Domestic Seminary

Year 4: Why Do We Believe?

Age Range: 9-10 years (school Year 4)
Core Themes: Faith and reason, the Creed, dealing with doubt, Catholic identity
Primary Sources:

SECTION A: Driving Questions

At this age, children begin to think more abstractly and may encounter their first real intellectual challenges to faith. This year helps them see that faith is reasonable, that questions are welcome, and that Catholic belief can stand up to scrutiny.

SECTION B: Doctrinal Content

Question: Whether we can prove God exists?

Objection 1: It seems we cannot prove God exists because proof requires evidence we can see or measure, and God is invisible.

Objection 2: Furthermore, different religions disagree about God, so there must be no real proof.

Objection 3: Moreover, science explains everything without needing God, so belief is just for people who don’t understand science.

On the contrary, St. Paul says “What can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them through what has been made”¹. Also, people throughout history—including great scientists—have found compelling reasons to believe.

I answer that we can know God exists through reason, though we need faith to know Him personally. It’s like knowing fire exists because you see smoke, even if you can’t see the fire itself.

Here are five clues that point to God²:

  1. Motion: Everything that moves was moved by something else. Like dominoes falling—something had to push the first one. God is the “First Mover.”

  2. Causation: Everything has a cause. Your parents caused you, their parents caused them… but it can’t go back forever. God is the “First Cause.”

  3. Necessity: Everything around us could exist or not exist (you might never have been born). But SOMETHING must necessarily exist, or nothing would exist. That’s God.

  4. Perfection: We recognize good, better, best. But how do we know what “best” is unless Perfect Goodness exists? That’s God.

  5. Design: Your eye is more complex than any camera. DNA contains more information than a library. Design needs a Designer. That’s God.

Reply to Objection 1: We can’t see gravity either, but we know it exists from its effects. Same with God—we see His effects everywhere.

Reply to Objection 2: Different religions might disagree about God’s details, but almost all agree He exists. It’s like witnesses describing an accident differently—they all saw something happen.

Reply to Objection 3: Science is wonderful at answering “how” but can’t answer “why.” Why is there something rather than nothing? Why are the laws of physics exactly right for life? Science points to God, not away from Him.

Faith and Reason: Friends, Not Enemies

Question: Whether faith goes against reason?

Objection 1: It seems faith is unreasonable because it asks us to believe things we can’t prove scientifically.

Objection 2: Furthermore, faith seems to be just wishful thinking—believing what makes us feel good.

Objection 3: Moreover, smart people should only believe what they can figure out themselves.

On the contrary, Jesus praised Peter’s faith but also showed Thomas evidence³. The Church has always taught that faith and reason work together⁴.

I answer that faith and reason are like two wings that lift us to truth⁵. Neither alone is enough:

Think of it this way:

Faith is reasonable because:

  1. It’s based on evidence (miracles, changed lives, prophecies fulfilled)
  2. It answers questions reason can’t (Why do I exist? What happens after death?)
  3. It’s lived by brilliant people (scientists, doctors, philosophers who believe)
  4. It makes life make sense (explains love, beauty, right and wrong)

Reply to Objection 1: We believe many things we can’t prove scientifically—that our parents love us, that Mozart is beautiful, that kindness is better than cruelty. Not all truth comes through test tubes.

Reply to Objection 2: Faith often asks us to believe hard things, not comfortable things. It’s not wishful thinking—it’s trust based on good reasons.

Reply to Objection 3: The smartest people know they can’t figure out everything alone. We trust experts in other areas (doctors, pilots)—why not trust God who knows everything?

The Creed: What We Believe and Why

The Creed is like our family story—it tells us who we are. Let’s explore why we believe each part:

“I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth”

Why believe in God the Father?

“I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord”

Why believe Jesus is God?

“I believe in the Holy Spirit”

Why believe in the Holy Spirit?

“I believe in the holy Catholic Church”

Why believe in the Church?

SECTION C: Thinking and Reflection Activities

🔍 Critical Thinking Tasks

Evidence Detective Make a chart with two columns:

  1. Things I believe with proof (2+2=4, water freezes at 32°F)
  2. Things I believe without scientific proof (my friend likes me, courage is good)

What do you notice? Is all knowledge scientific?

Reason Rally For each belief below, give a reason:

Creed Connection Take one line of the Creed each week. Find:

  1. A Bible verse that supports it
  2. A saint who lived it
  3. A reason it makes sense
  4. A question you still have

🧠 Metacognitive Prompts

Doubt Diary It’s okay to have questions! Write:

Faith Thermometer Rate your faith today: Cold (lots of doubts), Cool (some questions), Warm (mostly believing), Hot (strong faith)

📖 Scripture Meditation: Doubting Thomas

Read: John 20:24-29

Picture It: You’re Thomas. Your friends say Jesus is alive, but you saw Him die. How do you feel? Now Jesus appears and invites you to touch His wounds…

Think:

Talk to Jesus: “Lord, when I doubt, help me…”

Promise: This week when you doubt, say Thomas’s prayer: “My Lord and my God!”

SECTION D: Integration With Life

🧍🏽 Real-World Moral Scenario

The Science Class Challenge

Your teacher says: “Billions of years ago, everything came from nothing in the Big Bang, and life evolved by chance. That’s science—anything else is just myths.”

Your options:

  1. Stay quiet and feel confused
  2. Argue and say the teacher is wrong
  3. Ask a respectful question
  4. Talk to your parents/priest later

The Faith-Reason Response:

Practice Saying: “That’s interesting! I learned that many scientists believe God could have used the Big Bang to create. What do you think?”

📱 Digital/Media Discernment

“Fact-Checking” Faith

Online, you’ll see claims like:

Critical Thinking Tools:

  1. Check the source: Who’s saying this? Why?
  2. Look for evidence: Do they prove their claim?
  3. Find the other side: What do believers say?
  4. Test with reality: Does this match what you know?

Family Challenge: Find one online claim against faith. Research together:

🌏 Interfaith & Pluralism

Different Beliefs, Same Questions

Everyone asks the big questions:

How to Dialogue:

  1. Find common ground: “We both think these questions matter”
  2. Ask with curiosity: “What led you to believe that?”
  3. Share without forcing: “In my faith, we believe…”
  4. Respect differences: “That’s interesting. I see it differently…”

Remember: We believe we have the fullest truth in Catholic faith, but others have pieces of truth too. The Holy Spirit works everywhere¹¹

👣 Saint of the Week: St. Augustine

The Great Seeker Who Found Truth

Augustine was brilliant but lost. He tried everything:

His mother Monica prayed for him for 17 years! Finally, he read Scripture and everything clicked. He became one of the Church’s greatest thinkers, showing that:

This Week’s Challenge: Like Augustine, bring your real questions to God. Don’t pretend to understand what you don’t. Seek truth honestly!

SECTION E: Parent Guide

🔍 What This Year Is Really Forming

Your child is developing:

  1. Intellectual confidence: Faith can withstand questions
  2. Critical thinking: Not all claims are equal
  3. Catholic identity: Why Catholic and not just Christian
  4. Rational faith: Belief based on reasons, not just feelings
  5. Evangelical readiness: Ability to explain belief to others

🧠 Theology Behind the Simplicity

The Act of Faith Faith involves three elements¹³:

  1. Credere Deum (Believe God exists)—intellectual assent
  2. Credere Deo (Believe God)—trust His revelation
  3. Credere in Deum (Believe into God)—personal commitment

Natural vs. Supernatural Revelation

Development of Doctrine The Creed developed over time¹⁶:

Motives of Credibility The Church offers rational grounds for faith¹⁷:

🛠 How to Respond When…

“My friend says only stupid people believe in God” “That’s interesting, because some of the smartest people in history believed in God! Like Georges Lemaître (Big Bang theory), Gregor Mendel (genetics), Blaise Pascal (probability), and thousands of others. Maybe your friend hasn’t met smart believers yet. Faith isn’t about being smart or stupid—it’s about being humble enough to admit we can’t figure out everything on our own. Even Einstein said, ‘The more I study science, the more I believe in God.’”

“How do we know our religion is the right one?” “Great question! We believe the Catholic Church has the fullest truth because: 1) Jesus founded it directly on Peter, 2) It’s been around for 2000 years despite every attack, 3) It produced the most saints and schools and hospitals, 4) Its teachings make the most complete sense of reality. Other religions have some truth—like having some pieces of a puzzle. We believe the Catholic Church has the complete picture. But we still respect others who are honestly seeking God!”

“Why does the Creed say ‘I believe’ if we say it together?” “Beautiful observation! Each person must choose faith personally—no one can believe for you. When we say ‘I believe’ together, it’s like a family where each person says ‘I love you’ to Mom. It’s personal AND communal. The faith is mine, but I don’t believe alone—I believe with the whole Church throughout history!”

“If God is good, why do bad things happen?” “This is maybe the hardest question humans ask! Here’s part of the answer: God made us free because love must be free. Freedom means we can choose bad things, and those choices hurt others. Also, nature is broken because of sin—like a computer virus affecting the whole system. But God brings good even from bad: Jesus’ worst suffering became our salvation. We don’t understand everything, but we trust God is working to fix it all. Meanwhile, we’re His helpers in fighting evil with good!”

🛑 What Not To Say

❌ “Just believe and don’t ask questions” ✅ Say: “Great question! Let’s explore that together”

❌ “Smart people don’t need faith” ✅ Say: “The smartest people know they need both faith and reason”

❌ “Other religions are completely wrong” ✅ Say: “We believe we have the fullest truth, but others seek truth too”

❌ “Doubts mean you’re losing faith” ✅ Say: “Doubts can help faith grow stronger when we work through them”

❌ “Because the Church says so” ✅ Say: “The Church teaches this because…” (give reasons)

🙏🏽 Liturgical Practices

Daily

Weekly

Monthly Practices

Seasonal Faith-Reason Connections

📚 Further Adult Reading

Church Documents

Apologetics Resources

For Discussing with Children

SECTION F: Self-Reading Guide

🧩 What to Look For

As you read about faith and reason:

🗣 Try Saying This

Practice explaining:

Which is hardest? Practice that one most!

🔄 Think About This

Faith Detective Work:

✍ My Reflection Box

Complete these:

“The best reason to believe in God is…”

“The hardest thing to believe is…”

“A question I want to ask God someday is…”

“Faith helps me because…”

📖 I Want to Know More About…

Check your interests: □ How we got the Bible □ Miracles that prove faith □ Scientists who believe □ Why evil exists □ How to answer friends’ questions □ Saints who were really smart □ Evidence for Jesus’ Resurrection

Ask for help exploring these!

References

  1. Romans 1:19-20.
  2. St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae I, Q. 2, Art. 3. These are the famous “Five Ways.”
  3. Matthew 16:17; John 20:27.
  4. First Vatican Council, Dei Filius.
  5. Pope St. John Paul II, Fides et Ratio, prologue.
  6. The Big Bang theory was first proposed by Belgian priest and physicist Georges Lemaître.
  7. e.g., Mark 2:5-7.
  8. 1 Corinthians 15:3-8.
  9. John 14:26.
  10. Matthew 16:18.
  11. Lumen Gentium §16.
  12. St. Augustine, Confessions, Book 1, Chapter 1.
  13. St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae II-II, Q. 2.
  14. Catechism of the Catholic Church §§31-35.
  15. Catechism of the Catholic Church §§50-53.
  16. John Henry Newman, An Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine.
  17. Catechism of the Catholic Church §156.
  18. Mark 9:24.