Journal for Christian reflections in the context of social sciences and humanities

Caritas et veritas 2019, 9(1):179-191 | DOI: 10.32725/cetv.2019.016

Responding to Clients and Students Regarding the Existence of God

Stuart Nicolson
University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Faculty of Theology, Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, Kněžská 8, 370 01 České Budějovice

This article considers where, for example, through situations enabled by caritas or diakonia, a client or student asks a professional for reasons for believing in the existence of God, whether seeking to rationalise his beliefs, to support a fading belief, as a genuine question, or as a sceptical test. The onus, according to Scripture and the Second Vatican Council, is on the Christian to be prepared to offer an explanation for his belief and to do so in a Christian manner. This article looks at the various different types of responses to such a question, which can be grouped as objective, subjective, or a combination of both, based upon work by Peter Kreeft and includes some commentary regarding this particular situation. These approaches include classical explanations, personal considerations, and one's own experience. In approaching the question in various manners, clients or students who hold a position such as postmodern relativism, fideism, or have little belief in God can be answered. In being able to offer such answers, the professional can provide a suitable response when asked about God's existence in situations offering care or education in a context enabled by caritas or diakonia.

Keywords: existence of God, questions, responses, postmodern relativism, Second Vatican Council, caritas, diakonia, education, Peter Kreeft, apologetics

Published: March 30, 2019  Show citation

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Nicolson, S. (2019). Responding to Clients and Students Regarding the Existence of God. Caritas et veritas, 9(1), 179-191. doi: 10.32725/cetv.2019.016
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