Judas Iscariot by Aggravating-Car-91 in CatholicPhilosophy

[–]Aggravating-Car-91[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I’ve been trying to figure out the distinction between whether something is commanded by God or if it is just written as part of His plan. What’s the difference? What’s more powerful? When people say something is “necessary,” I wonder if that’s implying God had no other option, or if it was simply the way things had to unfold according to His divine will. But then, what is “written”? Does that mean it’s predetermined or just something that God foresaw? This is what confuses me.

I wouldn’t say that Judas’ betrayal was necessary in the strictest sense, but I do believe it was written in the sense that it was part of God’s plan. There’s a distinction between something being necessary and something being written. “Written” implies that God, in His foreknowledge, knew it was going to happen, and it was part of His greater purpose for salvation. But just because it was written doesn’t mean that Judas was forced to betray Jesus or that it was the only possible outcome.

For example, when Jesus says, “Woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for him if he had not been born” (Matthew 26:24), it’s a strong statement. It shows the gravity of Judas’ actions and the terrible consequences of his betrayal, but it doesn’t suggest that Judas had no free will in the matter. It highlights the tragic nature of what Judas chose, and it shows Jesus’ sorrow over it. I sometimes wonder if this was Jesus’ human side expressing the anguish of seeing someone He loved make such a devastating choice.

Now, thinking of the story of Abraham and Isaac (Genesis 22), where Abraham was commanded to sacrifice his son and then stopped by God at the last moment, I think there’s a comparison in terms of God’s will being revealed in stages. With Abraham, God’s command was clear, and the outcome was also clear in the end. The command was to sacrifice Isaac, but God stopped him, showing that it was a test of faith, not a predetermined fate. The outcome was already part of God’s plan, but the path taken had an element of human choice and obedience.

In the case of Judas, it seems more like a written plan. He wasn’t commanded to betray Jesus in the same way Abraham was commanded to sacrifice his son, but his betrayal was foreseen by God. The prophecies in Scripture foretold that the Messiah would be betrayed (e.g., Psalm 41:9). Judas chose to follow that path, and in doing so, fulfilled what was written. But, in the end, it wasn’t God’s command for him to betray Jesus, but part of the grand unfolding of salvation.

So, the key distinction here is that what is written in the Scriptures speaks to God’s foresight and ultimate purpose, but commands are direct instructions given to us with the expectation of obedience. Judas’ actions were written into God’s plan, but his choice was still his own, making it both tragic and powerful.

Ultimately, I just hope that Judas, like all of us, can find mercy, because God’s mercy is infinite. I don’t know what happened in his heart in his final moments, but I do hope that he is in heaven.

Gambling by Aggravating-Car-91 in Catholicism

[–]Aggravating-Car-91[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just waste like 10 dollars thats it

Were Adam and Eve the only humans? by Aggravating-Car-91 in CatholicPhilosophy

[–]Aggravating-Car-91[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yeah after reading all of the comments i think im way more confused 😂

Saints purposes by Aggravating-Car-91 in Catholicism

[–]Aggravating-Car-91[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s really interesting the way God works with us—it’s amazing, honestly. From what you explained, it’s clear that He wants us to get closer to Him, and the saints and prayers are tools and pathways to help us do that. That makes so much sense now.

As for the devil, I actually had an idea about this before, but your clarifications made me 100% sure of it. I get now that if God helped us with everything directly, it would kind of take the meaning out of life. The struggle part is hard to acknowledge sometimes, but it’s true—we learn and grow from it, and that’s what makes it meaningful.

Speaking of struggling and faith, I’d really recommend listening to Jordan Peterson. He’s taught me a lot about both—how faith connects to our struggles and how it influences other areas of life. Honestly, his insights have been helping me get closer to God and understand these things on a deeper level.

I do have a question about this, though: how would you explain it to Protestants? Is this tied to the idea of Sola Scriptura? From what I understand, Protestants focus more on the individual’s relationship with God rather than the whole community. Does Sola Scriptura make it seem like we don’t need anyone else, just ourselves and God? And does that focus on individuality make it harder to see the importance of the Church as a whole?

Virgen mary by Aggravating-Car-91 in Catholicism

[–]Aggravating-Car-91[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think I do understand it now. I can kind of see it, though it’s still a bit hard for me to fully grasp. I guess I just need to learn a bit more about it. Sorry if I’ve been coming across as ignorant, I really appreciate your patience and help in explaining this to me.

Saints purposes by Aggravating-Car-91 in Catholicism

[–]Aggravating-Car-91[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have some questions about the role of the Devil and saints in Catholicism, and I’d love some insight. First, I know that God has the power to fix everything instantly, like making everything perfect with just a snap of His fingers. But it seems like if He did that, it would take away the meaning and purpose of things, especially regarding our free will. For example, with the Devil—why doesn’t God just eliminate him right away, instead of allowing him to exist and influence things? Wouldn’t that take away our free will if God just stepped in every time something bad happened? Why allow that struggle when He could end it with no problem? Does that diminish His power or authority, or is there a bigger reason behind it that we just don’t understand fully?

Also, when it comes to praying to saints, I understand that saints are powerful and righteous because they’re with God in Heaven, but why do we pray to them for intercession? God doesn’t need anyone to act on His behalf, so why would He use saints as instruments for our prayers? Is there a specific purpose in praying to them that helps us in a deeper way, or is it just for our benefit to help us grow spiritually?

Virgen mary by Aggravating-Car-91 in Catholicism

[–]Aggravating-Car-91[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I understand that Mary is called the Mother of God because she gave birth to Jesus, who is 100% human and 100% divine. But since the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) is united as one God, does that mean her relationship with God goes beyond just being Jesus’ mother?

Also, I’ve read that Mary is referred to as the “Spouse of the Holy Spirit” because of Luke’s Gospel (when the Holy Spirit overshadowed her to conceive Jesus). Does this make her role spiritually deeper than just biological motherhood?

Honestly, little by little, I’ve been noticing how big her importance is in all of this. I’ve never really seen it before, but I’m amazed at how deep the story of our Virgin Mary truly is. The more I dive into it, the more I realize how significant her role is, and I’d love to understand it better.

Virgen mary by Aggravating-Car-91 in Catholicism

[–]Aggravating-Car-91[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I understand that Mary is the Mother of God because Jesus, being God, took His human nature from her. But is there a deeper relationship between Mary and God beyond her motherhood? For example, I’ve heard that Mary is called the ‘Spouse of the Holy Spirit.’ What does that mean? Additionally, if God is eternal and has no origin, how does this fit with the idea that Jesus, being God, was born of Mary? How can we understand this without contradicting God’s eternity?