By Paul Kokoski
In the years following the collapse of Nazism and Communism much of the West turned its back on its hard-won freedom and voluntarily succumbed to a new dictatorship of relativism that is no less evil than the totalitarian regimes that preceded it. This new tyranny, Pope Benedict XVI tells us, recognizes nothing as being definitive and has the ultimate goal of satiating one’s own ego and desires.
We have seen the contemporary results – the nihilistic yet impeccably democratic legislation that repudiates life itself! I am thinking here of existing, enacted and pending articles of legislation that legalize various drugs, prostitution, contraception, homosexuality, same-sex marriage, abortion, euthanasia, and genetic manipulation.
The Christian response to this atheistic secularism should be to seek the embodiment of natural law in the civil law. Natural law is an expression of the eternal law of the 10 Commandments which are inscribed on all human hearts and is knowable by reason.
St. Thomas Aquinas tells us that everything has a natural end to which it is naturally inclined. The eternal law directs all things and human beings toward their natural and good end.
Our rational nature is inclined toward truth and goodness, both of which, like human nature itself, find their origin and perfection in God. When we consciously pursue truth we use theoretical reason which is anchored in the principle of non-contradiction. According to this principle, something cannot both be and not be at the same time and in the same place. This means that we presuppose an intelligible order in God’’s creation that we can discover. The principle of non-contradiction testifies to the existence of the eternal law both within us and around us.
When we consciously pursue goodness we use our moral reason which tells us that good is to be done and evil is to be avoided. Once we discover this second principle we are led to ask: “What is the good that I should do?” The answer is found in our human nature which consists of certain natural inclinations. These are: self-preservation, to have and raise children, to know the truth about God and to live together in society.
When we reflect on the implications of our natural inclinations we discover the primary and universal precepts of the natural moral law which are identical with the Ten Commandments. For example, consider the natural inclination to preserve ourselves. If each of us is inclined to pursue this good, does this not suggest that there are evils that we should avoid? “You shall not murder”.
This inclination teaches us that every human being has a priceless and unique dignity. Contrary to civil law which tends to promote abortion, euthanasia and embryonic stem cell research it teaches that every person is an end in him or herself and never a means to an end. Persons are never to be manipulated or treated as things by other persons.
What about the inclination to have and raise children? “Honour your father and mother.” “You shall not commit adultery.” This second inclination teaches us that marriage means a one-flesh communion of “one husband – one wife – for one lifetime – with openness to children”. Unlike civil law, this inclination tells us that artificial contraception and abortion are not behaviors which someone has a “right” to choose.
What about the inclination to know the truth about God? “I am the Lord your God. You shall have no other gods before me.” “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.”
This third inclination leads us to affirm the existence of God. There are a variety of ways and valid arguments through which reason arrives at the conclusion that the Creator God exists.In the twentieth century great efforts were made to stop people believing, to make them reject Christ. Political parties, despite their firm democratic credentials, began to demonstrate a growing tendency to interpret the separation of Church and State according to the Communist model whereby the world belongs exclusively to the State. This resulted in a devastation of consciences, with ruinous consequences in the sphere of personal and social morality.
In connection with our inclination to live in society, we arrive at the Commandments “You shall not steal;” “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour;” “You shall not covet your neighbours wife;” “You shall not covet your neighbour’s goods.”
Unfortunately, because of the effects of original sin we no longer have it within our own power to be fully human i.e to always live up to the natural moral law. However, the natural moral law is the truth about every human being in every place and time. And while it is possible for the natural moral law to be blurred – it cannot be completely abolished in anyone.
Faithful disciples of Christ, therefore, ought to strive to be the best of citizens, even when that duty requires us to disobey those civil laws which conflict with the natural moral law. St. Augustine reminds us that “a law that is not just, seems to be no law at all.”
When we listen to the voice of reason within us, that word, that meaning, is an echo of the Eternal Word whom we saw and heard at the moment of the creation of our soul. The law of reason within us when given unrestricted range cannot arrive at any other truth in the end than the truth of Jesus Christ. He is Risen, His victory is ours. The challenges are difficult but we have every reason, the reason who is Christ Himself, never to give in to discouragement. Our faith in which alone our reason finds total fulfilment, that faith is our sure victory.
Categories: Americas
Dear Paul Kokoski
I fully agree with the first part of your article about relativism.
However, it has always surprised me that on the issue of Original Sin, the Christian theologians want to have it both ways. They believe in human conscience and moral law on one hand and on the other hand stress the stigma of Original Sin as well. They want to have their cake and eat it too. You write in your article:
Please read one of my recent articles on Original sin and tell us what damage has it done to our conscience and is it repaired by Baptism or not to any degree. Here is the link to the article: Free Will or Original Sin: We Can’t have Both!
“—–When we consciously pursue goodness we use our moral reason which tells us that good is to be done and evil is to be avoided. Once we discover this second principle we are led to ask: “What is the good that I should do?” The answer is found in our human nature which consists of certain natural inclinations. These are: self-preservation, to have and raise children, to know the truth about God and to live together in society.
When we reflect on the implications of our natural inclinations we discover the primary and universal precepts of the natural moral law which are identical with the Ten Commandments. For example, consider the natural inclination to preserve ourselves. If each of us is inclined to pursue this good, does this not suggest that there are evils that we should avoid? “You shall not murder”. etc
THIS MAKES SENSE TO ORDINARY FOLK LIKE ME.
Dear Zia H. Shah
I see no conflict or contradiction between free will, the conscience and the moral law on the one hand and Original sin on the other. Original Sin is not “at odds with free will”.
Through conscience, a primal remembrance of the good and true is bestowed on us by God. If man does not hide from his own self, then he comes to the insight: this is where I want to go. This anamnesis of the Creator is the reason that our Christian mission of proclaiming the Gospel to pagans and atheists is both possible and justified. The Gospel, then, is what the pagans and atheists are waiting for even if they do not know it. This is what St. Paul meant when he said the Gentiles “are a law to themselves” – quite in opposition to modern claims of individual autonomy apart from the Creator.
Your comparison between Jesus being both man and God and between man being both man and an apple seems a false analogy. There is, for example, a spiritual component to man whereas there is no spiritual component to an apple. Secondly, Jewish scripture announced the coming of a Messiah whom Jesus confirmed in both His being and in His own word. He fulfilled this law claiming that He and the Father are “One”. This indeed is a mystery, but not one beyond belief to those who view “logic” from the logical perspective that there is no contradiction between reason and faith.
For those who believe in the omnipotence of God, it is not beyond God’s power to be both man and God. Scripture also states that “ye shall be as gods”. There is nothing “naive” about this.
Previously I stated that through man’s conscience – regardless of religion – a primal remembrance of the objective good and true ( i.e. the natural moral law) is bestowed on us by God. No doubt the conscience can, in some, be degraded at its most core level to that of a mechanism producing excuses for one’s conduct. In this case the atheist incrementally begins to construct a wall of resistence to belief in God. This neglect of one’s own being ultimately dulls one to the voice of truth and makes one incapable of any longer hearing the voice of conscience. Convictions, then, might seem rational but are only the product of self-righteousness, conformism, and intellectual laziness.
Original sin resulted in man’s weakened human nature but this in no way takes away his free will or prevents him from doing good. In a similar manner Adam and Eve had the free will to sin despite their privileged status. Original sin, then is not a doctrine of determinism.
The Catholic Church teaches that the Catholic Church is the one true Church of God and that all unbaptized member go to hell. But the Church also asserts the existence of both Baptism of Desire and Baptism of Blood whereby it may be possible for those who are not official members of the Catholic Church to go to heaven.
The doctrine of Baptism of Desire is important. People desire to do all kinds of things – compete in the Olympics for example – but may not be able to do so because of certain physical or mental restrictions. This in no way limits or destroys their free will. In fact their very desire confirms their free will. They still retain the will (desire) to compete even though they cannot do so because of certain limitations. Now, just as these people may need physical or mental healing to achieve their Olympic dreams and goals, so too does man – in his “fallen nature” ( a result of Original Sin) – need the grace (healing) of Jesus to do good. This dependence on the grace of Jesus (God) in no way limits or destroys man’s free will (desire). Man remains free to accept this grace or reject it. Hence there is no contradiction between Original sin and free will. Both co-exist and both are perfectly compatible. The aim of Jesus’ physical healings on earth was to make us aware of the need for our spiritual healing through Jesus. It is through this healing of Jesus (and only through this healing via our cooperation) that all sin can be overcome and all our desires for good can be perfectly achieved just as our Heavenly Father in heaven is perfect.
Now if Christ is God (the Second Person of the Trinity) which the Catholic Church rightly affirms, then the dogma of the Immaculate Conception becomes necessary and obvious since it is impossible for a perfect being (Jesus) to be born of sin. Hence it was logical that God ordain Mary to be conceived free from Original sin. And here again there is no mystery to the person who believes in the compatibility of reason and faith and in the omnipotence of God since God can do all things.
So, the only real option, in my opinion, is Catholicism.
Dear Paul Kokoski
Thank you for your detailed response. You see no contradiction in faith and reason, yet you say:
The very use of the word ‘mystery,’ at least to one who is not indoctrinated or programed in Christian mysteries and paradoxes, would seem an escape from reason into blind faith!
Later you invoke God’s omnipotence to argue your point. But, then of course, is it not within God’s power to have allowed Christianity evolve into a distorted religion and Islam be a true religion, one confirming all prior prophets? The issue at hand is not what is possible, but, what is probable and what God’s wisdom is likely to do. An All-Knowing God, Who has given us the gift of reason and logic!
According to Nicene Creed Jesus and God the father are of the same substance. Additionally, according to Christian dogma, Jesus is perfect man and fully divine. How can:
Divine + Human = Divine (God the Father)
1000 + 1 = 1000 (I do not think so!)
May Allah open the eyes and mind of all of us!
Dear Zia H. Shah
There is no escape. One can know that a mystery exists without being able to fully explain it. As I mentioned reason alone is not the last word. Faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth.
Dear Paul Kokoski
If a more lucid and rational concept of God exists, as in Islam, then a reasonable person should trade the mysterious for what is more logical, probable and apparent.
Please also read my article about William Lane Craig. He keeps arguing for a Transcendent God without realizing that he believes in divine Jesus also, who was made of human flesh and becomes wafer and wine also at times, as in Eucharist. That certainly is not Transcendent! Here is the link: Converting a Leading Christian Apologist to Islam.
Dear Zia,
There is nothing illogical about the mysterious.
Dear Zia,
The Catholic concept of God is actually more lucid and rational the that of Islam. Islam purports to know a God it has never seen. But there were eye witnesses to Jesus. His miracles alone which no man has ever accomplished testifies to the truth that he was God.
Dear Paul Kokoski
Please examine reality from different perspectives. Sometimes pretend to be a Jew, a Muslim, an agnostic, a Hindu or a Buddhist and this may open up your mind and shock you out of fixed ideas created by indoctrination.
The God you propose is based on the stories collected by hearsay, 2000 years ago. Remember, many University professors have debunked the Christian claim that the Bible is the literal or inspired word of God, that leaves Jesus as only a myth, even though fairly popular still. But, destined to fade away like so many idols before him.
This is why atheists equate Jesus with thousands of other make belief gods or man-gods that have disappeared in thin air in the pages of history.
The God of Islam is Transcendent, beyond time, space and matter, the Creator of our universe, which the physics and astronomy of 20th and 21st century are showing. A God that reveals Himself to the Prophets, a phenomenon, which biology and neurology of 20th century is showing is based in biology of our dreams. A metaphor which can be attested by every dreaming human. But, divine flesh of Jesus, is another of Christian mysteries, like Trinity, Resurrection, Eucharist, Original Sin, etc. etc. for which we find no logical basis in laws of nature. This is why sympathetically they are called mysteries and more neutrally dogma.
May Allah guide us and give us true insight.