I've always taken it for granted that God was eternal with no beginning, but I think your response to the previous poster has confused me.

You said that nothing can come from sheer nothingness, therefore if there are beings, there must be at least one being with no beginning.

I know it's hard to think of the reality of God existing outside of time as we know it, but what was there before he created creation? He was alone, we know that and we know he created out of love, but it just seems like having no beginning for God, yet having a beginning for creation makes you wonder what God was doing before creation? Maybe there was another creation that he made and resolved? Maybe he just was? I know you'll say it's the great mystery, but I wondered what your thoughts were on God's existence prior to creation.

Also, the athiest's version of creation (from the big bang) appears to be from nothingness, yet something was created. I know this isn't the Catholic belief, but it appears as though the idea that something can come from nothing may be common in science. Is the idea you mentioned primarily a philosophical perspective and am I trying to futily mix science and theology?

Dear Cynthia,

Why should God be doing anything before creation? Being the fullness of perfection, he does not have to do anything to complete himself. We do because we are not complete or perfect. And besides, we cannot picture God and being alone for an eternity and then springing into action at the moment he created the world. That is to put God in a before and after time from. But God cannot be put in a time frame because there is none for pure spirits.

Dr. Geraghty

COPYRIGHT 2009

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