Reasons to Believe: How to Understand, Explain, and Defend the Catholic Faith [Hardcover]

Scott Hahn (Author)

Book Description

Release date: May 8, 2007

This book unravels mysteries, corrects misunderstandings, and offers thoughtful, straightforward responses to common objections about the Catholic faith.

Bestselling author Scott Hahn, a convert to Catholicism, has experienced the doubts that so often drive discussions about God and the Church. In the years before his conversion, he was first a nonbeliever and then an anti-Catholic clergyman.

In REASONS TO BELIEVE, he explains the "how and why" of the Catholic faith—drawing from Scripture, his own struggles and those of other converts, as well as from everyday life and even natural science. Hahn shows that reason and revelation, nature and the supernatural, are not opposed to one another; rather they offer complementary evidence that God exists. But He doesn't merely exist. He is someone, and He has a personality, a personal style, that is discernible and knowable. Hahn leads readers to see that God created the universe with a purpose and a form—a form that can be found in the Book of Genesis and that is there when we view the natural world through a microscope, through a telescope, or through our contact lenses.

At the heart of the book is Hahn's examination of the ten "keys to the kingdom"—the characteristics of the Church clearly evident in the Scriptures. As the story of creation discloses, the world is a house that has a Father, a palace where the king is really present. God created the cosmos to be a kingdom, and that kingdom is the universal Church, fully revealed by Jesus Christ.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Many times in its 2,000-year history, the Catholic Church was under tremendous scrutiny and even persecution, thus necessitating the faithful to provide a cogent and passionate explanation of doctrine to skeptics. These explanations developed into a formal branch of theology known as "apologetics." Hahn, an increasingly popular theologian, speaker and writer, has grabbed the doctrinal baton with books like The Lamb's Supper and Hail, Holy Queen. Here he presents a contemporary apologetics for those who feel a need to defend their faith in the postmodern world. Hahn certainly knows the Catechism, and his writing is concise and certain. He unabashedly declares the Catholic faith to be "the only Christian body that professes one faith, undivided, unchanged, throughout the world and throughout the ages." While some may be persuaded by this rhetoric, such phrases will come across to others as overly triumphalistic, especially since the history of the church includes many doctrinal disputes and painful clashes over belief that Hahn glosses over. Readers wrestling with doubts about their faith may not find much solace in Hahn's work, but Catholics who feel the need to articulate their viewpoint to fellow believers and nonbelievers could benefit from Hahn's clear explanation of doctrine. (May)
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Review

Advance Praise for Reasons to Believe:

“A flagship volume for contemporary apologetics.  This book should be required reading for every Catholic college student and especially for every priest, seminarian, and deacon.  This is apologetics made fascinating.”  —Fr. Benedict J. Groeschel, CFR 
 
“An outstanding book.” —Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. (Denver Archdiocese)
 
“The definitive book on the subject of apologetics.” —Marcus Grodi, TV host, The Journey Home
 
“A cohesive vision of God’s kingdom that enables people more fully to understand, live, and defend the truth of the Catholic Church…. This is a book many have been waiting for.” —Jeff Cavins, author of My Life on the Rock
“Relying on Scripture, history, and logic, Hahn offers clear and compelling reasons to embrace the Catholic Faith and to defend that Faith, charitably and joyfully.  He shows us yet again not just what to say, but how to say it.” —Patrick Madrid, author of Search and Rescue and Does the Bible Really Say That?
“Hahn does more than respond to our doubts. He shows us a God who has a plan for history and for each of our lives.” —David Scott, author of The Catholic Passion
“Hahn’s gently expressed enthusiasm for theology is infectious…. This work will help those who are inquiring about the Catholic Church to ‘take the leap,’ and those already within the fold to appreciate all the more the biblical basis for, and unique fullness of, the Catholic faith.”
—Dave Armstrong, author of A Biblical Defense of Catholicism
 
“A great aid to anyone interested in the biblical, patristic, and historical  reasons to believe in Jesus Christ as a Catholic Christian.”  —John Michael Talbot, songwriter; founder of The Brothers and Sisters of Charity at Little Portion Hermitage
 
“Scott Hahn, perhaps Catholicism's leading evangelist in English, takes the next step.…a book for believers who want to grow stronger in their faith and share it with others, and for inquirers who search for a belief that satisfies both the mind and the heart.” —Fr. C. J. McCloskey III, Research Fellow, Faith and Reason Institute, Washington, DC
 
“Hahn knows how to write for us ordinary people.” —Mark P. Shea, CatholicExchange.com
 
“Very highly recommended.”  —Thomas Howard, author of On Being Catholic

“Often we are asked to give an account of the hope that is in us, to explain our Catholic faith. In Reasons to Believe, Scott Hahn offers that explanation in a clear, cogent, and compelling manner, by answering the most frequently raised questions about aspects of Church teaching. It is a must-read for Catholics who want to be able to explain the faith they hold and cherish. This work should be of immense value.” —Archbishop Donald W.
Wuerl (Archdiocese of Washington, DC)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Doubleday Religion (May 8, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385509359
• ISBN-13: 978-0385509350
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (62 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #39,775 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dr. Scott Hahn is the author (or editor) of over forty books, including best-selling titles like Rome Sweet Home, The Lamb's Supper, Hail Holy Queen, A Father Who Keeps His Promises, Lord Have Mercy, First Comes Love, Swear to God, Understanding Our Father, Scripture Matter, Spirit and Life, Understanding the Scripture, Catholic Bible Dictionary, Many Are Called, Signs of Life, Reasons to Believe, Answering the New Atheism, Ordinary Work Extraordinary Grace, and Living the Mysteries. His academic publications include Kinship by Covenant: A Canonical Approach to the Fulfillment of God's Saving Promises (Anchor Yale Bible Reference Library), The Kingdom of God as Liturgical Empire: A Theological Commentary on 1-2 Chronicles, Covenant and Communion: The Biblical Theology of Pope Benedict XVI, Letter and Spirit: From Written Text to Living Word in the Liturgy, along with a forthcoming title, Politicizing the Bible: The Roots of Historical Criticism and the Secularization of Scripture (1300-1700). He is the editor of the academic periodical, Letter & Spirit: A Journal of Catholic Biblical Theology, and co-editor of the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible.

An exceptionally popular speaker and teacher, Dr. Scott Hahn has delivered thousands of popular talks and academic lectures, nationally and internationally, on a wide range of topics related to Scripture, Theology and the Catholic faith. Hundreds of these presentations have been recorded and distributed by Catholic Lighthouse, The St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, and St. Joseph Communications. He has appeared on hundreds of television programs on the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN), where he has also been the regular host and presenter on several popular 13-week series (including Our Fathers Plan, The Lamb's Super, and Genesis to Jesus).

In 2012, Dr. Hahn was awarded the Fr. Michael Scanlan Chair of Biblical Theology and the New Evangelization at the Franciscan University of Steubenville, where he has taught since 1990. He is the founder and president of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology. In 2005, he was awarded the Pope Benedict XVI Chair of Biblical Theology and Liturgical Proclamation at St. Vincent Seminary (Latrobe PA), which he held through 2011. In 2002, he was awarded Pio Cardinal Laghi Chair of Catholic Theology at the Pontifical Seminary Josephinum (Columbus OH), which he held through 2004.

Scott graduated from Grove City College in 1979 with his BA in Theology, Philosophy and Economics (magna cum laude). He graduated from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in 1982 with his M.Div (summa cum laude). Scott received his Ph.D. in Theology from Marquette University in 1995 (summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa). He has ten years of youth and pastoral ministry experience in Protestant congregations in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Massachusetts, Kansas and Virginia (1975-85), and is a former Professor of Theology at the Dominion Theological Institute (Dominion, VA, now Chesapeake Theological Seminary). He was ordained in 1982 at Trinity Presbyterian Church (Fairfax VA). He entered the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil, 1986.

Dr. Scott Hahn was born in 1957, and has been married to Kimberly since 1979. They live in Steubenville Ohio and have six children and seven grandchildren.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

159 of 166 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Banquet Serving Up Three Courses for the Student May 20, 2007

By Carson Weber

Format:Hardcover

In this book, Scott Hahn writes three separate topical essays, which are further divided into chapters. In this online review, I'll [ap]praise each section.

The first subdivision is titled "Natural Reasons," which introduces the reader to natural theology: knowledge of God ascertained from reason and creation (or, natural revelation) without the aid of divine revelation. Hahn demonstrates that natural faith (faith in objects other than "God") is a common phenomenon, which we all exercise on a regular basis, often without realizing it. Not only that, but faith is necessary and therefore consistently applied in many instances, especially in the scientific field. In addition to this form of faith, the author proves the parallel case with morality in very clear and brief terms (Bravo!). I especially enjoyed this brief excerpt: "Or they say, 'You should never impose your morality on other people' - which is itself a moral prescription! In rejecting morality, people must paradoxically embrace a morality that is opposite and equally imposing" (p. 41). Upon making a case for natural theology and natural law - with abundant references and suggestions for further reading in the endnotes - Hahn explains how this exercise cannot bring one into the realm of divine faith and the subsequent Christian way of life because reason has its limits, yet points to divine faith, and is then elevated by that faith.

The middle theme of the book surveys and summarizes a Biblical defense of Catholic 'distinctives' in the realm of Christianity for those uninitiated in Catholic apologetic works designed for those who engage in discussions with Protestant Christians. This is a very charitable, well-worded, and concise treatment of the common objections non-Catholic Christians raise; these particular "reasons to believe" should become common knowledge among Catholics who move in today's multi-denominational culture. They will strengthen your faith as a Catholic Christian and give you a means to - lovingly - explain the prevailing objections on the street. For those who have read books such as Catholicism and Fundamentalism: The Attack on "Romanism" by "Bible Christians", Catholic for a Reason: Scripture and the Mystery of the Family of God (Catholic for a Reason), or Where Is That In the Bible?, this section will bore you. But don't let that deter you from adding this text to your library... why you ask? The answer lies in the Tertia Pars (third part)!

The third and final essay of this book, "Royal Reasons," is a summarized treatment of how the Catholic Faith and Church is the divine culmination of Israel's history in the Old Testament. Dr. Hahn focuses upon the theme of the Davidic Kingdom, which is absolutely central to the way the Gospels speak of Jesus and his Church - for Jesus came to renew, fulfill, and transform the latest and greatest covenant God made with Israel: the Davidic Covenant (See 2 Samuel 7)! The reader - if unfamiliar with the dense and valuable information packed in these chapters - should carefully read and re-read pages 141-197. In my own experience, a clear presentation of these points has done more to advance my own personal understanding of the New Testament than the study of any other paradigm. The original authors of the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) presumed their audiences to have been familiar with what Hahn unpacks in (or one could say, packs into) Chapters 11-15 of "Reasons to Believe." You will feel as if you're engaging in the sweet course at the end of a meal as you devour the royal reasons.

Finally, as in all of Hahn's books, the endnotes are jam-packed with great insights as to what to read to go deeper, and deeper is where you'll want to dive when you finally put down this book.

As a parish director of adult formation, I am going to purchase a number of copies and give them to those Catholics on the fringes that are searching. I believe this book is the answer they are looking for, and I pray it will both deepen the laity's resolve to embrace the Faith wholeheartedly and instill a desire to engage in [and aid] the primary mission of the Church on earth: evangelization.

128 of 137 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent (as I've come to expect from this author) May 12, 2007

By Thomas More

Format:Hardcover

I was fortunate enough to pick up a signed copy of Dr. Hahn's latest book at the Franciscan U. bookstore while traveling to the Steubenville area on business. I read the book on the way home and heartily recommend it to all Catholics. It is a concise, easily-digested volume that will shore up your faith so you will be prepared to give an explanation for the hope that is in you. I've read many books on Catholic apologetics, and this one may be the best (although, as a previous reviewer noted, it does have a few typos). I especially enjoyed Hahn's treatment of natural law, which is perhaps the best apologetics approach to take with non-Christians (as they will often not recognize the authority of supernatural revelation (e.g. the bible)). I also appreciated Hahn's synthesis of old and new testament covenant theology. He clearly demonstrates that the eucharistic Church is the "Kingdom of Heaven" toward which the old and new testaments tend. Finally, I thought Hahn's appeal to humility and gentleness when engaging in apologetics was especially prescient; while one may argue logically and correctly, if we lack love, we're like a resounding, futile gong...

49 of 54 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Scott Hahn writes another fine book May 11, 2007

By Jeffrey Miller VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

Reasons to Believe: How to Understand, Explain, and Defend the Catholic Faith by Scott Hahn released just a few days ago is another fine book. His latest book is more in the line of general apologetics than his previous books that mainly pertained to a specific topic.

What I liked about this as an apologetics work is that it started out by addressing reason and natural theology. Natural theology being defined as what we can no about God with revelation from him. He specifically talks about reason and how to talk to atheists and agnostics, something left out of many apologetics works. The first four chapters deal specifically with this and there is a lot of good information contained. It is of course not an exhaustive treatment of this, but a good solid introduction to the subject. He references books like Handbook Of Christian Apologetics by Peter Kreft and Fr. Tacelli which is an excellent deeper reference. His coverage of Aquinas "five ways of knowing God: as he puts it is succinct and easy to follow.

Later chapters deal with apologetics and working with other Christians via the Bible and offers good advice on how to do it and not get into proof text wars. These following chapters covers standard Catholic apologetics fare such as the Communion of Saints, Mary, the Mass, and the Pope. He notes these are not meant to be exhaustive and that whole books can be written on nuances of these subjects (as he has done in the past), but he does pack a lot of information to go over in these chapters. If you have read a lot of apologetics there is no real fresh ground here, but it is a good reference. But he does offer some good advice for those like myself who have read much on this subject and start to find it boring and that is to go deeper into theology.

Concluding chapters deal with the Kingdom of God and the book really shines here. No surprise that when Scott Hahn talks on Covenantal Theology and how the Old Testament applies to the New Testament and specifically the Davidic Kingdom it becomes really interesting. At first I was lost to how this was applying to the previous more straightforward apologetics chapters, but he does wrap up some important points on the Queenship of Mary, the Papacy, and especially the Kingdom of God and how it relates to the Church.

As is usually the case Scott Hahn's sub chapter titles are full of puns. Some people are put off by punning subtitles in a serious work, but I like them. I share Scott's puns are always intentional attitude. Though his straight writing is fun also. His love of these various subjects shines through in his work and you never feel he is writing over your head, but that he is writing to you. So if you are looking for a solid apologetics work then I can highly recommend this one.

A couple of minor things though need to be fixed in any subsequent reprinting of this book. The introduction mentions many in the field of apologetics by name. I am pretty sure there is no Father Mitch Pacina S.J. More then likely this refers to Fr. Mitch Pacwa S.J. He might also want to change the reference to James Akin to Jimmy Akin as this is his preference.