I’ve just received an e-mail from a man asking me for “a logical reason to believe in Jesus Christ”. Here’s the text of his e-mail and my response:

 

I am sorry to bother you but hopefully you can help me via your wisdom. I was raised Roman Catholic in Connecticut, USA. I am 47 years old at this point with a couple of businesses and a 15 year old son who I have tried to raise as a good person. I have travelled extensively and have seen many people less fortunate than myself. My father has done charity work all over the world.

My main issue is, I have been an atheist for many years after exploring many aspects of Christianity and Buddhism. I cannot think of a logical reason to believe in Jesus Christ, although I search and search daily. Being a former atheist, you know all the arguments, what brought you back to the church and can you suggest anything for me?

Thank you!

 

Dear ___,

Thanks for your e-mail.

The question you’re asking is more than the million dollar question; it’s the question that holds the key to everything. It’s also such a huge question that it’s almost impossible to answer in the proverbial nutshell.

I considered my own path to conversion to be entirely rational, i.e. it was rooted in a solid engagement with reason, in terms of philosophy and theology. I was unaware at the time, however, that I was also in need of healing, a healing that could only come through humility and a willing acceptance of God’s love poured out through the power of grace. In short, the essential key to conversion is the indissoluble marriage between fides et ratio, faith and reason. As soon as we lose touch with one half of this indissoluble union we lose touch with the other. Those without faith are, therefore, handicapped in their pursuit of truth. So how does one overcome this hurdle? On the one hand we should engage rationally with reality, through a study of philosophy and theology; on the other, we must pray for the healing that leads to faith. With regard to the latter, how does one pray to a God in whom one does not believe? The answer is to make a leap of faith, a leap in the dark. The regular practice of prayer, even to a God in whom we do not yet believe, will bring answers to the most important questions, and healing from the blindness of unbelief.

The rational approach involves a logical sequence of questions that need to be answered: 1. Is everything a blind, meaningless accident, or is it the result of design? 2. If it’s the result of design, there must be a designer; 3. If there’s a designer, would he choose to reveal himself? 4. If he reveals himself how does he do it? This line of reasoning is the ascent from philosophy to theology.

There are numerous excellent books that address these questions, including some good recent books specifically addressing the falseness of the new atheism. Please check out the websites of some of the major Catholic publishers for more details, particularly Ignatius Press (www.ignatius.com), TAN Books, and St. Augustine’s Press. Personally speaking, the two books that had the most profound influence upon me as I sought to answers these questions were Sheehan’s Apologetics and Catholic Doctrine and F. C. Copleston’s Aquinas.

To summarize: Fides et ratio requires an assent and an ascent; the assent to faith through the practice of prayer, and the ascent in reason through the study of philosophy and theology

May your path to Christ be paved with blessings,

Joseph