Is Being Catholic Illogical?
Recently, I got into a back and forth discussion on Facebook with a non-denominational Protestant, specifically over the role and status of Mary. He, like many Protestants, essentially took the position that Mary performed her earthly duties well and that her surrender to God was commendable. However, according to him, she died and that was the end of her story, at least as far as her role in the Church goes. As a non-denominational Protestant (which is itself a denomination these days), he pointed to Scripture. His argument was that nowhere in Scripture does it say Mary is Queen of Heaven; nowhere in Scripture does it say that we should be asking Mary for her intersession, and nowhere in Scripture does it indicate that Mary is our spiritual mother. I pointed to Christ’s last words on the cross, where He says, to the disciple whom He loves, “Behold, your mother.” He disagreed that this was in reference to spiritual motherhood. This, of course, was ironic; as a non-denominational Protestant, he believes one can consult Scripture to settle a question. However, we both had reasonable interpretations as to what this passage could mean. What is a non-denominational Protestant to do when he consults Scripture and there are two reasonable but contradictory interpretations? A Catholic would argue that this is one of the many reasons which necessitates the existence of an authoritative magisterium. We need a person or entity with teaching authority to settle these questions.
Nevertheless, this dialogue on Facebook got me wondering whether it is logical to be Catholic. If an individual woke up tomorrow with no real background or preconceived notions about religion, could that individual come to the conclusion that the Catholic Church is the True Church? And if so, what would that process of discernment or reasoning look like? The following are four questions that one should ask when determining if the Catholic Church is the True Church:
Q1: Is there a God?
If there is no God, then Catholicism, and all religions that profess a deity, are wrong. And the inquiry is over. However, if there is a God, then we shall move onto Question Two.
Q2: Who was Jesus of Nazareth?
If one is seriously considering which religion is true, then he must face the question of who the man Jesus of Nazareth was. C.S. Lewis posits that Jesus of Nazareth was either one of the following: (1) liar, (2) lunatic, or (3) Lord. I’ve always thought there must be a fourth alternative, but I have never been able to come up with one myself, so I suppose I’ll stick with these three. If Jesus of Nazareth was a liar or lunatic, then he was not God; and he likely did not rise from the dead. If Jesus of Nazareth was not God, then all of Christianity is wrong. And if true, Catholicism would be a false religion. And thus, being Catholic would be illogical, not to mention idolatrous. If He was Lord, though, then it begs the question of how did he want us to live. For that, we can move onto Question Three.
Q3: Did Jesus Found a Church?
The Catholic Church believes that it was founded by Jesus Christ. So, if Jesus did not start a church, then the Catholic Church is a false. Fortunately for Catholics, there is direct evidence that Jesus of Nazareth did intend to found a church. “And I say to you: You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld will not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18). It seems almost indisputable that Jesus found a Church. Thus, we move to the fourth and final question.
Q4: Is the Catholic Church the church that Jesus was referencing in the above gospel passage?
Many Protestant denominations today allow for homosexual “marriage;” are those the churches founded by Christ? Given numerous biblical passages which prohibit homosexual acts, I would guess not. Some Protestant sects even allow for the permissibility of abortion. Is one of those the church founded by Christ? Given Jesus’s repeated command that we must become like children to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven, I would imagine He is opposed to killing them. Thus, those Protestant sects that allow for the permissibility of abortion are likely not the church founded by Jesus of Nazareth. Many other Protestant denominations, even more orthodox ones, began just within the last few hundred years. The Catholic Church, however, believes that it was founded by Jesus of Nazareth; it believes that St. Peter was the first pope, and that the deposit of faith has been handed down over the last two thousand years through Apostolic succession. If one reads the letters of some of the early church fathers – St. Ignatius of Antioch, for instance – his design for the early Church sounds remarkably similar to the Catholic Church today. Thus, Catholics would argue, that it is the Church founded by Jesus, and it is indeed the Church that Jesus was referring to in the Gospel of Matthew.
While this topic and argument is certainly more nuanced than this, my goal has been to show that there is compelling evidence that the Catholic Church is the True Church. If one answers “yes” to the four questions set forth above, then they will find themselves a Catholic. Thus, being Catholic is not illogical.
Liam
10/19/2024
