Free thought; Modernism (Christian theology) -- Catholic Church; Religion and science; Teaching, Freedom of
The answer lies in the distinction of a twofold solution of
difficulties. It is by no means necessary, nor even possible, to
solve directly all objections; it suffices to solve them
indirectly, that is, by recognizing them as void; since faith is
certain, whatever is contrary to it must be false. If one is
convinced by clear proofs of the innocence of a defendant he will
not be swayed in his assurance, no matter how much circumstantial
evidence be offered against the defendant. He may not be able to
account directly for one or the other remarkable coincidence of
circumstances, but all the arguments of the other side are to him
refuted, because to him the defendant’s innocence is a certainty.
Thus the faithful Christian may hear it solemnly proclaimed as a
scientifically established fact that miracles are impossible,
because they would be tantamount to God making correction on His
own work, because they would imply a self-contradiction, or they
would be against the law of preservation of energy; he hears of
atrocities in the history of the Church, of the Inquisition, of
the Church being an enemy of civilization—he knows not what to
say: but one thing he knows, that there must be an answer, because
he knows, enlightened by faith, that his belief cannot be false.
Nowhere is it demanded that all objections be directly answered,
in order that the conviction be true. If I, with the whole world,
am convinced that I am able to recognize the truth, must I
therefore carefully disentangle all the cobwebs ever spun about
the truth by brooding philosophical brains? If I am in the house,
safe from the rain, must I, in order to keep dry, go out and catch
every drop of rain that is falling? Such doubts may indeed harass
the untrained mind, may even confuse it. This is the juncture
where grace comes in, the pledge of which has been received at
baptism, bringing enlightenment, peace, assurance; then we learn
from others and from ourselves that faith is also a grace.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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