Expert: George A. Card,sfo, M.I - 9/16/2004

Question
Dear George,
Maybe you can help me. I am about 20 years old and have had a fear of death most of my life. I realize that no one is immortal and that death is certain, and it scares me to be honest. I know I am not the only person with this fear but, being so young, I just want to put it to rest and get on with my life. See, my problem is, I can't bring myself to believe in god. I am sorry if that offens you, but it is how I feel. I am not an atheist, because I want very deeply to believe, but the proof just isn't there for me. I dropped out of college for the time being, and plan to go back eventually after I make some money, but my job has very demanding hours and doesnt allow me much of a social life, which was my one salvation from my fears. I've gotten to the point now where life insurance commercials on TV nearly bring me to tears. I've spent many years praying for a sign, I've sought counsel in my preist, however, my family has never had time to go to church coming from a small Kansas town which only hold Sunday services so I havent developed a real relationship with him. I'm not even really Catholic and I hope you don't hold that against me, but I just need to know how o develop faith and be sure that the Heavenly Father is protecting me.

Answer
                     PAX/PEACE

Dear Derek,

Your wrote:" I realize that no one is immortal and that death is
certain, and it scares me to be honest. "
    I think that could be the being point of your fear. Man is immortal as in there is life after "here" for us. Some enter the loving embrace of the Father, or some sadly choose to walk away from that embrace.
   Again you wrote:
"I am not an atheist, because I want very deeply to believe, but the proof just isn't there for me."
It sounds you are more of agnostic with hope. An Agnostic believes in the possibility of God but doesn't see proof either way. Is there explicit direct proof through our senses(sight,hearing, touch, and etc.)? No, but there is indirect proofs. We cant see the wind but we can feel it cool our skin, we can't see it but we can see it move the leaves of a tree.

   Proof is the establishment of a disputed or controversial matter by lawful means or arguments. Proof is the result of evidence; evidence is the medium of proof. There is no proof without evidence, but there may be evidence without proof.

   Below are some common proofs, please read them over and pray for wisdom.

    St. Thomas (Summa Theologica I:2:3; Cont. Gent., I, xiii) and after him many scholastic writers advance the five following arguments to prove the existence of God:

Motion, i. e. the passing from power to act, as it takes place in the universe implies a first unmoved Mover (primum movens immobile), who is God; else we should postulate an infinite series of movers, which is inconceivable.

For the same reason efficient causes, as we see them operating in this world, imply the existence of a First Cause that is uncaused, i.e. that possesses in itself the sufficient reason for its existence; and this is God.

The fact that contingent beings exist, i.e. beings whose non-existence is recognized as possible, implies the existence of a necessary being, who is God.

The graduated perfections of being actually existing in the universe can be understood only by comparison with an absolute standard that is also actual, i.e., an infinitely perfect Being such as God.

The wonderful order or evidence of intelligent design which the universe exhibits implies the existence of a supramundane Designer, who is no other than God Himself.

To these many Theists(one who believes in a God that reveals Himself) add other arguments:
-the common consent of mankind (usually described by Catholic writers as the moral argument),
-from the internal witness of conscience to the supremacy of the moral law, and, therefore, to the existence of a supreme Lawgiver (this may be called the ethical argument,
-from the existence and perception of beauty in the universe (the aesthetical argument).

One might go on, indeed, almost indefinitely multiplying and distinguishing arguments; but to do so would only lead to more confusion.
I would recommend the book: The Everlasting Man by the British author: Gilbert Kieth(GK) Chesterson. It looks at matters of religion from before Christ to his present day.
He was an agnostic before coming Catholic, after realized the Catholic Church is only body with the complete answers to your question and similar.


Pray over what I have shared, ask more questions if you want. God Bless You again.

                       your servant but His First

                                George A. Card