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"The world depends on a supreme being, but the things in the world all
mutually depend on one another. Taken together they constitute a complete
whole."
(Kant, 22)
"The sum total of all possible knowledge of God is not
possible for a human being, not even through a true revelation. But it is
one of the worthiest inquiries to see how far our reason can go in the
knowledge of God."
(Ibid, 23)
"But if we ask who
has so firmly established the laws of nature and who has limited its
operations, then we will come to God as the supreme cause of the entirety of
reason and nature."
(Ibid, 25)
"Our knowledge is
only a shadow in comparison with the greatness of God, and our powers are
far transcended by Him."
(Ibid, 26)
"That the world
created by God is the best all possible worlds, is clear for the following
reason.If a better world than the one willed by God were possible, then a
will better than the divine will would also have to be possible. For
indisputably that divine will is better which chooses what is better. But if
a better will is possible, then so this being who could express this better
will. And therefore this being would be more perfect and better than God.
But this is a contradiction; for God is omnitudo realitatis."
(Ibid, 137)
"God created the
world for his honor's sake because it is only through the obedience to his
holy laws that God can be honored. For what does it mean to honor God? What,
if not to serve him? But how can He be served? Certainly by trying to entice
his favor by rendering him all sorts of praise. For such praise is best only
a means for preparing our hearts to a good disposition. Instead, the service
of God consists simply and solely in following his will and observing his
holy laws and commands."
(Ibid, 143)
"God's omnipresence
is not local, but virtual. That is, God's ower operates constantly and
everywhere in all things."
(Ibid, 151)
"God has no need of
experience at all. He knows everything a priori, because he himself created
everything he cares for; and everything is possible only through him. Hence
God formulated the laws governing the world in light of a true aquintance
with every single event which would be given in the course of it. And in the
establishment of the world's course he certainly had the greatest possible
perfection in view, because God himself is the all wise and is all in all."
(Ibid, 153)
"It is enough that
everything is subject to God's direction. This is sufficient for us to place
an immeasurable trust in God."
(Ibid, 154)
"God is the only
ruler of the world. He governs as a monarch, but not as a despot; for He
wills to have his commands observed out of love, and not out of servile
fear. Like a father, he orders what is good for us, and does not command out
of mere arbitrariness, like a tyrant. God even demands of us that we reflect
on the reason for his commandments, and he insists on our observing them
because he wants first to make us worthy of happiness and then participate
in it. God' s will is benevolence, and his purpose is what is best. If God
commands something for which we cannot see the reason, then this is because
of the limitation of our knowledge, and not because of the nature of the
commandment itself. God carries out his rulership of the world alone. For He
surveys everything with one glance. And certainly he may often use wholly
incomprehensible means to carry out His benevolent aims.
(Ibid, 156)
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