Catechism of the Catholic Church: Difference between revisions
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Though human reason is, strictly speaking, truly capable by its own natural power and light of attaining to a true and certain knowledge of the one personal God, who watches over and controls the world by his providence, and of the natural law written in our hearts by the Creator; yet there are many obstacles which prevent reason from the effective and fruitful use of this inborn faculty. For the truths that concern the relations between God and man wholly transcend the visible order of things, and, if they are translated into human action and influence it, they call for self-surrender and abnegation. The human mind, in its turn, is hampered in the attaining of such truths, not only by the impact of the senses and the imagination, but also by disordered appetites which are the consequences of original sin. So it happens that men in such matters easily persuade themselves that what they would not like to be true is false or at least doubtful. | Though human reason is, strictly speaking, truly capable by its own natural power and light of attaining to a true and certain knowledge of the one personal God, who watches over and controls the world by his providence, and of the natural law written in our hearts by the Creator; yet there are many obstacles which prevent reason from the effective and fruitful use of this inborn faculty. For the truths that concern the relations between God and man wholly transcend the visible order of things, and, if they are translated into human action and influence it, they call for self-surrender and abnegation. The human mind, in its turn, is hampered in the attaining of such truths, not only by the impact of the senses and the imagination, but also by disordered appetites which are the consequences of original sin. So it happens that men in such matters easily persuade themselves that what they would not like to be true is false or at least doubtful. | ||
- Pius XII, ''Humani Generis'', 561: DS 3875 | |||
|<u>Overview</u>: | |<u>Overview</u>: | ||
* Made in the image of God, man is capable of understanding God's knowledge, but... | * Made in the image of God, man is capable of understanding God's knowledge as relates to mankind, but... | ||
** God's knowledge is shielded from man by man's incomplete perception of it | ** God's knowledge is shielded from man by man's incomplete perception of it | ||
** and, worse, further misguided by sin. | ** and, worse, it is further misguided by sin. | ||
* As a result, men deny, deflect, or ignore God's wisdom | * As a result, men deny, deflect, or ignore God's wisdom | ||
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<u>Translation</u>: | <u>Translation</u>: | ||
* God can be understood by reason | * God's relation with man can be understood by reason | ||
* | * Yet man's reason has obstacles to that understanding | ||
*Man's reason ("the human mind") cannot easily attain "such truths" | *Man's reason ("the human mind") cannot easily attain "such truths" | ||
**because the relation between God and man goes beyond what can be observed ("visible order of things") | **because the relation between God and man goes beyond what can be observed ("visible order of things") | ||