Deep Dives with Fr Sean: the Super Catholic Catechesis Podcast

Intro to Philosophy #5: Arguments for God's Existence (Newman and the 5 Ways of Thomas Aquinas)

March 06, 2024 Fr Sean OBrien
Deep Dives with Fr Sean: the Super Catholic Catechesis Podcast
Intro to Philosophy #5: Arguments for God's Existence (Newman and the 5 Ways of Thomas Aquinas)
Show Notes

We dive into the topic today, recognizing that with a proper understanding of causality in different ways helps to prepare the way for any argument for God's existence.

Newman's argument flows from conscience? Where does law come from? Where does that interior command to do the good and avoid evil come from? To whom are we accountable with the experience of responsibility? Well, it is most reasonable to propose there is a Lawgiver who commands us towards the good and holds us responsible. Him we call God.

Thomas Aquinas has his five ways:
1) Based on motion or change
2) Based on efficient causality
3) Based on contingency of all beings
4) Based on our experience of perfections in the world
5) Based on complex design in the universe