Religion Q & A – Big Bang Theory / Devil worship

Jonathan B. asks: HI! I watched the big bang video above but I have 1 more ?. Since a priest came up with the theory is it ok to believe in it as long as I believe that God created the big bang?

Answer: Hi, Jonathan! To answer your question, yes, we should believe that all creation and the events that led to the birth of the universe originated with God. Regarding the Big Bang theory, it is – like all theories – a conclusion that was drawn from a set of observations or phenomena. There are a number of theories about the beginning of the universe, and to believe one over the others is fine as long as we acknowledge God as its source.

Let me refer you to this article to read for more information about the Big Bang theory and Fr. Lemaitre:

‘A Day Without Yesterday’: Georges Lemaitre & the Big Bang
http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/science/sc0022.html

The article ends with this statement, which I thought was interesting when you reflect on Fr. Lemaitre’s background.

• Duncan Aikman of the New York Times spotlighted Lemaitre’s view in 1933: “‘There is no conflict between religion and science,’ Lemaitre has been telling audiences over and over again in this country ….His view is interesting and important not because he is a Catholic priest, not because he is one of the leading mathematical physicists of our time, but because he is both.”

Anonymous asks: I have heard of people worshiping the devil. Is that a mortal sin?

Answer: Worshiping the devil is in fact a mortal sin because Satan is THE enemy of God. The rituals and practices of Satanism are all directly opposed to the Christian faith, including the horrible act of desecration (severe mistreatment) of the Eucharist. Evil is at the center of this religion as it harnesses the spirits of darkness to attack the truth and beauty that God has left us in His Church and in the very dignity of humanity. Satan is called “the father of all lies” and also works to draw us farther away from God. To worship the devil would definitely be going against the will of God.

Religion Q & A – Feeling a Presence

Anonymous asks: Sometimes when I am sitting down or standing, I can feel a presence. Sometimes, I even hear ruffles & other noises. I feel startled & I always turn around. What should I do to stop feeling like this?

Answer: There can be practical, obvious reasons for the noises, like a gust of wind or sometimes your own imagination. I remember times when my brother and sister would get so scared to go into my mom’s room because the door would slam shut by itself, but they didn’t realize that her window was left open and the breeze passing through was the actual cause.

However, if you know for sure that these noises are happening regularly without an apparent cause, then I would suggest saying a prayer, like the Hail Mary, and you should feel the peace return as the fear leaves you. If the presence you are experiencing is the soul of someone who has passed away, God is allowing that person to get your attention…usually this happens so you can pray for the soul as he/she passes through purgatory into Heaven.

If you feel a bad presence, then it would help not only to pray but also to bless your room/home with holy water or even have a priest come to bless your house if it has not been blessed yet. Bottom line is it’s important to know that you don’t have to be afraid…your guardian angel is always with you to protect and guide you. When you remember that God governs all things and has power over everything in Heaven and on earth, you’ll be able to go about your days (and nights) confident in His care.

Religion Q & A – Judgment Day

Anonymous asks: What will happen on judgment day if we find out that everything we believe is false? What will happen to the non-believers when they find out that God is real?

Answer: To respond to your first question, I think the best perspective to take would be one of faith. Are you afraid that what we believe is not true and therefore will end up to be a waste of time in the end? If you explore all the evidence that we can find in historical records, Scripture, and Tradition, you will see that there is plenty of support to back up the truths of our faith. But when it comes down to the “nitty-gritty”, belief is a decision to put your trust in God. It’s all about relationship.

Let me put it this way… Some people don’t want to get married because they are afraid that once they make the commitment, they’ll find out that the person they married isn’t who they portrayed themselves to be during the engagement. They don’t want to find out that they were being deceived all along. Because of their fear and lack of trust, they rob themselves of a beautiful relationship…one that will help them be the best person they could be just by being open to the love of another person.

I think it would be best if you spent time trying to get to know more about God who wants to have a relationship with you. The goal of faith and the practice of religion is to help us be better individuals…to be more loving and compassionate…to want to make a difference in the lives of other people. If you happen to be missing out on the truth – or part of it – then God will reveal that to you when you meet Him.

All people will be judged based on what they know, not on what they don’t know. If a person lived the best way they knew how according to what they knew to be good and right, even if they were never taught about God, then there is no reason for them to be denied the chance to go to Heaven. However, if someone outrightly turned away from God and stopped believing in Him because they knowingly did not want to follow His ways, then the life they live for all eternity will just be an extension of the life they lived here on earth.

Of course, only God knows what will happen to each individual on Judgment Day. He knows each person’s heart and understands the circumstances and challenges that they face in their faith journey. We can trust that He loves each of us so much that He will constantly give us opportunities to grow closer to Him every day so we may join Him one day in Paradise.

Religion Q & A – Believing in God

Anonymous asks: What can someone do if they start doubting that Jesus and God exist? Is there a way for them to start believing again?

Answer: It depends if they want to start believing again or not. It also depends on why they started doubting in the first place.

There are people who start doubting that God exists because they don’t think their prayers are being answered. You can look up past questions on the blog regarding the issue of prayer and read how we can better understand how God responds to our prayers. Then there are those people who doubt God exists because bad things are happening to them and they don’t get why God isn’t helping them out. In this case, they need to stop and look for the good that may be coming out of their situation since it is likely that they have the opportunity to grow in spiritual strength and virtue.

For those who want to believe but just need some reassurance, the best thing for them to do is to ask God to show them how real He is, where He is present, and how He works in our lives. If they pay attention and keep their eyes, ears, and hearts open, they will soon see that God shows his existence through creation…through the people around us…through “coincidences”, events that seem to fall into place which are actually God’s hand taking care of us.

For some people, it doesn’t matter how much proof you present to them. If their hearts are so closed that they are not willing to accept any part of the truth, then they will not accept the existence of God even if He chose to reveal himself to them. This is like the people who saw Jesus in person and witnessed his miracles. They may have started to believe at first, but their pride got in the way of their faith and did not end up following him because of their stubbornness. We can only pray that the Holy Spirit will shed the light of Truth into their hearts so they will be humble enough to open their hearts again.

Regarding the existence of Jesus, we can turn to historical records because we do have proof that Jesus did walk the earth. There is a book called The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel that responds to the most common challenges about Jesus being the Son of God. He addresses the questions: How reliable is the New Testament? Does evidence exist for Jesus outside the Bible? Is there any reason to believe the resurrection was an actual historical event?

There are many more resources that will help someone grow stronger in their faith, but it takes a desire to believe and an act of faith to begin the journey.

Religion Q & A – Dreamcatchers

Chiweta asks: Are dreamcatchers okay, or is it part of an occult?

Answer: I had to consult a priest friend of mine about this one, and he said that having a dreamcatcher for decoration only is not bad. But he also said that it might promote superstition because some people truly believe that a person’s bad dreams will get trapped in the web of the dreamcatcher as they are asleep at night. It is a treasured form of artwork in the Native American culture, so while we appreciate the beauty of the dreamcatcher and the culture that it comes from, we as Catholics/Christians also need to be careful that we do not mix our beliefs with those of other religions.

Religion Q & A – More Questions

Unknown asks: Mrs. Dyogi, what if you feel that God is not answering our prayers? What do think I should do? Answer: In Matthew 7:7-8, Jesus says “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” But sometimes we ask God for help in certain situations and it seems as if He doesn’t hear us. One of three things may be happening – either 1) we are not recognizing God’s answer to our prayers because we are not paying attention, 2) God’s answer to our prayers is in the works and He is planning to give us His answer at a later time, or 3) God hears our prayer but does not give us what we ask for because it is not good for us or He has something better planned. Whenever we pray, we have to trust that God is listening and will give us what is best when the time is right. ******************************

Mekai S. asks: I pray to God every day but I can never hear him. Is he there? Is something wrong with me? Answer: Yes, Mekai, God is there. In class today, we talked about four ways that God speaks to us: through Divine Revelation (Scripture), through the Church, through prayer, and through the beauty of nature. God can also speak to us through other people. For example, I have prayed to God for help or for the answer to a question, and I’ll get a phone call from a friend who acts as one of God’s messenger to pass on what God wanted to tell me. That friend may not necessarily hear the voice of God telling them to call me…God just gives them a feeling that they should call me and they do. God can also speak to us through music. There have been Christian songs that I’ve felt very connected to when I was going through certain experiences, and I would feel God was speaking to me through the lyrics. Knowing how to listen for God’s voice in the many ways He speaks is important, and it takes practice. Just keep praying and in time you will be able to hear Him and see that He is very present in your life. ******************************

Quinci asks: Hey Mrs. Dyogi, I just wanted to ask you a question about finding your guardian angel. I haven’t found mine yet so where would I get to see him/her? Answer: Quinci, it’s not really a matter of finding your guardian angel because your angel is always there beside you. Just as it takes faith to believe that God is with us even if we can’t see Him, it also takes faith to believe that our angels are with us as well. Some people will get to meet their guardian angels during times of danger or great suffering, but most people will not have the opportunity to see their angels until it is time for them to pass from this life to the next. Don’t be too disappointed if you don’t get to see your guardian angel. As your soul matures and your relationship with God deepens, you’ll be able to tune in to the spiritual world a little better and eventually have a sense that your angel is with you. ******************************

kayla ray. asks: Mrs. Dyogi, why can’t Christians receive communion? And if they do, is it a sin? Answer: I believe you are asking about non-Catholic Christians receiving Holy Communion. Once upon a time, there was only one Christian Church. Unfortunately, because of misunderstandings among people in the Church, the Body of Christ was broken – Christians split off into other denominations (forms of Christianity) because they did not agree with what the Catholic Church taught and practiced. Receiving the Eucharist is among the highest signs of Christian unity: “Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread” (1 Cor. 10:17). If someone receives the Eucharist, they are saying that they believe everything that Jesus has taught and passed down through the Catholic Church. Non-Catholic Christians generally are not in union with all the teachings of the Church, therefore it would not make sense for them to receive the Eucharist. Some non-Catholics, however, will receive the Eucharist as a sign of respect for the Catholic Church because they do not truly understand what it means for us. If they happen to be present at a wedding or a funeral of a Catholic friend, they might feel that receiving communion is a way of showing support. If this is their intention, then it is not a sin on their part. But we, as Catholics, can help them become more familiar with the Church’s teachings about receiving communion and tell them that there are certain guidelines for who can receive. We can also let them know that they are always welcome to attend the Mass and they can approach the priest or Eucharistic minister for a blessing. As the Body and Blood of Christ, the Eucharist is the most precious Blessed Sacrament and it is important that we always promote reverence for it by sharing our understanding of the sacrament with both Catholics and non-Catholics alike. ******************************

Student X. asks: Besides Jesus Christ who do you think represents the most of God’s word according to the BIBLE? Answer: I would have to say – hands down – it would be Jesus’ mother, Mary. Our Blessed Mother is a perfect example of discipleship and obedience to the Word of God. She lived a very holy life, willing to sacrifice the life of her own Son just so that we could all go to Heaven. She risked rejection and even death when she accepted to be the mother of Jesus, knowing people would suspect her of sin. She practiced charity by going to help her pregnant cousin Elizabeth when she herself was pregnant with Jesus. She was so committed to her husband Joseph that she traveled more than eighty miles with him on the back of a donkey for the census in Bethlehem…8 months pregnant! She looked out for others when she asked Jesus to work his first miracle – turning water into wine – when her friends ran out at their wedding. She had the courage to walk with Jesus on the road to Calvary and stand at the foot of the cross until he died, not leaving his side for a single moment. She prayed faithfully with the disciples in the Upper Room until the Holy Spirit came to begin the Church. She prays for us every day, begging us to turn away from sin, just as a good mother would do. There has been no woman…no human being…more amazing and more true to God’s Word than Mary. ******************************

Jacob M. asks: My friends said that there is no God but I know that isn’t true. What should I tell them? Answer: Tell them what you know! It would be best not to get in an argument about the issue, but make it more of a sharing. What is the proof that God is real, alive, and working among us? There are so many things to point to – creation, unexplained miracles, changed lives, and Jesus Christ himself. You can start by asking yourself how you know God is real – what does He do for you? Many people have a hard time believing in things they cannot see, but there are ways to help them realize that there is a spiritual world that does exist. Another interesting avenue to take would be to discuss the presence of evil in the world. If we recognize that there is an evil force at work that drives people to commit horrible crimes or spirits that go so far as to possess people, then there must be a good God to counteract the evil and powerful enough to even overcome it.

Religion Q & A – More Questions

Taylor L.: Mrs. Dyogi, How do you fight the temptations of the demons if they somehow appear to you in your life?

Answer: The rosary is one of the best weapons against temptation. Mary is always there to help us pray to God for the grace to stay faithful to Him and not sin. Reading the Bible is another good way to ward off the evil that might creep in because you would be grounded in the truth that is the Word of God.

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Ani: HEY MRS. DYOGi!! UMM i HAVE A QUESTiON ABOUT FiNDiNG OUT UR GUARDiAN ANGEL’S NAME? iS iT THE FiRST NAME THAT POPS iNTO UR HEAD?[iM SOO CONFUSED..LOL]

Answer: It could be! If you want to make sure, just ask again and the same name will come up with a great feeling of peace. If the name makes you feel comforted, like the name of a good friend you have had for a long time, then that is most likely the name of your guardian angel!

Religion Q & A – Big Bang Theory

Jacob M. asks: DURING SCIENCE TODAY MR. DEL TORO TOLD US ABOUT THE BIG BANG THEORY. AS CATHOLICS ARE WE SUPPOSED TO BELIEVE IN THIS SCIENTIFIC THEORY.

Answer: Jacob, you can watch this video clip for some insight!

Religion Q & A – More questions!

Taylor F. asks: “In the movie The Prince of Egypt when passover came and killed the first born in each family, why didn’t Ramses (Moses’s brother) die? I thought he was the first born… ”

Answer: Ramses did not die because he was actually the head of his own household. Since he had a son, it was Ramses’s firstborn who died during the tenth plague.

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Jacob M. asks: I saw The Golden Compass. I didn’t really see or hear anything bad about the catholic religion. Why did a lot of people warn us about this movie?

Answer: If you look back to the entry I wrote for Ike’s question on The Golden Compass, you’ll see that the concern is more about the trilogy that the movie is based on. There isn’t anything directly attacking the Catholic Church in the movie because they toned down specific references to the Church to avoid controversy. The reason why children were warned against seeing the movie is because it might make them curious about the novels and they might be led to start reading novels #2 and #3 which continue the story that began in The Golden Compass. The sequels are very anti-Catholic and these are what we want you to stay away from.

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Rachel N. asks: Since we believe in one God, are dream-catchers and fortune telling against our religion?

Answer: Yes, Rachel, using dream-catchers and fortune tellers would be against the First Commandment – “You shall have no gods above me.” Anything that encourages you to put your trust in spirits other than the One true God is against what we believe as Catholic-Christians. God wants us to know and believe that He loves us and has our lives in his hands – our present days as well as our futures. Of course we are always curious to know what will happen to us, whether we will be successes or failures, but everything that is allowed by God – good or bad – is used to make us better people.

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Kayla asks: Why is it that God shows certain people visions? Is it because He is trying to show them something and keep it secret? Or does He want them to spread their message?

Answer: God reveals visions to people for a number of different reasons. If you remember the Nativity story, Joseph and a vision in a dream of an angel telling him that Mary conceived a Son through the Holy Spirit. He later received another vision from God urging him to take the family to Egypt in order to protect the life of Jesus. Neither of these visions were meant to be shared publicly – they were for him alone.

Then you have visions like the Marian apparitions of Guadalupe, Fatima, and Lourdes and the Divine Mercy apparition of Jesus to St. Faustina that were to be shared with the entire world so that faith would be increased in the hearts of all people. John the Apostle had visions from God that can be found in the Book of Revelation, obviously meant for all of us to read and reflect on.

When God allows a person to have a vision of any kind, He gives specific instructions to keep it secret or make it public, depending on its purpose.

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Jacob M. asks: Why did Judas turn Jesus in to the high priest?

Answer: Judas turned Jesus in to the high priest out of greed. The Gospels say that he sold him for thirty pieces of silver. When Judas realized that they wanted to torture and kill Jesus, he felt sorry and tried to return the money. Because he thought that there was no hope for himself or for Jesus, he unfortunately took his own life.

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Jacob M. asks: When I went to confession I forgot a few of my sins. Is my soul clean?

Answer: GREAT question! As long as you make a sincere confession and in your heart you are sorry for all your sins, your soul is made clean. If the forgotten sins were venial (less serious), then you can choose to confess them the next time you go to confession so you can get some good advice from the priest about how to overcome those faults. If the forgotten sins were mortal sins (very serious, committed with full knowledge), then you would need to get to confession again as soon as possible and make sure you confess them in order to restore your relationship with God.

Religion Q & A – Believe in Him or not?

Jaimee asks: “I was just wondering, I have a friend that asked me why she should believe in God. I did not know really what to tell her. I was wondering if you had any advice on what I could say?”

Answer: Your friend is essentially on a search for truth. Does she believe that God is real? If she does and it’s just a matter of her making the choice to devote her life to Him, then the Bible would be a great resource for her to turn to. From the story of creation to the Book of Revelation, Scripture is full of reasons to open your heart up to the wonderful Persons in the Holy Trinity – the Father, the Son we know as Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.

If she is not sure that God exists, then she needs to ask herself what evidence there is in the world of His existence. She can look around her and find signs of God in nature, in the design of human beings, and even in the various cultures that have chosen to believe in God through the religions of Judaism, Islam, and Christianity.

The most effective way you can witness to her, though, is to tell your own story. How has God proved Himself to be real in your life? How have your prayer life and your relationship with Jesus helps you all these years? How have you seen God’s presence work in the life of other people you know? Once she realizes how much love, peace, and freedom that is found in God, her own “leap of faith” will bear a lot of good fruit in her life experiences.

It really depends on what approach she’s most open to. Some people want facts, other people want stories. It’s best to ask her more about why she asked you in the first place. If it’s been a while since your conversation, you can always bring it up again in a friendly manner, especially since it’s Christmastime and this season of the year is all about celebrating the birth of Jesus. If she’s not a reader, you can always suggest that she watch The Nativity Story to learn more about the God we believe in. That way she can decide for herself if she would like to explore the Christian belief in God more deeply.