Book recommendation for nonbeliever inquiring about Christianity/Catholicism?

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Well, the title says it all 😉

I spoke last evening to my brother, who is pretty much where I was a year ago. Agnostic, never baptized, probably been to church two or three times in 50+ years, but morally and ethically a strong person. I told him for the first time that I’m in the process of conversion to Catholicism, and he was quite interested and receptive. Who’d have thunk it? :eek: I thought he might think me silly.

I invited him to attend midnight mass with me on Christmas (I’ll spend Christmas with him), and he sounds like he wants to.

So, I need to go gently (after all, which of you guys ever wanted to admit that your little sister was right about something?:p)

Any thoughts on a book to get for him? I’m the type that read the Gospel, the Catechism, and Augustine’s Confessions early, and all was clear. He’s not that type–something shorter and easier to set the hook would be best. I think he’s open minded and wanting to be convinced. And, like me, he has no protestant “baggage.”

Thanks
Gwen
 
This book I’m about to recommend is definitely NOT an easy read, but the points that are made in the book are made very well IMO.
Reasons for Beleving by Scott Hahn

You could also try and conversion story, because for some hearing why the CC is the true church, or any church in general may help. So you could try Rome Sweet Home by Scott Hahn.

If you think the person may question the CC you may try Four Witnesses which discusses what four ECF’s believed.

Hope this helps! Good luck with you friend, and good luck in your journey as well!

Merry Christmas!!
 
C.S. Lewis’ Mere Christianity is I think an ‘easy’ read and certainly puts an excellent case for Christianity. Then one can follow with Catholicism for Dummies (also easy and excellent) to build up the foundation. (by all means, NOT the "idiot’s guide to Catholicism.’ Stay away from that.)
 
Hi Gwen 🙂

what about CS Lewis’ “Mere Christianity”?

God bless!
 
Tantum_ergo said:
C.S. Lewis’ Mere Christianity is I think an ‘easy’ read and certainly puts an excellent case for Christianity. Then one can follow with Catholicism for Dummies (also easy and excellent) to build up the foundation. (by all means, NOT the "idiot’s guide to Catholicism.’ Stay away from that.)
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I second that
 
Imitation of Christ would be a heavier book, but people of religions other than Christianity read this book, as it is a classic, illuminating many of Jesus’ teachings in the Bible. 🙂
 
I would second Scott and Kimberly Hahn’s “Rome Sweet Home”, not for it’s defense against Protestantism but for the love and sacrifices to Catholicism. As a Catholic I keep reading it, it always inspires. Easy read too.

Also, as you seem more like my husband and I like your brother regarding reading styles, I would suggest books or DVD’s about the saints. I especially like the newer St. John Bosco DVD. My husband and I both just read “Lay Siege to Heaven” about St. Catherine of Sienna by Louis de Wohl and we both loved it.
 
GwenL said:
Well, the title says it all 😉

I spoke last evening to my brother, who is pretty much where I was a year ago. Agnostic, never baptized, probably been to church two or three times in 50+ years, but morally and ethically a strong person. I told him for the first time that I’m in the process of conversion to Catholicism, and he was quite interested and receptive. Who’d have thunk it? :eek: I thought he might think me silly.

I invited him to attend midnight mass with me on Christmas (I’ll spend Christmas with him), and he sounds like he wants to.

So, I need to go gently (after all, which of you guys ever wanted to admit that your little sister was right about something?:p)

Any thoughts on a book to get for him? I’m the type that read the Gospel, the Catechism, and Augustine’s Confessions early, and all was clear. He’s not that type–something shorter and easier to set the hook would be best. I think he’s open minded and wanting to be convinced. And, like me, he has no protestant “baggage.”

Thanks
Gwen
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As has been suggested, Mere Christianity is good. I have also heard that Miracles by CS Lewis is excellent, too.
There is a series of conversion stories called Surprised by Truth, by Patrick Madrid. These are easy reading and each chapter is someone’s testimony with an apologetics slant. It has three books in the Series.
CC
[SIGN]Papist since 1992![/SIGN]
 
I vote for Mere Christianity too!!! Great read. Something like Handbook of Christian Apologetics is good, but not as small and easy of a read. I like that it has several reasons just for belief in God and goes from there.
 
The book, “Rome Sweet Hone” by Scott and Kimberly Hahn is a great recommendation. Have deep theological questions that can be easily understand. I read it several times and I have it as a resource. He has authored other good books too. I think this one will be an easy read for your brother. Good Luck.
 
For the “unchurched” conversion stories of Protestants are not going to be the best first choice of reading, go with Sheed - “Theology and Sanity” followed by “To Know Christ Jesus”. Weigel’s “The Truth of Catholicism” is another that would be GREAT. De Souza “What’s So Great About Christianity” is another to add to the list.

Conversion stories and deep theology can come later.
 
Thanks again.

Agree that the conversion story books are good, but not until the person has already done some reading, talking, and developed a real desire to know more. Especially an unchurched person. I’ve read Hahn’s book, Moss’ book, and Madrid’s books. All good, especially for Protestants, but I think not yet appropriate for a total non-believer. In all of the conversion story books I’ve read, I’ve seen perhaps two stories about non-believers converting to Catholicism.

I’m not looking for deep theology yet. Start with the basics first…why God? If God, why Christ? sort of questions.

I think I’ll start him with Mere Christianity and then one of Sheed’s books.

Imitation of Christ is a great book, but remember I want to hook him…gently, if I can. Would you really give that to a non-believer who’s had zero interest in religion for 50 years?
 
My recommendation is Bishop Fulton Sheen’s “Seven Words of Jesus and Mary: Lessons on Cana and Calvary.”

It’s short, non-scholarly, you don’t need a master’s degree in literature to read it, and it’s wonderful.
 
Although written in the 1920’s, G. K. Chesterton’s The Everlasting Man and The Catholic Church and Conversion are both popular works anyone with a high school education can read and understand. I cannot recommend Chesterton’s writings highly enough. His writing informed people like Fulton Sheen and C. S. Lewis. Also, Lewis was Church of England and is not always completely in agreement with the Church, therefore, I read his writings with a grain of salt.
 
Well, I visited my brother on Christmas. I gave him Mere Christianity, and we talked a lot about Christianity and Catholicism. He self-identifies as a “nominal Christian,” which of course is impossible since he’s not baptized, and I think he knows little or nothing about Christianity. But his heart is being moved in the right direction…the hook is set.

He asked me for a recommendation on a book about how to read and understand the Bible. Something easy and short. Any ideas? (No, Imitation of Christ is not easy nor short. Neither is Life of Christ.)

Thanks
 
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