Arguments/Proofs of Catholicism

This Page will serve as a central repository for arguments for the truth of the Catholic faith that I find persuasive. Feel free to engage with any of these proofs, either disagreeing, suggesting additional proofs, or critiquing the organizational structure or arguments themselves. Each of these proofs, individually, is held by me to either prove by itself, or at least strongly indicate, the truth of Christianity and the Catholic faith (the fullest expression of Christianity).

If you’re seeing this now, the below are basically my stream of conscious notes and rough plan of topics. It will likely make no sense, but I intend to edit it as I write out the arguments and organize them according to what I think makes the most sense. There are no links now to individual arguments, but they are coming. Each argument will be given in logical proof format with premises and conclusions, along with any links and commentary I believe helpful

Catholicism vs. Protestantism

1. The Bible

   1. The Special Role for Peter

   2. Revelation

   3. Authority in the Bible

      1. Titus

      2. Timothy

      3. Acts

      4. Gospels

      5. The Meaning of Heresy

   4. Faith Alone

   5. Isaiah 22:22

   6. Eucharist in the Bible

   7. Prayers for the dead

   8. Purgatory is a logical necessity

   9. marriage is a sacrament

   10. ability to forgive sins and retain them

2. History

   1. The early Church was Catholic

      1. Special role for Peter

      2. relics

      3. apostolic succession

         1. 1 Clement

         2. Ignatius of Antioch

      4. lack of bible

      5. eucharist

   2. church must be physical. must be one and everywhere. must be authoritative. must be provocative. catholic/roman and daniel prophecy. “Catholicism” vs Regionalism - Protestant and Orthodox Churches

3. Moral bulwark - Sexual revolution

   1. abortion

   2. IVF

   3. Divorce

   4. Contraception

   5. Patriarchy

4. Luther was a bad man

   1. bigamy. pair with faith alone and mistranslation

Catholicism vs. Eastern Orthodoxy

1. Council of Florence

   1. bishops and the rejection of authority

2. Which councils

   1. Oriental orthodoxy

3. Peter in the Bible

4. Rome in the Early Church

5. Morality

   1. contraception

   2. divorce

6. The principle of unity vs schismatic attitude/regionalism

7. more similar to the fathers of the East in the 15th century, the the pre-Nicea Church, and the pre-schism church

8. tome of leo

9. Maximus the confessor

Catholicism vs. Atheism

1. Miracles - whispers, choice

   1. The Resurrection

      1. the most natural explanation for the rise of Christianity

   2. The Shroud of Turin

      1. Sudarium

   3. Apparitions

      1. Our Lady of Guadalupe

      2. Our Lady of Fatima

   4. AB blood type

   5. Prophecy

      1. The destruction of the Temple and the failed attempt at rebuilding the temple by Julian the Apostate. Destruction of Jerusalem, end of temple sacrifices

      2. Ezekiel 20:25, Jeremiah 31:31-33 - New Covenant prophesied

      3. Daniel Empires prophecy, year of Christ’s birth

      4. Deuteronomy 18:15

      5. Fulfills Abram promise of blessing

      6. Typology

         1. Mary

         2. The cross

         3. Ark

         4. Davidic Kingdom

         5. Priesthood

         6. Sacrifice

2. Reason/Philosophy

   1. The Transcendental Argument for Christianity

   2. Morality

      1. Dignity and the Imago Dei

      2. Virtue and Fulfillment of Desire vs. Buddhism and Nirvana. pain and suffering redeemed rather than eliminated

      3. Forgiveness and Mercy

   3. Philosophy

      1. Wonder why something rather than Nothing. Must be a cause. Intelligibility. Wonder at what reality is and the evidence we encounter and human experience and all physical evidence.

         1. Therefore the existence of Form and Matter

            1. Concepts and Intelligibility

            2. No matter without form - form is fundamental

            3. Telos is built in

            4. Music and inherent meaning

         2. Christianity/Catholicism fits our nature/desire

            1. Original sin

            2. desire

            3. answer

More Arguments:

Fine Tuning - God’s love and purpose/telos. Something rather than nothing.

Miracles - not disproved by nature. Only reason proves nature. Only Christianity proves reason. Miracle or Divine Intervention or definitive miracle necessary.

Transcendentals exist and inspire. Therefore God.

Universe is contingent. We are contingent. Which religion says we are contingent on God (morally as well as materially)

Catholic priest big bang. Worldview corresponding to reality. Odds.

Christianity’s spread almost as if God behind it. Tech. Roman. Colonization.

Point of life is to be happy. Only Christianity makes you happy. Being good, Aristotle, trying to find other than God to make happy. Sin and death. Only religion that beats death could make you happy and give meaning.

Moral responsibility. Have morals. Not just molecules. Christianity best morality.

Christianity is most beautiful. Beauty and suffering. story. Speaks to human experience. Churches.

rebel theory of Christianity. - doesn’t the world seem like it needs a rebellion?

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