Journal - Section 7
Jesus: Model of Full Humanity,
Model of Faith
Picture taken from campusterrassa.upc
Key Idea of this section
In this section, we are informed of many different reasons and arguments, called apologetics, that point (not prove) to God's existence. In this section, there are two types of apologetics: those from human nature, and those from the human race. From Human Nature we receive many arguments including William Paley's "Watch and the Watchmaker", the Golden Ratio, the Anthropic Principle, and Kalam's argument. Each of these hint at God's existence in a different way. The apologetics from the human race include C.S. Lewis's Moral Argument for the Existence of God, and the argument from our own religious experience. Both types of apologetics are very convincing, and after studying this section, I have noticed that I am more confident that God exists.
Three of the most important ideas I want to remember from this section
The first idea that I want to remember from this section is Pascal's wager. Pascal says that by believing in God, you cannot lose anything, only gain. By not believing, you are running a risk of not gaining entrance. So why not believe in God. This has taught me to always believe in God because you have nothing to lose.
The second idea that I want to remember from this section is the reasons why Jesus exists. We know that Jesus exists because of Scripture and Tradition. For example: today we are still performing the same sacraments that he performed, the Church is still teaching what Jesus taught, and it is stated in the Bible that Jesus had risen from the dead, and his teachings and story are recorded in the Bible too. Even if Jesus' story was declared false, I would still believe that Jesus existed, and I would follow his teachings, leading to the Kingdom of Heaven.
The third and final idea that I want to remember from this section is the argument given by the Anthropic Principle. This principle states that the odds of the universe accidentally existing, and still having life in it, are extremely slim. But intelligent life does exist! Looking at these facts, it is hard to feel that the universe wasn't deliberately formed in order to make intelligent life possible. God created human race and the universe because he loves us. This was no accident.
One image that reminds me of this topic
When see a picture of a shepherd, herding his sheep, I think of Jesus and how he is "herding" us toward the right path. The path of God.
Picture taken from a google search of "shepherd"
Short reflection - "who do I say" that Jesus is"
"Who do u say that I am?" - Jesus
I say that Jesus is the Son of God, which God is using as a sort of translator to human beings. God is giving us his message of how we should act in order to live in his Kingdom after life. He wants us to be with him always, and therefore sends Jesus to us, in a fully human form, yet fully divine because he is carrying God's message. When Jesus died on the cross, that was God's way of saying that He has used Jesus to his fullest ability, and that Jesus must come home now, back to God's Kingdom. When God took Jesus from us, He showed us that He has saved us from sin by creating his Kingdom, and that all can make it into it. In a sense, Jesus was God's puppet to us, delivering God's message to us on earth about his great Kingdom that will save us from all sin.
Back to Robbie's Faith Home Page