Need a suggestion for a book

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for a very bright agnostic who unfortunately is not curious about christianity. i want to nudge him in the right direction. any suggestions?
 
captainmike said:
for a very bright agnostic who unfortunately is not curious about christianity. i want to nudge him in the right direction. any suggestions?
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C. S. Lewis’ Mere Christianity might be a place to start. Also, G. K. Chesterton’s books (especially The Everlasting Man) - including his Father Brown mysteries (which contain good theology).
 
captainmike said:
for a very bright agnostic who unfortunately is not curious about christianity. i want to nudge him in the right direction. any suggestions?
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Does this person have any interest in WW II?

Kolbe: Saint of the Immaculate is a good read. The first chapter grabs one’s attention. The first chapter is a historical recount of St. Kolbe’s time at Auschwitz. The other chapters fill out his life and works.

It might help to know more about the likes and interests of this person.

God bless
 
If you’re looking for novels, I would suggest Silence, by Shusaku Endo, A Japanese Catholic who wrote about the persecution of Christians in 16th century Japan and the seeming silence of God. I would also suggest The Heart of the Matter by Graham Greene, the British Catholic novelist who also wrote about the moral struggle that constantly takes place in the human heart. Another suggestion is Cry, The Beloved Country by Alan Paton who wrote about a black South African Anglican priest during the apartheid era who discovers his son is the murderer of a white lawyer seeking an end to apartheid. All of these books present a Christian view of life without hitting the reader over the head with apologetics. Plus, they are great books that stimulate the mind and are enjoyable to read.
 
Surprised by Joy by C S Lewis

The Golden String by Bede Griffiths

Both are personal accounts of spiritual journeys from atheism to Christianity.

But, if your friend is not seeking God for himself, you are wasting your time by forcing him. It is the Holy Spirit who leads people to God. Even God cannot work against the free will of human beings. Give him a present of any of the books suggested here, but don’t be disappointed if he doesn’t respond in the way you expect. Some atheists and agnostics have spent a lot of time in reasoning their way out of religion and faith in God. Such an atheist or agnostic is not won over with a clever argument. Journey to God is a personal journey that is willed by the person concerned. One may offer encouragement, but if the person is not ready, any attempt, however good willed, can seem like coercion and backfire.
 
captainmike said:
for a very bright agnostic who unfortunately is not curious about christianity. i want to nudge him in the right direction. any suggestions?
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Yes or No?: Straight Answers to Tough Questions About Christianity by Peter Kreeft

This is the book I always recommend, but I’m not sure if any book will be read if the person in question is not curious about Christianity. Hopefully, the right book title would pique their curiosity enough to read it, but don’t be disappointed if that is not the case.
 
More Than A Carpenter by Josh McDowell. I’ve heard it’s very effective. He is Protestant, but at this point your friend needs to at least acknowledge God before he gets into Catholic vs. Protestant beliefs.
 
Strobel’s “The Case For” series is not Catholic, but, has some good stuff.

D’Souza’s “What’s So Great About Christianity” is good.

Hahn’s “Answering the New Athiesm” is very good.
 
Rome Sweet Home by Scott & Kimberly Hahn
Ignatius Press ISBN 978-0-89870-478-5

This book is like an adventure seen from two different pairs of eyes. Each chapter includes Scott’s perspective and Kimberly’s perspective. Fans of Scott Hahn will enjoy his and Kimberly’s 1993 picture taken when the book was published.

Blessings,
grannymh
 
I would not give a book unless I’ve read it myself and even then - the person would have to be a great friend whom I know would read it.

The reason is - evangelization never works with just giving information. It needs to be relational. You may risk coming off as lazy and uninformed by giving a book.

The best solution would be to read the book yourself and package the information in it in such a way for your friend to understand it. This gives you a better understanding of the problem yourself and more informationf or discussion between you two. Sow the seeds.
 
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