Can God speak to us?
Revelation and faith, with Thomas Aquinas and the councils.
The first part showed what reason can know about God: that he exists, that he is one and good, and that human beings have a soul. But if God exists, has he himself said anything to us? The Christian faith rests on the claim that he has. Here we look at what revelation is, why we need it, and what it means to believe.
Read the argument in short first. Then walk through it step by step, and at each step pick the most common objection to see how to answer it.
The argument in short
The argument in five sentences, to learn by heart.
- Reason can know that God exists, but God has also spoken to us himself, through the prophets and in the end through his Son.
- We need revelation: our goal lies beyond what reason can see, and even what reason can know about God would otherwise be reached by few, late and with errors.
- Faith is trusting God who speaks and saying yes to what he has revealed, with both mind and free will.
- Faith is not blind. God has given signs, and faith is certain because it rests on God, who can neither be deceived nor deceive.
- Faith and reason never conflict but help each other, just as grace perfects nature.
Step by step
or tap a box in the map to see the texts behind it.
Test yourself
Think of your answer first. Nothing is saved.
Why do we need revelation, if reason can know that God exists?
Our goal, to see God, lies beyond what reason can grasp. And even what reason can know about God would otherwise be reached only by few, after a long time and with errors.
What is faith according to the Catechism?
A personal adherence to God, and at the same time a free assent to the whole truth he has revealed.
Why do we believe what God has revealed?
Because of the authority of God himself, who can neither be deceived nor deceive. Not because we have been able to see for ourselves that it is true.
How do you answer someone who says faith is believing without reasons?
God has given signs, above all miracles and prophecies, so that faith agrees with reason. Faith is no blind movement of the mind.
Can faith and reason conflict?
No. The same God has given us both reason and revelation. They help each other: reason shows the foundations of faith, and faith guards reason from error.