5. The End of the Proof

After a few posts, it’s time to finish out this argument for God’s existence. First, let’s recap where we’ve been.

1.       We established that everything that exists does so only in relation to everything else that exists. Nothing in the universe exists completely independently.

2.       In each instant, everything is depending upon everything else for its existence, because of the very nature of existing in relation to everything else. We called this the network of coexistence.

3.       Everything is equally dependent upon everything else to exist.

4.       Nothing in the universe possesses existence by its own nature.

5.       Because nothing can give what it doesn’t have, nothing in the universe can give existence to anything else in the network its own existence in each moment. Remember, this is not cause and effect. This is in a single instant.

6.       There must be something outside the network that possesses existence and can give it to everything else in the network.

7.       This source of existence, we call God.

Alright, there’s a step by step look at what this proof is all about. Now, there are a few characteristics of God that we already established were necessary in order for this source of existence, God, to, well, give existence.

1.       It must be one and simple, because any sort of division within this source of existence would require a secondary network of coexistence. One part would ultimately be responsible for holding the rest in existence.

2.       It must be present to all things at all times in order for things to exist. If it wasn’t present to something, that thing would have no way to participate in existence. In order for anything to exist at all, it must receive its existence from this source. Note that this does not mean that those things that exist must know that it is present, simply that it gives existence to all things.

3.       It must also be present in its entirety to all things. Because there are no parts in it, and it must be present to all things, its entirety must be present. 

4.       It must be unchanging. The fancy word for this is “immutable.” It’s already been established that it can’t have parts and that it must be present to all things in its entirety. Because it has no parts and must in its entirety be present, it cannot change. Why? Because if its presence within something were to change, its presence in all things would have to change, again, because it has no parts and must be present in its entirety.

Now, with all of this, there is only one conclusion left to be drawn about this source of existence. It must possess existence by its very nature. Why? Because a thing cannot give what it does not have. This source of existence, which we are calling God, must by its very nature exist. Its nature literally is existence itself. And that is the God we worship. The idea of some magical butler in the sky catering to our every wish is a distinctly non-Catholic idea of God. It’s also a distinctly false idea of God. The God of the Church is existence itself, at all times and in all places fully present within everything that exists, holding everything in existence in every instant.

Now, one final word. This will probably be the last post about the existence of God I do for a while. I do want to make one thing clear. Science will never be able to state through an experiment whether or not God exists. The very idea of God prevents that. Any God that exists must be, by nature, supernatural, or above nature. Humans are natural beings. We live within nature. We are literally not capable of measuring anything outside of nature. Why? Because we do not possess the ability, and never will, because we can only work with the laws of nature. Any being above nature will not be bound by these. The existence of God is a question for philosophy, not science.