John Paul II: Can Science prove God’s existence?

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The Wednesday General Audience on 10 July 1985 was dedicated to the topic “Proof of the Existence of God.” St. John Paul II said:

“In speaking of the existence of God we should underline that we are not speaking of proofs in the sense implied by the experimental sciences. Scientific proofs in the modern sense of the word are valid only for things perceptible to the senses, since it is only on such things that scientific instruments of investigation can be used. To desire a scientific proof of God would be equivalent to lowering God to the level of the beings of our world, and we would therefore be mistaken methodologically in regard to what God is. Science must recognize its limits and its inability to reach the existence of God. It can neither affirm nor deny his existence.

From this, however, we must not draw the conclusion that scientists in their scientific studies are unable to find valid reasons for admitting the existence of God. If science as such cannot reach God, the scientist who has an intelligence, the object of which is not limited to things of sense perception, can discover in the world reasons for affirming a Being which surpasses it. Many scientists have made and are making this discovery.”

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2 thoughts on “John Paul II: Can Science prove God’s existence?

  1. Presently it appears to be that everything on the planet comes from sources other than God, since the results of nature have their source in nature; purposeful impacts can be followed back to human explanation or will as their source. There is no need then to accept that God exists.

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