Our Faith in the Existence of God
Primary Goal:
For the students to grow in their confidence in the existence of the creator God.
Secondary Goals:
- To be aware of some of the short comings of arguments used to try and explain the existence of the universe without God's creating power.
- Be aware of how to explain the age of the universe according to science vs the age according to the genealogy of the bible in Genesis.
- Begin to help build confidence in the students that they can listen to someone talk about an advanced topic such as this and walk away with some new knowledge and understanding. Even if it is only a few simple pieces of new knowledge and understanding it is a step toward an adult understanding.
Lesson Plan:
Introduce Topic:
Bible reading: Genesis 1:1
Catechism: Paragraph 31
Opening Prayer:
Opening Song: Your My God by Jaci Velasquez
Discussions:
Audio Link: Catholic Answers Live - The Existence of God
Note: This topic can get a little deep at times. Don't give up...hang in there. We will be working through this recording slowly and discussing the topics listed below in the index for this recording to gain a high-level awareness of the topics.
Index for Recording
01:15 to 9:04 - The partial truths that many use to try to disprove the existence of God.
09:05 to 12:59 - Something cannot come from Nothing. (First Cause)
13:00 to 14:20 - The extreme odds that the universe could get to where it is today if it were left to random chance.
17:00 to 26:00 - Expanding universes (which we are in) must have a beginning.
29:10 to 31:40 - Who made God? Father Spitzer does a GREAT job of answering this question for a young boy who called into the show. We can all learn from this answer.
33:45 to 39:15 - More examples of the extreme odds against our universe being what it is if left to chance.
45:20 to 49:45 - The age of the universe according to science vs the age according to the genealogy of the bible.
Group Discussion:
Discuss and come up with answers to the following questions:
- In our discussion we heard about several advanced topics that can help us to know with more certainty that God exists. There are many things in our lives everyday that can also contribute to our certainty. Make a list of five things in your lives that help you be more certain that God exists.
- Come up with two responses you could give a friend who does not believe in God?
Discuss Group work:
Develop an Action Plan:
- In our Catechism reading we heard that one who seeks God discovers certain ways of coming to know Him. What are ways we can "seek God" so we can come to know God with more certainty?
Open Q&A
Summary
Summarize what was discussed in this class
Closing Song: You Are God Alone by Phillips, Craig & Dean
Closing Prayer
BLOG Bonus Links
Video: "Turn Around" by Matt Maher
Peter Kreeft - Catholic Convert and Professor of Philosophy at Boston College
Kresta in the Afternoon - 5/18/2012 - 1st Hour - "Hawking, Chopra and God"The link above is to a post on the "RechargeYourLight" Blog Spot authored by Gary Lauderbaugh. Peter Kreeft's material can get a little deep at times but don't let that stop you from checking out this post. There are several very good and informative links on this post and a couple of them deal directly with the existence of God.
(From 32:00 to 44:00 in the above recording.)
With the incredible popularity of recent books championing agnosticism or atheism, many people might never know that such books almost completely ignore the considerable evidence for theism uncovered in both physics and philosophy over the past four decades. Al talks with Fr. Robert Spitzer about Stephen Hawking, Deepak Chopra and God.
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