The critic might go on to suggest that the very idea of accepting that some things are entirely other than they seem, through the miraculous power of God, dangerously undermines any confidence in the ability to rationally investigate nature. But again, the miraculous transubstantiation of the Eucharist is not a normal thing. Catholics don’t claim that the sort of thing that happens in transubstantiation happens in the ordinary, everyday world. Indeed, it would be perverse to reason to suggest that God regularly goes about muddling up the connection between things and their appearances. It is only because of the singular, sacramental nature of the Eucharist and its role in the spiritual life that an exception is made in this case, and it is only because of acceptance of the Church’s teaching, and not because of independent investigation, that any Catholic should accept the particular doctrine of the transubstantiation of the Eucharist.
Michael Baruzzini, The Deeps of Time: Pigliucci, Dawkins, Transubstantiation, & Samuel Johnson
