God knowledge and consequences
A caller to The Patrick Madrid Show radio program today asked whether God knew children who would not be conceived because a couple was contracepting. Through artificial contraception, are they blocking …More
A caller to The Patrick Madrid Show radio program today asked whether God knew children who would not be conceived because a couple was contracepting. Through artificial contraception, are they blocking the existence of a person God would want in the world? Is someone who is never conceived- a potential person, without a body and a soul, never really created- known by God?
Patrick explained middle knowledge (Scientia media) – can God know something that is only theoretical, a possibility, it doesn’t really exist, it doesn’t actually happen? The Molinists on the Jesuit side said yes, God can know in a “middle knowledge way” and the Thomists on the Dominican side said no. They argued endlessly and both had good arguments. It has never been a definitive resolution.
Anything that can be known, God knows. If God knows some people would have come into existence if their parents weren’t using contraception, then God knows that. In a theoretical sense we can say that these people who would …More
Patrick explained middle knowledge (Scientia media) – can God know something that is only theoretical, a possibility, it doesn’t really exist, it doesn’t actually happen? The Molinists on the Jesuit side said yes, God can know in a “middle knowledge way” and the Thomists on the Dominican side said no. They argued endlessly and both had good arguments. It has never been a definitive resolution.
Anything that can be known, God knows. If God knows some people would have come into existence if their parents weren’t using contraception, then God knows that. In a theoretical sense we can say that these people who would …More
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giveusthisday
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It is my understanding that the Church considers a person has a soul from the moment of conception.
occasnltrvlr
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They do. That is not the question.
The question is the other way around: "Does a soul have a body from the moment of the soul's creation?" (Put another way, "Is a soul created at conception, or had God already created the soul at some time before?") The Church, as I understand, has never taken a doctrinal position on this question.
My personal belief (for whatever that may be worth) is that all …More
They do. That is not the question.
The question is the other way around: "Does a soul have a body from the moment of the soul's creation?" (Put another way, "Is a soul created at conception, or had God already created the soul at some time before?") The Church, as I understand, has never taken a doctrinal position on this question.
My personal belief (for whatever that may be worth) is that all souls were created by God long before God formed Adam on this Earth. At the very least, it seems that all souls must at least be known to God before the conception of the body for any particular soul.
The question is the other way around: "Does a soul have a body from the moment of the soul's creation?" (Put another way, "Is a soul created at conception, or had God already created the soul at some time before?") The Church, as I understand, has never taken a doctrinal position on this question.
My personal belief (for whatever that may be worth) is that all souls were created by God long before God formed Adam on this Earth. At the very least, it seems that all souls must at least be known to God before the conception of the body for any particular soul.
giveusthisday
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Oh, ok, I understand. Today is the Feast of the Nativity of Mary; God knew her before He created the world! It is so beautiful! Also once I heard a story of Padre Pio who started to weep when a woman confessed to an abortion. He said it would have been the pope the world needs now.
occasnltrvlr
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"Is someone who is never conceived- a potential person, without a body and a soul, never really created- known by God?"
This question presumes a conclusion never reached by the Church: that the soul comes into existence (i.e., is essentially "created") at conception. Mankind does not have the power to thwart God's creation, but only to choose to not participate in conception. A vow of virginity (…More
"Is someone who is never conceived- a potential person, without a body and a soul, never really created- known by God?"
This question presumes a conclusion never reached by the Church: that the soul comes into existence (i.e., is essentially "created") at conception. Mankind does not have the power to thwart God's creation, but only to choose to not participate in conception. A vow of virginity (with one notable and blessed exception) has the same effect.
This question presumes a conclusion never reached by the Church: that the soul comes into existence (i.e., is essentially "created") at conception. Mankind does not have the power to thwart God's creation, but only to choose to not participate in conception. A vow of virginity (with one notable and blessed exception) has the same effect.
Jungerheld
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It is mentioned that the Church has not reached this conclusion.