Belief in some sort of "god" is present in every society that has existed. Yet, in those societies, various understandings of God arose, some pluralistic, others believed in some sort of pantheistic existence, where "god" actually is the universe.

Catholics believe that we can know God exists, and that God is one, through natural reason alone. St. Thomas Aquinas and his famous "Five Ways" sought to prove the existence of God that all men can know. Yet, to know God as He is in Himself, more is needed - Divine Revelation.

To know God as He is in Himself, we must have something called "Divine Revelation" - that is to say, God must speak to us. We cannot know by reason alone the inner life of God.

God has revealed this to His people. God is indeed one - yet He is in three Persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is a mystery of faith that has confounded people for two thousand years, yet it shows that the inner life of God is, in a word, LOVE.

Philosophy alone can never reach this understanding, or its implications - we need someone to reveal it. That someone was Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Catholics believe that God has indeed spoken to humanity throughout the history of the world. First, he spoke through Abraham, and founded the Jewish people. Yet time and time again, His holy people failed to live up to the covenant made between God and themselves. Driven into exile, prophets foretold the coming of a Messiah - someone who would save us from our fallen nature and restore us to harmony with God.

Then, one day an angel appeared to a young virgin, betrothed to Joseph, and asked her if she would be willing to serve God by bringing his Son, Jesus into the world. Mary, God's humble servant, accepted.

Jesus preached throughout Judea to the Jews of His day. He preached a message of love. He challenged the authorities, and made claims that no mere man could make. He said that to enter the Kingdom of God, one must eat His body and drink His blood. He said that He would be crucified, and rise from the dead in three days. He said that the temple, the very place where God dwelled, would be toppled, and not a brick left unturned.

Angered, the Pharisees had Jesus arrested. They scourged Him, placed a crown of thorns on His head, mocking Him, and had Him crucified. Yet, if that was the end of the story, His name would never have left the first century. Instead, something miraculous happened...

He rose again from the dead. With that, He proved who He was to everyone, and his movement, beginning in Judea, has now spread throughout the entire world.

Catholics, as do most Christians, believe that at the end of time, Jesus Christ will return to earth, on the clouds of heaven. At that time, we too will rise from the dead, just as Jesus did. This understanding that one day we will reign with Christ bodily is a source of confusion. It's almost impossible to comprehend. Yet, we were promised, and the One who promised it, did just that.

Maybe you believe everything that you have read here so far - but a question comes to mind: Why the Catholic Church? What makes this church any different from any other?

Catholics believed that when Jesus rose again from the dead, He entrusted His Church to the Apostles. In turn, the Apostles chose men to lead after them. Peter, the head of the Apostles, was the Church's first leader, and was succeeded by other men after him, in an unbroken succession, to our current Pope, Francis.

The Catholic Church is the one true Church, established by Christ, and led by the Holy Spirit, who guides infallibly (without error), the teachings she proclaims. She hands on the Traditions of the Church, and safeguards Her teachings. It was the Catholic Church who put the Bible together, and it is the Catholic Church who ensures that it is interpreted correctly.

Sadly, we have seen over the years tens of thousands of denominations spring up over doctrinal differences, hatred of the Catholic Church, and other misunderstandings. Even sadder, some of these wounds were caused by the Catholic Church, by leaders who were less than what God called them to be, through pride, arrogance, or lust. Yet through it all, the Church, albeit led by sinners, still has the only guarantee of sound doctrine and faithful witness to the Truth of Christ. We invite any Christian who would like to know more to visit, ask questions, and to learn more.

The Church has always taught the "four last things." They are death, judgment, heaven, or hell. Everyone will experience the first two, and the choices we make in this world determine the last two.

First, we believe that all men, by virtue of sin, will die. "Death comes to all," as Ecclesiastes 9 puts it. There is no escaping death. Science may prolong our lives, but it will never be victorious over it. All of us will experience this separation from our loved ones here on Earth.

Yet, philosophers of all eras have mused about what happens after death. Catholics believe, because Jesus revealed it, that after we die, we face what is called a "particular judgment." This judgment consists of Jesus, who is the True Judge, determining if we have followed His commandments, if we have lived our lives according to His word. He knows our every thought, our every action. He knows us better than we know ourselves. And in the blink of an eye, we will see our life as God sees it.

What follows is either Heaven or Hell. Heaven is often misconstrued - ideas of playing harps on clouds. The Heaven that Jesus speaks of is known as the "beatific vision." In this vision, we will know God as He is. We will be completely and utterly satisfied; all our questions will be answered, and our lives will be utterly complete. We will have happiness and peace for the rest of eternity, with the God who made us - because only God can satisfy our every desire.

On the other hand, should we fail to live our lives according to Christ's word, we will be forever separated from Him. In the end, We are not sent to Hell - we go willingly. If we live our lives without God, and without Jesus, if we reject what he has revealed and live our lives in sin, then we show through our actions and words, in what we do, or fail to do, that we do not want God's love. With that, those who choose Hell are eternally separated from God. Their lives are lost forever. Nothing but sadness, pain, regret, and torment will be experienced for the rest of eternity, spent wondering what could have been.

What will you choose?