 |
 |
 |
 |
"How did the earth begin? If God created Adam and Eve, then who created God? Where did God come from since there was nothing on earth?"
Answer:
Over the centuries, many famous scientists and theologians (people who study God) have asked themselves the same questions you are asking. These things are hard for us to understand, and no one, not even the greatest saints and scholars, will grasp them fully in this life.
Many astronomers support the idea that the earth, and in fact the whole universe, came about as the result of a huge explosion that took place about 13 billion years ago. This is often referred to as the 'Big Bang' theory. The Catholic Church is very interested in such ideas, and even has its own group of about 70 well-known scientists who meet from time to time with the Pope to discuss new discoveries in astronomy, medicine, physics, biology and so on. A few years ago, for example, Pope John Paul II addressed this group of scientists on the topic of the evolution of life, the theory that all living things on earth developed from very tiny and very simple organisms.
Although the Church thinks such topics are important, the Church is not an authority on scientific matters, and so doesn't support the ideas or theories of any one group of astronomers over another. God, the Church teaches us, invented science itself, the very laws that govern the universe. If, in fact, the earth did begin with a big explosion as scientists believe, then this was the method God chose to create the universe. Furthermore, if you or I were to construct something we would need building materials: wood, concrete, bricks, cement and so on. The Church teaches us, however, that God did not need any materials to make the world, but created the entire universe "out of nothing."
We often use different words when we speak of God. When we think of him as the One who made the world and everything in it, we often refer to God as 'The Creator'. Or, following Jesus' example, we call God 'Father', as a way of emphasizing both his closeness to us, and the tenderness he feels toward us, his children. Another name for God you may have heard used in Church readings and in hymns is the word 'Yahweh', and that brings us to your second question about who created God.
The Hebrew word Yahweh comes from the words God spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai--"I Am Who Am"-- when Moses asked God to reveal his name. From these words and from other Church writings, we are led to understand that no one created God; that he always was, he is, and he always will be. Another way to state this is to say that God is 'eternal', meaning he has no beginning and no end.
As mentioned earlier, these things are hard for us to understand. That is why we speak of the 'mystery' of God, and use many words like Creator, Father and Yahweh to describe him and to speak to him. Even the friends of Jesus were curious about the nature of God. "Lord, let us see the Father and we shall be satisfied," they said. Jesus told them, "To have seen me is to have seen the Father." In this way Jesus was telling his friends, and us, that he is the Son of God, and that by following his teachings and his example we will come to know and understand the Father more deeply.
St. Paul states that we will never see God clearly in this life, but always as "a dim reflection in a mirror." As members of Christ's Church, however, we are able even now to have a living experience of him in our hearts-- to catch a glimpse of him, so to speak--by means of prayer and the sacraments, following his commandments, and loving others in this world just as he loves us.
God bless,
Father Norbert