Fr. Sptizer, Ph.D, is back to talk about the science of cosmic find tuning and transcendent intelligence, the “what” versus the “who” of God, exorcisms, near death experiences, and more.
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About Fr. Spizter
Fr. Spitzer was President of Gonzaga University from 1998 to 2009. While president, he significantly increased the programs and curricula in faith, ethics, service, and leadership, and led the efforts to build 20 new facilities, increased the student population by 75%, and raised more than $200 million for scholarships and capital projects.
He has made many TV appearances including: Larry King Live (debating Stephen Hawking and Leonard Mlodinow), the Today Show (debating on the topic of active euthanasia), The History Channel in “God and The Universe,” a multiple part PBS series “Closer to the Truth,” and the Hugh Hewitt Show.
Currently appearing weekly on EWTN in “Father Spitzer’s Universe“.
You can read more about Fr. Spitzer’s professional and academic background here.
Show Notes and Recommended Resources
The “Big Book” on Credible Catholic: https://www.crediblecatholic.com/the-big-book/
The Soul’s Upward Yearning: https://amzn.to/2MOcjxA
New Proofs for the Existence of God: https://amzn.to/2DdILVM
Related Episodes
Fr. Spitzer on God and Science, Near Death Experiences, and How to Suffer Well:
https://www.chroniclesofstrength.com/ep-235-god-and-science-near-death-experiences-and-how-to-suffer-well/
Dr. Michael Rota On Whether You Should Take Pascal’s Wager?
How to Be Better at (Almost) Everything
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Pat – excellent, again… ken
Thanks, Ken!
I’ll be checking out the metaphysical proofs of God’s existence because I want to approach things from a logical perspective instead of a religious one (do these two overlap?). Seriously, it sounds a bit complex and I’ll have to put on my thinking cap, but I still want to check it out. Father Spizter, you’ve sparked my interest in pursuing this question further. Thanks to you and Pat for airing this with the public.
HI Sawyer,
Thanks for the kind words and genuine interest in the subject. It’s my precisely my hope that by staging conversations like these people will want to have a deeper look into things.
A few resources that you might find helpful.
Here is a more detailed demonstration of the proof Fr. Spitzer outlined in the conversation: https://www.crediblecatholic.com/pdf/7E-P2/7E-BB1.pdf#P1V1C2T1
Other, more popular (and accessible, for those without a background in philosophy) formulations can be found in books like Mere Christianity (moral argument) or Miracles (argument from reason), by C.S. Lewis.
This is not to say Fr. Spitzer’s work is inaccessible (not by any means!), just that people who aren’t familiar/comfortable with abstract, philosophical reasoning might find it challenging, at first. That said, I believe the challenge is absolutely worth undertaking, and will enrich anybody who engages it.
Thanks for chiming in.
Pat, you know I always have to step in when you’re discussing the proof of God’s existence. I’m trying to expand my toolkit when it comes to making rational arguments for the existence of God. The way I look at it, I can share my personal testimony with people about what God has done in my life. However, there will always be cases where someone just doesn’t care and wants to examine the existence of God through a logical approach. I loved the entropy argument concerning our existence. I forgot the name of the book, but I mentioned these probabilities when it comes to life on earth (for example, if the earth was titled one degree differently, we’d freeze, another, we’d burn up—the details are finer, but I hope you get my gist). Father S. does a great job explaining these scientific explanations for the likelihood of God and it’s another reason to check out his books. Father S. is a well-educated man and sounds like a generalist! What a great body of knowledge for presenting God’s existence.
A self-revealing God? That may be the case, but I don’t see why your core tenets (Christianity) are superior to others. I know you mention unconditional love but I think you’ll find that in other faiths if you examine them closely. Your guest makes a persuasive argument, but I have to think about it further.
Hi J.J.,
Thanks for your comment, and I’m glad to hear you found Fr. Spitzer’s argument persuasive. Before I became a Christian–and certainly before I became Catholic–it was encountering smart, articulate, and well-educated people like him that challenged so many of my deeply held beliefs, especially about religion. Like you, I wasn’t convinced of anything right away, but it got me looking into things. And, well, the rest is history.
All that said, I don’t think the argument is that the tenets of Christianity are morally superior to every other worldview. Christianity, is, first and foremost, about a person, not a set of moral instructions. Plus, it’s clear to me that people can be good, generous, loving people and not be Christian, or anything close to Christian. The argument is much more straightforward, I think: That God exists, and specifically revealed himself through Christ. I didn’t convert to Catholicism, for example, because I thought Christ’s teachings on love couldn’t be found elsewhere, or practiced apart from any specific religious commitment. I converted to Catholicism because I became convinced that Catholicism is true; that reality really is the way the church describes. Namely, that 1) God exists, 2) Christ is God, and 3) Jesus founded the Catholic Church. Answering the first question is something Fr. Spitzer spent a fair amount of doing on this interview, as well as our previous one. Affirming second question will hinge entirely upon the resurrection. Either God vindicated the claims of Christ through the miracle of the resurrection, or he didn’t. If he did, then it seems to me a person should become a Christian, regardless of whether they feel many of the tenets of Christianity can, or cannot, be matched in other religious. If he didn’t, then Christianity is a sham. Either way, here’s a nice, little summary of the evidence and arguments in favor: https://www.crediblecatholic.com/pdf/7E-P4/7E-BB3.pdf#P1V3
The last point, that Christ left us with a church, rather than a book, and that that church is the Catholic church specifically, is something I’ve dedicated a fair amount of time to here: https://www.chroniclesofstrength.com/why-i-became-catholic-in-spite-of-my-hatred-for-religion/ and plan to discuss in greater depth with Fr. Spitzer the next time he comes on.
Thanks for chiming in, J.J. I appreciate the conversation.
I think there’s a good argument for the existence of God, but proving the existence of a Christian God takes much more time to process if you’re approaching it rationally/logically. However, if you’re approaching it based on faith, it’s much easier—at least I think so. What are your thoughts on this Pat?
Philosopher Alvin Plantinga makes a strong case for the belief in Christianity as being “properly basic”. Meaning, it’s something that can be rationally held apart from any arguments for God’s existence, Christ’s resurrection, etc. Now, that itself is a somewhat technical argument to make, but it’s worth becoming familiar with, I think. You can find the best presentation of it in his book Warranted Christianity Belief, which is a wonderful work of epistemology, I might add.
Currently, I’m more of the belief that a study of natural theology can be a devotion; it’s something I simply enjoy doing and think gives glory to God, since I am trying to understand as much as I can about him. (Along with a study of scripture and tradition, of course!) That said, faith is a theological virtue, a gift from God. It’s only something we can accept; it isn’t something we can earn. But if a study of natural theology opens a person’s heart to receiving that grace, which it certainly did for me, then I’m all for it. At the same time, I would not consider a person any less of a Christian just because they couldn’t present an airtight argument for God’s existence. So, I think you’re right. Most people will find it easier to believe as a simple act of faith. It just *seems* right to a lot of people, when they hear the gospel presented. That said, and especially for those who are capable and interested, I think diving into the intellectual side can be both rewarding and clarifying. At least that’s been the case for me.
I just don’t understand these cosmological arguments for the likelihood of God and the counterarguments against things like the multiverse. Are there any sites or books you’d recommend Pat or that Father Spizter could recommend? I’d like a good foundation because when you start mentioning “fourth level multiverse” and “category area,” I’m completely lost.
Sure, Morgan. I’d start with a few simple introductory books. Like Mere Christianity, or Miracles, by C.S. Lewis. Also Orthodoxy by Chesterton. Once you’re through with those, I think you’ll have a better understanding of a few of these more technical arguments.
Aquinas teachings were very helpful to me in understanding things and seeing things in a better view. Yet that was just the surface and how there are just so many other readings I could delve into to learn more. Thank you so much Pat for bringing in Fr Spitzer again. One of the best podcasts in this area I’ve heard to date. A scientific backing on things is what a lot of people I know want the explanation of too.
Makes me smile to hear that, Cheska. Thank you!