Fr Alvan Ibeh: Know God for Yourself

Fr. Alvan Ibeh wrote in a column for the Diocese of East Anglia that people should seek a personal relationship with God through prayer, Scripture, and lived experience rather than relying solely on what they are told by others.

Reflecting on a recent encounter at a hospital, Fr. Ibeh described meeting a patient who rejected religion and stated he did not believe in God. The patient, who was raised Catholic, told Fr. Ibeh that he abandoned his faith because he no longer believed the teachings he received. The man expressed skepticism regarding the existence of God, questioning why believers allow violence and conflict, and suggested that those who believe are delusional or brainwashed.

Fr. Ibeh noted that while the patient's arguments caused him to momentarily question his own convictions, he remains certain of his faith because it is based on personal experience rather than secondhand information.