given us an exclusive, midnight showing, front row experience to the show. Have you ever listened to yourself recite the Apostle’s Creed? Objectively you would think yourself to be mad. This is what we believe, it’s INSANE, but it is what we FIRMLY believe.
Though I like to think it doesn’t end there.
If we are to be constantly purifying and improving our speech about God we MUST be inclusive rather than exclusive. Learning the beliefs and practices of other faiths does nothing to hurt your Catholic integrity as long as you trust that we as a church are blessed by God. It’s a beautiful thing to witness youth become so in love with the Lord that they seek different ways to express that love without limitation.
We are free as soon as we grasp the concept of our freedom.
Therefore, I make the claim that God is infinite.
– Jesse R.