Cartesian Doubt and the definition of faith.

In philosophy, there is something called "Cartesian Doubt", as Rene Descartes wrote once, that he was not convinced anything was real, and the probably he was the only real thing in the world, such that he could prove it.  "..if I've convinced myself of anything, it is that I am real."

Oh to live in such doubt!

Oh not to have the loving Father and Son helping us along!

In respect to this doubt, I am thankful so much for my faith, and its fruits of love, hope and mercy.  I love "them" and I love you all.

Paul writes that faith is "the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things unseen."  It's antique language, but our faith is our evidence of God, and we need no "Cartesian" proofs or anything else; in our heart of hearts, we do not have to defend our faith to ourselves.

Something that bears love hope and mercy could never be in any way wrong; we are human, going through our season, and the Holy Spirit, as Christ promised, is there as a helper for God's children.

"How are you?" and the response that followed. On good, "doing well" and all that. Aquinas, Paul, some basic theology and philosophy.

Usually in polite conversation comes the Como Esta, or whatever, a platitude, a way of saying hello to the congenial, but perhaps not altogether familiar in our daily lives.

And I answered.  

"They don't let me do too good."

"When I do too good, it hurts others."

I speak of a kind of balance and equilibrium in the society of man, but in God's terms?

I'm doing great and looking forward to forever.

As is said in the Bible, "if God be with us, who could be against us?"  Sure, there are some very real and pressing rebuttals to that sentiment, but truly, God is the source of an almost supernatural contentment, witnessed even in the natural world now and then.

Remember that when God made His creation, he said it was "good".

God is entirely good.  The lack of God is evil.  The lack of good is evil.  

This realization of goodness, is the bridge between the natural and the supernatural, continual improvement toward the truly good, like sanctification, and finally, sitting in the hereafter in the perfection of spirit.