THE ETERNAL PRESENCE OF GOD IN MANKINDS QUEST FOR KNOWLEDGE: A CATHOLIC REFLECTION ON SCIENCE, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, AND THE DIVINE

This essay explores the recurring emergence of the concept of God throughout mankinds pursuit of knowledge, emphasizing that scientific and technological advancements do not replace the divine but often reflect humanitys deeper yearning for meaning. Using the discovery of the Higgs boson and the rise of artificial intelligence as examples, it argues from a Catholic perspective that while such innovations reveal the brilliance of human intellect, they ultimately point back to the Creator who endows that intellect. The essay clarifies that God cannot be reduced to particles or algorithms He acts through man, but remains above all creation. Artificial intelligence, including artificial superintelligence, lacks true conscience, omniscience, and free will, distinguishing it sharply from the living God. The piece warns against moral atrophy in an age increasingly dependent on machines and contrasts the temporal, subscription-based nature of AI with the eternal, freely given salvation offered by Jesus Christ. Ultimately, the essay urges Christians to embrace technology as a tool, not a deity, and to root all human progress in the eternal truths of the Catholic faith.