Catholic responses to non-religious views on the existence of God include: 1) Religious experiences provide confirmation of God's role in the world, even if hallucinations or stimulants were involved, as the Church investigates claims before recognizing them as authentic. 2) While we cannot fully explain the universe, this does not mean we cannot attempt to understand it, and evidence like order in the universe supports the concept of a designer or God. 3) Evil and suffering exist because of free will, and we can learn from suffering.

1. Catholic responses to
Non-religious views

2. Non – religious arguments CATHOLIC response to the non-religious
arguments
Lack of evidence, too personal Doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. Faith
does not require proof
Hume argues that we can observe the
laws of nature which is more powerful
than a few religious experiences
God is omnipotent which means he is not
bound by the laws of nature and can
break them. Hence religious experiences
can occur
Use of stimulants (drugs), hallucinations,
wish fulfilment.
Church investigates the claims before
they are recognised as authentic
A feeling of the presence of God. They act an as a confirmation of God’s role in the
world
Wish fulfilment – Freud. The idea that because someone believes, it happens. They see what
they want to see.

3. Non – religious arguments CATHOLIC response to the non-religious
arguments
Hume – impossible to use an analogy to
explain the universe
Doesn’t mean we can not attempt to
explain it
Existence of evil and suffering – surely it
should be perfect
We learn from suffering and its due to
free well
There is no order, just appears to be
order
Science and evidence support the
concept of order
Evolution – no need for a God God can be the force behind science /
evolution
Appearance of design in the world – needs a designer – this is God
Aquinas. Came up with ‘5 ways’ to prove God’s existence. Strengths – based on own experience,
complements view of God, can use science

4. Non – religious arguments CATHOLIC response to the non-religious
arguments
Impossible to get a total explanation Doesn’t mean we can not attempt to
explain it
Universe doesn’t need a cause We learn from suffering and its due to
free well
First cause doesn’t need to be God – Big
Bang
Science and evidence support the
concept of order
Universal law of cause and effect, everything has cause, first cause is God (prime
mover)
Aquinas. Came up with ‘5 ways’ to prove God’s existence. Strengths – based on own experience,
logical, can use science