As a Catholic, how will you describe "God" to an atheist?

Question

May the best answer win!

Answer 1

A University professor at a well known institution of higher learning challenged his students with this question. "Did God create everything that exists?"

A student bravely replied, "Yes he did!"

"God created everything?" The professor asked.

"Yes sir, he certainly did," the student replied.

The professor answered, "If God created everything; then God created evil. And, since evil exists, & according to the principle that our works define who we are, then we can assume God is evil."

The student became quiet & did not respond to the professor's hypothetical definition. The professor, quite pleased with himself, boasted to the students that he had proven once more that the religious faith was a myth.

Another student raised his hand & said, "May I ask you a question, professor?"

"Of course," replied the professor.

The student stood up and asked, "Professor, does cold exist?"

"What kind of question is this? Of course it exists. Have you never been cold?"

The other students snickered at the young man's question. The young man replied, "In fact sir, cold does not exist. According to the laws of physics, what we consider cold is in reality the absence of heat.
Everybody or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, & heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-460F) is the total absence of heat; & all matter becomes inert & incapable of reaction at that temperature. Cold does not exist. We have created this word to describe how we feel if we have no heat."

The student continued, "Professor, does darkness exist?"

The professor responded, "Of course it does."

The student replied , "Once again you are wrong sir, darkness does not exist either. Darkness is in reality the absence of light. Light we can study, but not darkness. In fact, we can use Newton's prism to break white light into many colors & study the various wave lengths of each color. You cannot measure darkness. A simple ray of light can break into a world of darkness & illuminate it. How can you know how dark a certain space is?
You measure the amount of light present. Isn't this correct?
Darkness is a term used by man to describe what happens when there is no light present."

Finally the young man asked the professor, "Sir, does evil exist?"

Now uncertain, the professor responded, "Of course, as I have already said. We see it
everyday. It is in the daily examples of man's inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime & violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil.

To this the student replied, "Evil does not exist, sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness & cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God.
God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat, or the darkness
that comes when there is no light."

The professor sat down.

Answer 2

I don't understand how an atheist can be. Look at this world and this universe. The miracle of life, and how everything in nature works together to create harmony. There has to be a higher form, entity that started it all. When thinking about that and the readings in the book of Genesis, it seems more conceivable.

Another way is by example. Do your best to walk the talk and try not to be one of those hypocritical Christians. A lot of Christains/Catholics are only that at mass.

Answer 3

hmmm the age ole question. is there a God? well if your willing to believe that your great ancestors where hairy swung thru trees and ate bananas that is your perogative. personally i think thats about as ridiculous as an atheist belief in God would be ridiculous but everyone is intitled to their opinion. but psalms 14:1 says the fool has said in his heart there is no God. hey real quick to those who are an atheist, you may be an athiest now cause now you have the option to believe there is a God or not but at the very instant you die, when you close your eyes here in this world you will open them in eternity at that very moment athiesm is out the window cause youll see God then youll know what color eyes he has what color hair he has all that and at that moment what will you say. i guess one way of lookin at it is that there wont be any athiest in hell lol. personally i can see proof of God every where i look even in the mirror cause we were made in his image. how can you describe God to an atheist i really dont know how to describe him if its not obvious, ive never seen him the bible says no man has seen God and lived. but ive seen what God can do i seen my grandparents leave this world and the expression on there face was so peaceful almost as if they couldnt wait to go like a child on his first fishin trip. the peace God gave me to comfort me after they left that same peace that carries me still today. ive seen him cure sickness when doctors had done thrown in the towel and said weve done all we can it will take a miracle ive seen him deliver people in times of distress when there was no way out. you want to describe God to an atheist relax let God do the talking you just set back and watch let them see God in you (the Holy Spirit) love em, pray for em, care about em, let them know. Mat.5:14-16 says ye are the light of the world a city that is set on an hill cannot be hid neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel but on a candlestick and giveth light unto all that are in the house let your light so shine before men that they might see your good works and glorify your father which is in heaven hope this helps you and anyone else that has questions

Answer 4

Atheists are not stupid, they choose not to believe in God for their own reasons. Maybe what you mean is an explanation of why you believe in God.

You probably know that better than anyone.
A description might be like: "The reason behind nature, and the thing that gives purpose to the universe"
or
"Something that makes me see the beautiful side in things, in our world, and comforts me in moments of depair."

Don't try explanations like "God is the ruler of the universe, and the creator of everything, gives love to all things etc." if a person decides he doesn't believe that, it would imply he/she is stupid, it's also condescending, because it implies that atheists doesn't feel love. I'm sure they do, they just don't believe in God, that's all.

If God is with you, you would be patient enough so you wouldn't try to convert him or anything, but try to reach an undertstanding. Even people who believe in God, don't necessarily believe in him the same way. Christians, Muslims, Jews - all of them killed one another at some time, because they couldn't agree on what God is. I don't think God would approve of that.

Answer 5

I'm an atheist, but I'm fascinated by the ways people are describing God. I always ask what God means to them and I have a deep respect for every believer who's willing to talk about it.

I'm sorry this isn't really the answer to your question, but some answers to your question are really irritating.

Answer 6

I'm not a Catholic,but I would say take all that you know,and look what man has done with it and tell me we are not cruel and evil an in need of guidance, Even men have come out with laws just to keep us at bay,and still we break these laws that we have put for the sake of the people who are some what decent. People would really wipe themselves out along time ago if it wasn't for the plan of Yahweh.

Answer 7

I believe in God the Father
almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only
Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power
of the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was
buried.
He descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand
of the Father.
He will come again to judge the
living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.
Amen.

Answer 8

First Catholics have the same view of God as Prodistents and Baptists do so I will try to answer.

There is one and only one living and true God. He is an intelligent, spiritual, and personal Being, the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe. God is infinite in holiness and all other perfections. God is all powerful and all knowing; and His perfect knowledge extends to all things, past, present, and future, including the future decisions of His free creatures. To Him we owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience. The eternal triune God reveals Himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being.

Answer 9

I'm an agnostic and there's nothing you could say to make me believe. You may not want to mention Catholisism as there're a lot of pedophiles practicing/preachig. I don't think "God" would approve of that behavior. Although, a Catholic would only have to do 5 Hail Mary's to be forgiven.

Answer 10

God is Perfect.
God is Holy.
God is Spirit.
God is Love.
God is Light.
God is True.
God is Righteous.
God is Righteousness.
God is Just.
God is Pure.
God is Good.
God is Faithful.
God is Wisdom.
God is Great.
God is the God of Peace.
God is Unchanging.
God's Law the Ten Commandments are all of the above.