God Exists and We Can Prove It

Reason Can Come to Know God

Is God’s existence merely a matter of opinion? Many in our culture, shaped by an intellectual environment that dismisses religious claims as subjective, would say yes. But this is a fundamental misunderstanding—not just of theology, but of truth itself.

The Catholic Church does not simply propose belief in God as a comforting option; it teaches that God’s existence can be known with certainty. Not just believed, but known. This distinction is critical because it moves the question of God’s existence from the realm of personal preference into the realm of objective truth.

This misconception is why people often relegate moral and religious claims to the realm of subjective belief, as if they have no bearing on reality. When confronted with statements about morality or faith, many instinctively respond, “Isn’t that just what you believe?” But truth is not a matter of personal preference. Either Jesus Christ rose from the dead, or he didn’t. Either murder is truly wrong, or it isn’t. Either God exists, or He does not. These are not opinions to be chosen based on personal preference; they are facts to be discovered.

The Catholic Church teaches that God’s existence is not just a matter of faith but is accessible to reason. The Catechism (CCC 31-36) affirms that human beings, even without divine revelation, can arrive at knowledge of God’s existence. If this is true, then even those who have never heard of Christianity or the Bible should, through reason alone, be able to recognize the necessity of a Creator.

St. Paul was a big proponent of utilizing our gift of reason. He wrote,

For what can be known about God is evident to them, because God made it evident to them. Ever since the creation of the world, his invisible attributes of eternal power and divinity have been able to be understood and perceived in what he has made. As a result, they have no excuse. (Romans 1:19-20)

This is not a blind leap of faith but a rational conclusion–a product of utilizing human reason. The Church does not claim that we must merely believe in God without evidence, nor does it present faith as a substitute for reason. Instead, it affirms that belief in God can be supported by solid arguments—arguments rooted in common human experience and defended by the greatest minds in history.

If we can defend a belief rationally, then it is no longer mere belief—it is knowledge. Philosophers throughout history, from Plato and Aristotle to Aquinas and beyond, have provided rigorous arguments for God’s existence. These arguments are not emotional appeals or religious platitudes; they are reasoned conclusions drawn from observable reality. Again, the Scriptures affirm,

“For all men were by nature foolish who were in ignorance of God, and who from the good things seen did not succeed in knowing him who is, and from studying the works did not discern the artisan.” (Wisdom 13:1)

Some skeptics argue that if God wanted His existence to be known, He should have made it obvious. Blaise Pascal, the philosopher and mathematician, was aware of this argument and responded by saying, ““There is enough light for those who desire only to see, and enough darkness for those of a contrary disposition.” – Pensées, 149.

History shows this as well. The overwhelming testimony of cultures across time, from the dawn of civilization to modernity, affirms that belief in God is not only widespread but natural.

I think Chesterton captured this atheistic falacy best. “The atheist is not interested in the evidence for God. He is not even interested in the evidence against God. He is interested in knocking God out of existence.” (The Everlasting Man). If anything, atheism is the anomaly—both historically and philosophically.

Ed Feser has this knockout statement that I want to bring up here: “The traditional arguments for God’s existence are not only stronger than the arguments against, but in fact, conclusive.” (Five Proofs of the Existence of God). While logical proofs are valuable, they are not the only path to knowledge. There are two other means by which we can come to know God: authority and experience.

1. Authority – Jesus Christ, through His life, death, and resurrection, demonstrated His divinity. If we come to recognize the truth of His claims, then we have a reliable authority for knowledge of God.

2. Experience – Personal encounters with God, though not always persuasive to others, are undeniable to the one who has them. Many believers do not simply argue for God’s existence—they know it through lived experience.

Ultimately, reason and faith are not enemies but allies. Reason can lead us to God’s existence, and faith deepens that knowledge into relationship. What begins as an intellectual search for truth culminates in a personal encounter with the Author of truth.

The question of God’s existence is not one of opinion but of reality. The Church’s teaching affirms what reason and experience confirm: God is real, and He is knowable.

As St. Augustine would point out:

“Question the beauty of the earth, question the beauty of the sea, question the beauty of the air distending and diffusing itself, question the beauty of the sky… Question all these realities. All respond: ‘See, we are beautiful.’ Their beauty is their confession of God.” – Sermon 241