Ways of Coming to Know God

The Catechism of the Catholic Church begins the teaching of faith by giving this simple definition. It exhorts that the knowledge of God can propel man to respond in faith to the call of God. Man has the capacity to know God because God wills that he should know Him. Man is created in the image of God and he is called to know Him. It is man's nature to seek the truth of God's existence.

Faith is man's response to God, who reveals himself and gives himself to man, at the same time bringing man to a superabundant light as he searches for the ultimate meaning of his life. Thus we shall consider first that search, then the divine Revelation by which God comes to meet man, and finally the response of faith. (#26, Catechism of the Catholic Church)

There are many ways to prove the existence of God. Anyone who seeks God shall discover within himself certain ways of coming to know Him. It may seem like a mystery to other people but such person knows for himself the God truly exists. He or she gets a conviction in his or heart about the reality of God. He or she gets this conviction not through discoveries in the natural sciences but through the dictates of his or her conscience as he or she observes the things around him or her.

For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. Ever since the creation of the world his invisible nature, namely, his eternal power and deity, has been clearly perceived in the things that have been made. (Romans 1:19-20)

"Question the beauty of the earth, question the beauty of the sea, question the beauty of the air distending and diffusing itself, question the beauty of the sky... question all these realities. All respond: "See, we are beautiful." Their beauty is a profession. These beauties are subject to change. Who made them if not the Beautiful One who is not subject to change. (Saint Augustine, Sermo 241)"

All creatures bear a certain resemblance of God. The manifold perfection and beauty of creation reflect the infinite beauty of its creator. The earth and everything in it bear witness to the reality of the existence of God. The greatest manifestation of this reality is the human being. Man is created in the image and likeness of God.

God is the beginning principle of all creation. From Him, everything was made. He is also the final end of all things. This reality of God can be known by man in many different ways. God has endowed man with intellect to discover all these things. However, in order to restore that real intimacy with Him requires God's grace. We can prove the existence of God as an infinite being who controls all things but we need faith to believe that God is a person who longs to have a relationship with his creation - man.