Communicating Simplicity to Modern Believers

Question #29: What are the best ways, within the Catholic intellectual tradition, to communicate the philosophical depth of divine simplicity to contemporary believers without diluting the Church’s dogmatic content (CCC 156–159)?

Within the Catholic intellectual tradition (as I understand it), explaining the philosophical depth of divine simplicity to contemporary believers can be challenging, yet there are constructive approaches that safeguard dogmatic content (CCC 156–159) while making the concept accessible and spiritually meaningful:

1. Begin With Scripture and Worship

One effective method is to ground the discussion in biblical and liturgical language. Show how “The LORD is One” (Deut 6:4) and “I AM WHO I AM” (Ex 3:14) convey that God’s being cannot be divided or diminished. Connecting simplicity to worship (e.g., the Mass, the Liturgy of the Hours) helps believers see that God’s oneness is integral to the faith they celebrate. When people recognize these truths are already embedded in Church life, they more readily appreciate philosophical formulations.

2. Use Analogies While Respecting Mystery

CCC 156–159 reminds us that faith and reason work together, yet God remains ultimately beyond our full grasp. Comparisons to light, pure energy, or even a single musical note can give a starting point: just as light is not subdivided into multiple “parts,” so too God’s essence is not piecemeal. However, emphasize that such analogies are imperfect and point beyond themselves–God surpasses every human image.

3. Highlight Personal Relevance

Many might ask, “Why does it matter that God has no ‘parts’?” A helpful angle is to show that divine simplicity means God is entirely consistent and unwavering in His love, mercy, and truth. He does not change moods or undergo internal conflict. This consistency fosters deep trust: we can rely on God absolutely because He is not subject to fluctuation. Presenting simplicity as the foundation of God’s absolute fidelity helps believers see its spiritual and pastoral significance.

4. Integrate With Trinitarian and Christological Teachings

Catholic doctrine holds that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct Persons sharing the one, simple divine essence. Demonstrating how the Church reconciles “three Persons” with “one undivided essence” (e.g., by relations of origin rather than “parts”) can actually deepen awe for the Trinitarian mystery rather than reduce it. Tie this to Christ’s Incarnation: the same simple God who is above all creation became truly human, emphasizing God’s nearness and personal care.

5. Utilize Pastoral and Catechetical Tools

Engaging modern media, group discussions, and short catechetical series can help believers grasp simplicity without drowning in technical jargon. Texts like Aquinas’s Compendium Theologiae or simplified explanations of the Summa Theologiae can be introduced. Catechists and preachers might reference the Church Fathers–Athanasius, Augustine–and how they wrestled with preserving God’s absolute oneness while affirming His closeness.

By integrating Scriptural, liturgical, and pastoral elements, and by carefully using analogies and explanations consistent with Catholic dogma, one can communicate the profound philosophical notion of divine simplicity. Rather than weakening core beliefs, these approaches strengthen the faithful’s trust in a God who is perfectly one and utterly faithful–a truth that supports both doctrinal clarity and spiritual depth.



(see #1, #16)