Proofs for the Existence of God

This column by Fr. Ron Rolheiser appeared in the September 29, 2005 Catholic Herald. He reviews the long history of philosophical attempts, then looks at a later attempt.

Karl Rahner once suggested his own proofs for the existence of God. For him, we taste God in certain experiences and these experiences ultimately imprint us with the belief that the universe makes sense, that we have sufficient reason to love and trust, that there's a world beyond this one, and that there's a God. Here's a paraphrase of his argument:

Have you ever remained silent, though you wanted to defend yourself, though you were treated unfairly?

And Fr. Rolheiser goes on to give a series of similar questions, concluding,

If you've ever had any of these experiences, then you've experienced God and know that there's a deeper ground beneath the one on which you walk.

Rahner seems to say that if someone slapped you, you would experience God by turning the other cheek, rather than say, objecting. On the other hand, here's John 18:22-23.

When he had said this, one of the temple guards standing there struck Jesus and said, "Is this the way you answer the high priest?" Jesus answered him, "If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong; but if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?"