Can anyone recommend a book for a friend?

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I’d like to see if someone has a good book recommendation for a Russian friend that is open to hear some arguments/points on why believers think God exist, though she is undecided. The only thing that comes to mind is Mere Christianity and possibly The Problem of Pain (due to why do bad things happen if our God is so loving).

Some good Catholic perspectives would be nice as well…especially any convert stories from someone like her background. Anything that explains intelligent design is a bonus…

Thx folks…
 
All I can add is IF I were choosing for someone… might start with books about Fatima or Lourdes.Currently I’m reading “The Miracle Detective” by Randall Sullivan.He was converted while researching about how the Church validates claims of miracles and Marian apparitions.Most of his research was done in Medjugorje however exc info on other sites as well.Many many accounts of how unbelievers even avowed atheists became Catholic.It’s about real people living today and illustrates how God is STILL working miracles. Sorry,I’m not an eloquent writer,but Sullivan certainly is.
 
cqdcdmgy:

A person could be so overwhelmed with the number of books out there addressing this issue…for myself, being where it seems that your friend is at, I have found some resources that met my doubt & struggle with complete satisfaction & peace.

–Depending on how far your friend is willing to go in reading, especially as it pertains to intelligent design, I’d suggest ]The Basic Writings of St. Thomas Aquinas; A.C. Pegis, ed.; New York, Random House, 1945. Aquinas proves the existence of God in five ways, & if we are fair & objective in our understanding, we have to admit that we already have had some experience we can relate to, or at the very least, something connects us to one or more of his five ways. To me, this is height of any search for God’s existence, & are most difficult to argue against. It may be hard to find, since it is old, but any book supporting Aquinas’ argument should be a good one.

–Another helpful one might be Five Ways: St. Thomas’ Proofs of God’s Existence]; (London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1969). This is a good critical discussion of the five ways.

–If your friend is looking for something that deals with God’s existence in light of evil, I recommend Arise from Darkness (subtitled What To Do When Life Doesn’t Make Sense): Fr. Benedict Groeschel; Ignatius Press, San Francisco; 1995. Excellent read that touches the heart.

I’ll make this issue part of my daily prayer for you & your friend. God Bless you both.
 
I would recommend the writings of Dostoyevsky to my Russian friend, who however would probably not need it, but would suggest he explore more deeply the religious themes in these works, and the author’s struggles with belief and faith.
 
Thanks so much for the recommendations. I will look into them all 🙂
 
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