What book to give an atheist?

[Chrissycameron]

Hi, I just met a guy who is an atheist, and he and I had a respectful, but spirited debate regarding many different topics. I have been raised Catholic but have not had a lot of experience trying to talk to atheists about faith, and the very existence of God; however, through this discussion, he realized he did not know as much as he thought about the Catholic faith. He bases all of his thoughts on logic and science and believes that there is no proof that God exists, therefore there is no God. He also believes that the Big Bang theory explains how the earth came to be. He wants me to read a book that he has that explains his views on atheism, and he said he would be willing to read a book that I suggest. I am only 18 and he is 17, so i don’t want anything too sophisticated, just a basic book that deals with the existence of God or something like that, and is aligned with the Catholic Faith. I realize that this is a pretty specific request, but I don’t want to mess this up if he is open to learning why i believe what i believe. thanks =)

 

[abucs]

What i would say Chrissycameron, is that a lot of atheists ‘borrow’ science from the Christian worldview without realising it. Some then act as if somehow they came up with it themselves in opposition to ‘silly’ religion. As crazy as it sounds, they then start to believe Christians are completely unscientific.

I would suggest that your friend investigates the great scientists and their individual lives and see how many of them agreed with your friend’s current views.

He might be surprised. Once he sees atheism for what it is - a simple philosophical position with no scientific evidence, he might start to view things differently.

But it is very difficult for an atheist to see atheism apart from science and logic because it is part of his belief system that they go together - despite all of the evidence to the contrary.

For example, you mention your friend talking about the Big Bang theory as an alternative to religion.

catholiceducation.org/articles/science/sc0022.html

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georges_Lema%C3%AEtre

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Hoyle

space.about.com/cs/astronomerbios/a/lemaitrebio.htm

home.messiah.edu/~tdavis/EditorBigBang.htm

docs.google.com/gview?a=v&q=cache:V22Jn9AX0WYJ:www.incaglendale.org/inca/BIGBANG.pdf+lemaitre+big+bang+ridicule&hl=en&gl=au

iloveulove.com/philosophy/sciencereligion.htm

When you read your friends book, understand that it will make sense within the belief system of atheism, The question is whether that belief system is viable and scientific. I think atheism is neither, although it does a good job of pretending that it is.

 

[Eucharisted]

The Baltimore Catechism.

 

[Erchomai_Kyrios]

Hi, I just met a guy who is an atheist, and he and I had a respectful, but spirited debate regarding many different topics. I have been raised Catholic but have not had a lot of experience trying to talk to atheists about faith, and the very existence of God; however, through this discussion, he realized he did not know as much as he thought about the Catholic faith. He bases all of his thoughts on logic and science and believes that there is no proof that God exists, therefore there is no God. He also believes that the Big Bang theory explains how the earth came to be. He wants me to read a book that he has that explains his views on atheism, and he said he would be willing to read a book that I suggest. I am only 18 and he is 17, so i don’t want anything too sophisticated, just a basic book that deals with the existence of God or something like that, and is aligned with the Catholic Faith. I realize that this is a pretty specific request, but I don’t want to mess this up if he is open to learning why i believe what i believe. thanks =)

Hi Chrissy,
I would highly recommend, "The Delusion of Disbelief, Why the New Aetheism is a threat to your life, liberty, and pursuit of Happiness by David Aikman. It’s only 211 pages but addresses pretty much all the neo-athiestic arguments that are thrown at us by the likes of Dawkins, Hitchens, etc in a non confrontation manner. It is a pretty easy read but is thought provoking and certainly addresses arguments from the new atheism areana in an open, honest, forthright and helpful manner. I have found that most athiesm is rooted in pride, but pride has also been a stumbling block for christians as well. So it’s better just to get it all out in the open, as we have nothing to fear with respect to the faith delivered to us from the Apostles. All truth is God’s truth and God’s truth has withstood the tests of time and it will certainly withstand and overcome the Neo-Atheism fad as well. I know this because I went ahead and read the last chapter of that Book by John Bar Zebedee.
Happy 4th
May God Bless, Erchomai Kyrios.

 

[Little_Mary]

Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis

Also, visit www.biblechristiansociety.com and order the free talk on “Was Hitler Right? or, Why Athiests Have no Rights”.

Hope that helps.

 

[tr1strev]

I would recommend “The Seven Storey Mountain” by Thomas Merton. Merton was an atheist who dabbled in Communism before his conversion. He then became a Trappist Monk. It’s his autobiography and not a heavy read. It was one of the books that reintroduced me to my faith.