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In [[philosophy]], "sub-stance" is the essence, the unseen reality that "stands under" or is the foundation of that of which a thing outwardly consists, the real under-lying essence of actual being which is expressed by the changeable "accidents" or visible manifestations or perceptible qualities of the thing, even of persons; hence, physical matter is not of itself the fundamental substance of existence.  

In [[philosophy]], "sub-stance" is the essence, the unseen reality that "stands under" or is the foundation of that of which a thing outwardly consists, the real under-lying essence of actual being which is expressed by the changeable "accidents" or visible manifestations or perceptible qualities of the thing, even of persons; hence, physical matter is not of itself the fundamental substance of existence.  

==''Trans''-substance: the Catholic doctrine of "[[transubstantiation]]"==

==''Trans''-substance: the Catholic doctrine of "[[transubstantiation]]"==

Critics who utterly reject this doctrine as an impossible absurdity say that it utterly strains all credibility by totally violating the God-given [[intelligence]] of human [[reason]] and ordinary [[common sense]]. They say that there is no evidence of any change in the substances of the bread and wine after the consecration, that bread obviously remains bread and wine obviously remains wine, and that neither one of them looks, feels and tastes like human flesh and blood, not to mention soul, and spirit and the divine nature of divinity; but when food is transformed into flesh and blood and bone the change is most definitely obvious. They point out that even under the microscope there is no evidence of human cellular tissue in the consecrated bread and wine. Even at the subatomic level, the elements of bread and wine do not change. By no reasonable stretch of the imagination do they regard the bread and wine of the eucharist as God. They conclude that Jesus was speaking only symbolically when he said, "This is my body. This is my blood." For this reason the doctrine of transubstantiation is regarded as impossible, an unintelligent, [[Ignorance|ignorant]], [[mind]]less, [[Paganism|pagan]] [[superstition]].

Critics who utterly reject this doctrine as an impossible absurdity say that it utterly strains all credibility by totally violating the God-given [[intelligence]] of human [[reason]] and ordinary [[common sense]]. They say that there is no evidence of any change in the substances of the bread and wine after the consecration, that bread obviously remains bread and wine obviously remains wine, and that neither one of them looks, feels and tastes like human flesh and blood, not to mention soul, and spirit and the divine nature of divinity; but when food is transformed into flesh and blood and bone the change is most definitely obvious. They point out that even under the microscope there is no evidence of human cellular tissue in the consecrated bread and wine. Even at the subatomic level, the elements of bread and wine do not change. By no reasonable stretch of the imagination do they regard the bread and wine of the eucharist as God. They conclude that Jesus was speaking only symbolically when he said, "This is my body. This is my blood." For this reason the doctrine of transubstantiation is regarded as impossible, an unintelligent, [[Ignorance|ignorant]], [[mind]]less, [[Paganism|pagan]] [[superstition]].

[[Christian apologetics|Catholic apologists]] respond that as the atoms of matter are not visible under the microscope and can be transformed in the atomic laboratory from one element to another, so by analogy the change in the substance of the bread and wine is not visible. As the body is visible, the invisible soul of the living body is not. And while the forms of bread and wine and their chemical structures are visible, the invisible Christ present in those forms, whole and entire, is not. He himself is present, in Person, as God. And as in Christ Jesus the "fulness of divinity dwells bodily"<ref>Colossians 2:9</ref>, the Father in him and he in the Father<ref>John 14:8-11</ref>, so likewise in the Eucharistic elements received as food in communion the fulness of Jesus himself, body, blood, soul and divinity is present<ref>John 6:41-69</ref>; and those who partake of communion with him partake of the divine nature<ref>2 Peter 1:3-4</ref>.

[[Christian apologetics|Catholic apologists]] respond that as the atoms of matter are not visible under the microscope and can be transformed in the atomic laboratory from one element to another, so by analogy the change in the substance of the bread and wine is not visible. As the body is visible, the invisible soul of the living body is not. And while the forms of bread and wine and their chemical structures are visible, the invisible Christ present in those forms, whole and entire, is not. He himself is present, in Person, as God. And as in Christ Jesus the "fulness of divinity dwells bodily",<ref>Colossians 2:9</ref> the Father in him and he in the Father,<ref>John 14:8-11</ref> so likewise in the Eucharistic elements received as food in communion the fulness of Jesus himself, body, blood, soul and divinity is present;<ref>John 6:41-69</ref> and those who partake of communion with him partake of the divine nature.<ref>2 Peter 1:3-4</ref>

[[Orthodox Church|Orthodox]] theologians and apologists who believe in the Real Presence of the Lord avoid explanations of transubstantiation and accept simply as divine truth the mystery as declared by Christ at the Eucharist of his [[Last Supper]]. In Christian theology, a mystery is a truth that is above the power of the understanding of human reason but not against it, reasonable but not fully accessible in its entirety to the understanding of the finite human mind.<ref>[https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/mystery-theology Mystery (theology) - Encyclopedia.com]</ref>

[[Orthodox Church|Orthodox]] theologians and apologists who believe in the Real Presence of the Lord avoid explanations of transubstantiation and accept simply as divine truth the mystery as declared by Christ at the Eucharist of his [[Last Supper]]. In Christian theology, a mystery is a truth that is above the power of the understanding of human reason but not against it, reasonable but not fully accessible in its entirety to the understanding of the finite human mind.<ref>[https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/mystery-theology Mystery (theology) - Encyclopedia.com]</ref>

[[Soul]]

[[Soul]]

[[Transubstantiation]]

[[Transubstantiation]]

[[Idealism]]

[[Idealism]]

==References==

==References==