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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
RE: Fundamental life questions	eskor	Saturday, October 26, 2013
Question: Bro. Ignatius, thanks for a quick response to my earlier question titled "Fundamental life questions". But I expected something more and maybe different. (I should have indicated this in my earlier question.) I am looking for responses that are strong on apologetics and evangelism rather than catechesis, since I am trying to engage an unbeliever. I appreciate your finding time to provide the responses personally. But you may also wish to point me to some places or materials where such questions as given below have been apologetically answered. Who am I? Where do I come from? What is my purpose? What happens when I die? Why am I here? Or “Why do I exist at all” Where did I come from? Where might I be going? Thanks.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), CCL, LTh, DD, LNDC Dear Eskor: The answers to these questions are metaphysical, that is, the answers are of faith and reason, the answers are spiritual, and not scientific or even logical in the way the world thinks. Thus, the unbeliever will not understand these things and probably not accept the answers (1 Cor 2:14). Nevertheless, in these matters we are obligated to explain the faith to those who ask us (1 Peter 3:15), but we are not to engage in unproductive argumentation (Titus 3:9). The best source of scholarly treatment of questions like this is the the Summa Theologica by St. Thomas Aquinas. The Summa presents objections to whatever doctrine and then answers the objections. You can buy a copy of the Summa here. An online copy is found here. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

RE: Fundamental life questions

eskor

Saturday, October 26, 2013

Question:

Bro. Ignatius, thanks for a quick response to my earlier question titled "Fundamental life questions".

But I expected something more and maybe different. (I should have indicated this in my earlier question.) I am looking for responses that are strong on apologetics and evangelism rather than catechesis, since I am trying to engage an unbeliever. I appreciate your finding time to provide the responses personally. But you may also wish to point me to some places or materials where such questions as given below have been apologetically answered.

Who am I?
Where do I come from?
What is my purpose?
What happens when I die?
Why am I here? Or “Why do I exist at all”
Where did I come from?
Where might I be going?

Thanks.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), CCL, LTh, DD, LNDC

Dear Eskor:

The answers to these questions are metaphysical, that is, the answers are of faith and reason, the answers are spiritual, and not scientific or even logical in the way the world thinks. Thus, the unbeliever will not understand these things and probably not accept the answers (1 Cor 2:14). Nevertheless, in these matters we are obligated to explain the faith to those who ask us (1 Peter 3:15), but we are not to engage in unproductive argumentation (Titus 3:9).

The best source of scholarly treatment of questions like this is the the Summa Theologica by St. Thomas Aquinas. The Summa presents objections to whatever doctrine and then answers the objections.

You can buy a copy of the Summa here.

An online copy is found here.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum