The proofs of the existence of God are the rational terms in which man states why and how he reaches the natural conviction that he can legitimately affirm the existence of a personal Absolute. A “natural” conviction is not based on an explicit verbal revelation from God.

1. Catholic doctrine. Unlike Protestant thought, which in Karl Barth goes so far as to repudiate the analogia entis, Catholic theology, consciously taking its stand on God’s revelation in Jesus Christ, does not repudiate but r…