New Proofs for the Existence of God: Contributions of Contemporary Physics and Philosophy [Paperback]

Robert J. Spitzer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 29, 2010

With the incredible popularity of recent books championing agnosticism or atheism, many people might never know that such books almost completely ignore the considerable evidence for theism uncovered in both physics and philosophy over the past four decades. New Proofs for the Existence of God responds to these glaring omissions. / From universal space-time asymmetry to cosmic coincidences to the intelligibility of reality, Robert Spitzer tackles a wealth of evidence. He considers string theory, quantum cosmology, mathematical thoughts on infinity, and much more. / This fascinating and stunning collection of evidence provides solid grounding for reasonable and responsible belief in a super-intelligent, transcendent, creative power standing at the origins of our universe.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Robert J. Spitzer, S.J. is president of Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington. His other books include The Spirit of Leadership, Healing the Culture, and Five Pillars of the Spiritual Life.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (June 29, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802863833
• ISBN-13: 978-0802863836
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,658 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #3 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Religious Studies > Science & Religion

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

243 of 264 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth My First Review Ever, November 7, 2010

By 

Peter P Lackey Jr (Nokesville, VA United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: New Proofs for the Existence of God: Contributions of Contemporary Physics and Philosophy (Paperback)

I will keep this review short and sweet. I have personally been building a research library of science, Philosophy, theology, and books on the cults and occult for the past 15 years. One topic that I continuously find myself reading and listening to debates on the most is the area of God's existence. I enjoy the various approaches and 'faith assumptions' brought to the raw materials of physical data by naturalists/materialists/atheists and deists/theists. I do not like fluffy works which is why I avoid the childish rants of the "new-atheists" and the unbiblical liver-quiver approaches of some Christians. There is one thing that I always notice regarding books like this: the illogical 1-star reviews of some atheist who turned off the porn for a minute to provide a thoughtless review in order to impact the aggregate of the rating who I promise NEVER read the book. On this particular topic, I have read works of theists like William Lane Craig, John Polkinghorn, Alvin Plantigna, etc. and this is the best book yet. I have to admit that this book was such a surprise to me given that I have never heard of Robert Spitzer until he wrote a rebuttal to Steven Hawking a few months ago in the Wall Street Journal. Hawking no doubt has a brilliant mind and I love how he shows the world that a physical handicap cannot a stop powerful mind. But as with most Physicists who do not continuously develop the philosophical he commits fallacies in logical thinking that most would miss; i.e., equivocating on the word "nothing" and a category mistake confusing physical laws and causal agents (which ties into the equivocation of 'nothing').

NOW TO THE BOOK THAT CAUSED MY FIRST REVIEW ON AMAZON AFTER PURCHASING HUNDREDS OF BOOKS: In short, the book is broken down into 3 sections: (Part-1) Indications of Creation and Supernatural Design in Contemporary Big Bang Cosmology (Part-2) The Philosophical Proofs of the Existence of God and (Part-3) The Transcendentals: The Divine and Human Mysteries. I have not seen "The Transcendentals" added to a book like this since Thomas Aquinas--the baby that unfortunately got thrown out with the Medieval bathwater. This topic is so well developed that I was in Thailand for work with jet lag and could not put it down. My eyes literally swelled with tears one night as I pondered the richness of what I just read. Some people are moved by music but I am moved by powerful ideas. This section alone is worth the price of the book and the good news is that although the first two parts are helpful, part-3 stands alone. In fact, I would jump to that section first because it would provide an appreciation for the data provided in the first two sections. If you honestly like ideas even if you are an atheist or agnostic you will appreciate this book

I hope that this review was helpful and I do hope that most of you understand what I have come to learn: VERY FEW Atheists reject God intellectually, most of them reject him emotionally. The "intellectual" just sounds sexier!

124 of 133 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "New Proofs" is pretty amazing... definitely intellectually challenging!, August 2, 2010

By 

B. Hallett (Coeur d'Alene, ID United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: New Proofs for the Existence of God: Contributions of Contemporary Physics and Philosophy (Paperback)

This is an amazing read, definitely one that will take you a few days, though. It's a serious look (using astrophysics, philosophy and basic logic) at the argument that a lot of evidence points toward a creator for our universe. I have believed in God all my life, but I have to be honest and say that there are times when I've wondered if my beliefs were wishful thinking. This book really cleared that up for me. You can choose to believe or not, but if you DO choose you aren't crazy and you aren't just imagining things.

I think what I like best is that Spitzer never claims that any single bit of evidence conclusively proves a creator exists. Instead, he demonstrates several different types of evidence that a creator is more likely than not... Taken together, they make a pretty impressive case. And he doesn't rely on the Bible as the source of his argument for this book. I liked that a lot, because I have trouble believing the Bible is literally true. The Biblical story of creation seems like a great metaphor, but I don't buy into the one week, instant world theory. Fortunately, you can read this book and by the end you'll understand how easy it is to believe that an intelligent power made our universe billions of years ago.

PS -- he has a website with a bunch of information and excerpts too. [...]

84 of 91 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Physics Evidence, Philosophy Proof, September 3, 2010

By 

Robert "old religious physicist" (Danville, PA, United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: New Proofs for the Existence of God: Contributions of Contemporary Physics and Philosophy (Paperback)

Here's the ultimate praise any reviewer could give: "I wish I could have written that". I was particularly impressed by the use of the Second Law of Thermodynamics argument and the Borde-Guth-Vilenkin theorem about finite past time in all reasonable cosmologies, to demonstrate a beginning for the Universe. With regard to the anthropic coincidences that are used to demonstrate an intelligent designer for our universe, Fr. Spitzer's exposition has the virtue of being focused and well organized, in contrast to some others on this subject, where the coincidences are piled one on top of another, until at the 378th coincidence one's eyes begin to glaze. And he has the ethos of science nailed down, that is to say, he marks science as an empirical enterprise that can give evidence for an intelligent designer (that is, be a sign-post to God), but, unlike metaphysics, cannot "prove" the existence of God.

The philosophy was heavy going for me, but presented clearly and convincingly. (The second and third readings will be even more valuable I assume.) I was particularly impressed by Fr. Spitzer's demonstration of an unconditioned reality ("First Cause"?) and by the categorization of the several kinds of infinity, and why Hilbert disavowed Kantor's infinite set theory (the Hotel that can never be filled?). Thank you Fr. Spitzer; I'm looking forward to your next book on the intersection of science, philosophy and faith, in which some of the topics that couldn't be covered in detail in "New Proofs" might be discussed: evolution, mind and soul, and quantum mysteries.