Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Gemma Therese · 03-06-2003, 03:54 PM

St. Thomas Aquinas said we cannot understand God because God is utterly simple -- simple beyond all our conceptions. We study, we wrestle with theological problems, we strain out minds, but the aim is to draw near to the mystery of the One who is totally simple. We have to pass through the complexity so as to arrive at simplicity.

Those of you who are searching for God -- which is all of you -- remember this.

I, too, was an athiest. And it bothered me greatly -- I just couldn't believe. I knew something in my being believed in God, but I couldn't find it ... I now think that the most innate part of one's being is theistic, regardless of what that person recognizes or acknowledges.

Don't lose hope.

Gemma Therese

03-06-2003, 03:57 PM

Yup ... don't lost hope ....

Duck! · 03-06-2003, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gemma Therese
I, too, was an athiest. And it bothered me greatly -- I just couldn't believe. I knew something in my being believed in God, but I couldn't find it ...

You were an atheist and yet you knew that something in your being believed in God?

Jeez, you were a pretty shitty atheist.

Duck!

Duck! · 03-06-2003, 04:07 PM

If simplicity was the key, then why didn't Mr. Aquinas just condense his argument into a couple of sentences instead of publishing weighty tomes of theology that atheists like me are afraid to even think about reading? I mean, it's not like his theology was ...gasp... complex, was it?

Duck!

Gemma Therese · 03-06-2003, 04:08 PM

We must pass through complexity to arrive at simplicity.

Gemma Therese

Ensign Steve · 03-06-2003, 04:16 PM

It would be even simpler just to take the universe at face value. To go with the simplest and most logical explanations of why the universe is the way it is. To accept that the universe is bound by natural laws that don't need to be bent or re-phrased in order to fit somebody else's 2000 year old ideas of how things work (or what we now know they really meant by it, now that we know how it really works).

1. I am not searching for god. Remember that.
2. It does not bother me one bit that I am an atheist.
3. I have not lost hope.

Have a nice day.

Jen

Marduk · 03-06-2003, 04:20 PM

"I, too, was an athiest. And it bothered me greatly -- I just couldn't believe. I knew something in my being believed in God, but I couldn't find it "

Just out of curiosity, what made you pick Catholicism out of a general feeling of Theism?

Duck! · 03-06-2003, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gemma Therese
We must pass through complexity to arrive at simplicity.

Gemma Therese

Why?

Duck!

Ensign Steve · 03-06-2003, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by marduck
Just out of curiosity, what made you pick Catholicism out of a general feeling of Theism?

You didn't ask me, but that's what I would pick. Except for the guilt, that one looks like the most fun!

Gemma Therese · 03-06-2003, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by marduck
"I, too, was an athiest. And it bothered me greatly -- I just couldn't believe. I knew something in my being believed in God, but I couldn't find it "

Just out of curiosity, what made you pick Catholicism out of a general feeling of Theism?

I was raised Catholic. But I firmly believe the Holy Spirit would have led me to Catholicism even had I not been. Catholicism enjoys the closest relationship to the Truth of all the religions I've studied.

Gemma Therese

03-06-2003, 03:54 PM	#1
Gemma Therese Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: new york Posts: 608	Simplicity is the key St. Thomas Aquinas said we cannot understand God because God is utterly simple -- simple beyond all our conceptions. We study, we wrestle with theological problems, we strain out minds, but the aim is to draw near to the mystery of the One who is totally simple. We have to pass through the complexity so as to arrive at simplicity. Those of you who are searching for God -- which is all of you -- remember this. I, too, was an athiest. And it bothered me greatly -- I just couldn't believe. I knew something in my being believed in God, but I couldn't find it ... I now think that the most innate part of one's being is theistic, regardless of what that person recognizes or acknowledges. Don't lose hope. Gemma Therese

03-06-2003, 04:07 PM	#4
Duck! Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Ireland Posts: 3,647	Re: Re: Simplicity is the key If simplicity was the key, then why didn't Mr. Aquinas just condense his argument into a couple of sentences instead of publishing weighty tomes of theology that atheists like me are afraid to even think about reading? I mean, it's not like his theology was ...gasp... complex, was it? Duck!

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03-06-2003, 03:57 PM	#2
Seraphim Guest Posts: n/a	Yup ... don't lost hope ....

03-06-2003, 04:08 PM	#5
Gemma Therese Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: new york Posts: 608	We must pass through complexity to arrive at simplicity. Gemma Therese

03-06-2003, 04:16 PM	#6
Ensign Steve Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Augusta, Georgia, United States Posts: 1,235	It would be even simpler just to take the universe at face value. To go with the simplest and most logical explanations of why the universe is the way it is. To accept that the universe is bound by natural laws that don't need to be bent or re-phrased in order to fit somebody else's 2000 year old ideas of how things work (or what we now know they really meant by it, now that we know how it really works). 1. I am not searching for god. Remember that. 2. It does not bother me one bit that I am an atheist. 3. I have not lost hope. Have a nice day. Jen

03-06-2003, 04:20 PM	#7
Marduk Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: the 10th planet Posts: 5,065	"I, too, was an athiest. And it bothered me greatly -- I just couldn't believe. I knew something in my being believed in God, but I couldn't find it " Just out of curiosity, what made you pick Catholicism out of a general feeling of Theism?

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