Holy, holy, holy, the Church sings in the Preface at Christmas celebrated a few weeks ago, although it does not remain silent throughout the year, since that song continues throughout the year. Natural and supernatural that this is so, since not a day goes by without the liturgy worshiping the thrice Holy God in his reality of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Human dignity
Benedict XVI said that he who kneels before God will not kneel before human powers. This does not mean that Christians are anarchists or rebels against human authorities: this is not the case because we do want to be the best citizens, as we have been demonstrating for twenty centuries, and this is corroborated by the martyrs, who have also just been murdered these days while they participated in the Eucharist, the sacrament of charity and the best adoration that men can offer to God the Father, through the Son, with the Holy Spirit.
What the theologian pope wants to point out is that the man who worships God is aware of his dignity as a son of God and of his mission on earth, which is to lead creation to its natural end and human history, from free men to its fullness in the Parousia, which will certainly come. And he sustains our great hope, as the beloved Benedict XVI also taught, for whom it has been a year since he was called to the presence of God. That is why his final message remains current:
«What I said before to my compatriots, I say now to all those in the Church who are entrusted to my service: Remain firm in the faith! Do not be confused! / Finally, I humbly ask: pray for me, so that the Lord, despite all my sins and insufficiencies, receives me in the eternal mansions».
New works on science data
This season, two books that deal with the human sciences that lead to the reasoned conviction that God exists are still relevant. I am referring to that of two french engineers “God-Science-The Tests”[1], and that of the spanish González-Hurtado[2] entitled “New scientific evidence of the existence of God”
They are two works of interest to the public and also to scientists and researchers in empirical sciences such as physics, astronomy, mathematics or biotechnology.
Referring to the latter by title, José Carlos González-Hurtado. Voz de Papel, Madrid, 2023 I offer a small sample of textual quotes from scientists, many Nobel Prize winners of the 20th century. They are convinced that God exists because their reflections on the data and laws of nature conclude that chance cannot explain the complexity of the universe, the complexity of the laws of nature, and even less the origin of life, in particular the meaning of man’s life and its transcendent purpose.
Some statements from prestigious scientists
“It now appears that the findings of more than fifty years of DNA research have provided materials for a new and enormously powerful argument for design.” Fred Hoyle
“The first sip from the glass of natural science will make you an atheist, but at the bottom of the glass, God is waiting for you.” Werner Heisenberg.
“Coincidence is God’s way of remaining anonymous.” Albert Einstein.
“I firmly believe in the existence of God, based on intuition, observations, logic and also scientific knowledge.” Townes Shawls.
“There is no conflict between being a rigorous scientist and a person who believes in a God who has a personal interest in each of us” Francis Collins.
«The theory that life has been created by an intelligence is so evident that one wonders why it is not commonly accepted. The reasons are more psychological than scientific» Fred Hoyle.
«Currently, there is no evidence to support the idea of the multiuniverse. It is merely a speculative idea Anthony Flew
“There is no doubt that there is a parallel between the Big Bang and the Christian notion of a Creation from nothing” George Smoot.
«It seems to me that when we are faced with the wonders of life and the universe, one must ask “why?”, not just “how”? The only possible answer is religious. There is a need for God in the universe and for my own life. Arthur Schlaow.
Less scientific reasons
Well, González-Hurtado offers in the last part of his work some useful and easy-to-understand reflections. For example, what does the faith of many scientists based on convictions and not just pious assumptions mean? He also wonders what it means to be an atheist and if they are bad people, obviously they are not. Another question is about contemporary agnosticism as a catch-all or generality that many present as a new atheism respectful of faith. He also asks why not all scientists are theists or convinced of the existence of God, and ventures certain easy-to-understand reasons why scientists are men and women like others, sometimes subject to social pressure, psychological limitations, to fear and even pride. And he ends in the epilogue, What now? For each reader can think about so many scientific data presented and reasonable testimonies in order to consolidate his convictions, reinforce the reasons for faith, and be able to offer others the great news that God exists, that he has created the good world as a wonderful work through which men can discover their Author and, if they also have the gift of faith as is the case of Christians, we know that He is Provident, He is Love, He has become incarnate, He is the Savior of all as shown by the recent festival of the Three Wise Men and has even given his life to give us eternal Life, which is not an entelechy, but the great call for all men, the great news that is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
An interesting observation refers to the title of this work because it could lead to confusion, and let me explain: empirical sciences cannot offer evidence of the existence of God, since their method and horizon is reasoning with human logic. That is why scientific research offers data and conclusions to philosophy that asks about the causes and above all about the ultimate and most main cause of everything that exists. And he arrives, with his own method different from experimental sciences, to the rational proof that God necessarily exists and is the end of everything; but philosophy advances even further, since it asks about the nature of that God and can discover that the supreme Being is: absolutely transcendent, infinitely wise, provident, infinitely good, eternal without beginning and ultimate end of everything. Therefore, I would correct the title to express that there is new scientific evidence to abandon chance that confirms, instead, the existence of God.
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[1] God-Science-Proofs. Olivier Bonnassies-Michel-Yves Bolloré. Ed Funambulista.
[2] “New scientific evidence of the existence of God.” Voice of Paper, Madrid, 2023
