373 / 665
Chapter 25. First Commandment: Believe in the True God • 345
Believers . . . have more than a little to do with the rise of athe-
ism. To the extent that they are careless about their instruc-
tion in the faith, or present its teaching falsely, or even fail in
their religious, moral, or social life, they must be said to conceal
rather than reveal the true nature of God and of religion. (GS,
no. 19)
Agnosticism
This is another way to evade the call of the First Commandment. The
term
agnostic
means “I don’t know.” It comes in different forms. Some
agnostics admit God’s existence but claim nothing can be known about
him. Others say it is impossible to know whether there is a God. Some
agnostics are searching for God; others do not try. Many are practical
1. Why should we adore the true God alone?
We adore God because he is God and deserving of our adora-
tion. Human life finds its unity in the adoration of the one God.
“Idolatry is a perversion of man’s innate religious sense” (CCC, no.
2114). The Commandment to worship God alone integrates man
and saves him from an endless disintegration.
2. What is the link between God’s love and
the Commandments?
God has loved us first. The love of the One God is recalled
in the first of the “ten words.” The commandments then
make explicit the response of love that man is called to
give to his God. (CCC, no. 2083)
3. How is it possible to obey God’s commands?
What God commands he makes possible by his grace.
(CCC, no. 2082)
FROM THE CATECHISM