Faith–Based Existence and the Resulting Proof of God’s Existence

U radu je analiziran specifičan aspekt vjerničke egzistencije u kojem zastupamo tzv. egzistencijalni dokaz vjere. Čovjek je, naime, oduvijek usmjeren na Boga u smislu da naslućuje da pored svih ciljeva koje u životu ostvaruje postoji onaj jedan najviši koji predstavlja krajnji cilj njegova egzistiranja. Sluti da je upravo Bog taj najviši cilj i smisao te pokušava dokazati Božju opstojnost, iako se iz perspektive naravne teologije i s obzirom na tradiciju (analitičke) filozofije religije pokazuje ne manje važnim proniknuti u temelje njegova egzistencijalnog življenja i iskazivanja vjere u Boga. To su također isticali suvremeni autori tzv. egzistencijalističke provenijencije poput Søerena Kierkegaarda i Karla Jaspersa. Promatrana u tom kontekstu rasprava o dokazivanju Boga predstavlja samo jedan aspekt šire rasprave u kojoj treba vidjeti na koji način čovjek živi, a zatim i opravdava svoju vjeru u Boga. U suvremenoj filozofiji religije, a posebice onoj analitičkoj, stručnjaci su najčešće posvećeni traženju evidencije o Božjoj opstojnosti, iako je prema našim autorima možda i važnije svjedočiti te na taj način dokazati svoju vjeru u Boga kao stvarnu svrhu i smisao cjelokupne egzistencije. Zato u radu nastojimo ukazati na iznimnu važnost egzistencijalne dimenzije vjere i života po vjeri.The topic analyzed in this paper is one specific aspect of the debate about God’s existence — the so–called existential proof of faith. Human beings have always been drawn to God, namely, they have always sensed that there was, above all else, one ultimate goal to be achieved in life. They perceived that it is God who is this very goal, and so have tried to prove His existence. However, from the perspective of natural theology and in keeping with the tradition of the (analytic) philosophy of religion, it is considered equally important to understand the foundations of one’s existence and faith in God. Such claims were shared by prominent contemporary existentialist philosophers, such as S. Kierkegaard and K. Jaspers. When seen in this context, the debate about God’s existence is just one aspect of a broader debate on how people live their faith, and furthermore, how they justify their faith in God. Contemporary philosophy of religion, its analytic branch in particular, is most often devoted to seeking out evidence of God’s existence, although according to the above–mentioned philosophers, it is perhaps even more crucial to live one’s faith, and in this way to prove one’s faith in God as the ultimate purpose of existence. Hence, this paper endeavours to demonstrate the immense importance of the existential dimension of faith, as well as that of living a faith–based existence