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Faith Q&A › Metropolitan Youssef › Other Churches and Faiths › Catholicism

The question

In www.geocities.com/mgocsmbvli/orth_cath.htm Fr. Michael Azkhoul states "Roman Catholicism teaches that human reason can prove that God is; and, even infer that He is eternal, infinite, good, bodiless, almighty, all-knowing, etc. He is "most real being," "true being." Humans are like Him (analogous), but we are imperfect being." Does this imply that Orthodoxy does not teach likewise?

See the Biblical verses:
  • "Come now, and let us reason together..." (Isa 1:18).

  • "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Heb 11:1).

  • "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse" (Rom 1:20).

  • Also, God created us with human reason. It is part of His image in us.
    "So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them" (Gen 1:27).

  • "and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him" (Col 3:10).
Would you say this is a problem for me as an Orthodox Christian to believe that human reason can prove that God is and that human reason is very reliable in proving what is true and what is false?

The answer


While Catholicism try to use reason to know God, Orthodoxy teaches that the knowledge of God cannot be reached unless God speaks to us. Human reason by itself is limited. God's thoughts, personality, and attitudes can only be known if God chooses to reveal them. We would be  at a loss if God did not wish to be known. But God wants us to know Him; and has told us in the Holy Bible all we need to know about His character and how to relate to Him. We read in the holy book of Hebrews, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6).

But this is not blind faith, it is a logically defensible faith. In fact, evolutionists who deny God are the ones who have a blind faith, they have to believe something that is against real science, namely that information can arise by chance from disorder. Christians can use logic to prove God's existence. This is why the Holy Bible makes it clear that anyone who does not believe in God is without excuse (Romans 1:20).

Isaiah 1:18 is not talking about man's reason in knowing God. It is God talking to man, reasoning with him meaning "to come to a legal decision". People were to come to an agreement with God concerning the enormous gravity of their sin. This has nothing to do with reason concerning the knowledge of God.

Hebrews 11:1 defines Faith (not Reason) as the evidence of things unseen. The saving knowledge of God comes through our Savior. Speaking to His Father, our Lord Jesus Christ said, "And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent" (John 17:3).

Answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab)

Related questions

Questions answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab) of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. Question 1115 on the Diocese’s Q&A site. Questions and answers © Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. All rights reserved.