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Product Description

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.

Customer Reviews:

• Good book but not worth the money
  This book is a brief intro to the field of Catholic apologetics. I'm not saying that it is a bad book or poorly written, it is a good book but it is meant for those who are clueless with regards to defending the Catholic faith on biblical grounds. Quite simply, it's not worth the money because you can find better material for free on the internet....more info
• Latter day disciple
  Dr. Hahn is as eloquent in his writings about our Catholic beliefs, as he is when teaching orally. His deep faith and vast knowledge of all things scriptual are most inspiring. This book should be read several times by sincere apologists who do not know enough to stand on their own. ...more info
• Careful work of an honest author
  Scott Hahn is an extremely careful writer, who has been very patient to choose the wording for his arguments. The book is well written, easy to read and fulfilled my expectations.
  Speaking from his heart, the author gives an honest report on his view of the protestant faith he once embraced and the Catholic faith he now pursues.
  Having St. Thomas on the cover is a testimony of his intellectual honesty by admitting it is not easy to find the path to belief and salvation....more info
• Excellent Book
  This is yet another excellent book written by Scott Hahn, who doesn't just defend the Catholic faith; he goes far beyond that to explain the foundational information all Catholic Christians believe, and this helps to explain why all other Christians should be like minded....more info
• reasons to believe
  I've read numerous other Hahn books and I find this one difficult to follow. Not an easy read that's for sure. At least not for me......more info
• Review of Dr Hahn's "Reasons to Believe . . ."
  Haven't finished first reading yet, but so far I am impressed with the scope and also Dr Hahn' deapth of coverage on the subject. I will re-read it to annotate my own personal index of the book as soon as I've gone through it once. So far, I recognize it is living up to it's proclaimed purpose: to help Catholics understand and better defend the
  Catholic faith from a much broader aspect and with more profound depth....more info
• Just a few words
  This book is a worthwhile read. It will take your basic apologetics skills one level deeper. The author really envelops the reader in the Old Testement in a way that is refreshing. Instead of looking soley at the teachings of Christ, the author includes how the Church today is a fullfilment of prophesy and in accordance with the whole book. The beginning of the book is helpful in dealing with other than Christian faiths, atheists and agnostics....more info
• Not reviewed
  I ordered this book because we are going to have a study class in Oct but I have not had a chance to sit down with it. I have other Scott Hahn books and all have been very good. ...more info
• LOVE SCOTT HAHN
  Scott Hahn is an exellent resource for finding the truth and developing your spiritual life! He's a wealth of information!...more info
• Reasons to Believe
  Good book - some parts more dense and harder to apply to life than others. Overall, I would recommend the book. It was shipped in a very timely fashion and in good condition, by the way....more info
• Fantastic beginning apologetics book
  Scott Hahn wrote the modern book on apologetics... oh golly, how lame am I? But seriously, Hahn studied his way into the Catholic church, reading hundreds upon hundreds of books and considering arguments from all sides. He brings this wealth of knowledge into this book. The book goes through the whole spectrum of apologetics, from theism, to Christianity, to Catholicism. It isn't horribly and deeply in depth, but it isn't supposed to be. This is supposed to be an introduction, a book for one to get their feet wet and take in an overview of the basic arguments for Catholicism.
  
  The first section deals with arguments for the existence of God. The second chapter deals with common Protestant objections (Mary, Eucharist, Papacy, etc.) But it is the third section which goes into some very interesting typology that one may not have seen before. Hahn in careful detail elaborates on the kingdom of David being fulfilled and passed on to Jesus. It's very fascinating stuff, and Hahn goes into much more detail than I have ever seen. I've also never seen a serious attempt at a rebuttal of this whole typological understanding that Hahn goes through in the third section. Just this last (third) section alone is worth buying the book.
  
  Since most all the other reviews mention all the good of this book (and I agree), I will only mention one thing that I didn't like but that probably isn't the author's fault. And that is the fact that not only are the footnotes in the back of the book as opposed to the bottom of the page, but the footnotes aren't even made on a page. In other words, while reading the book, you have no way of knowing if something is referenced other than jumping to the back of the book and seeing if there is a footnote. That's a pet peeve of mine. But that's really the only problem....more info
• Sound reasoning - broad appeal!
  Dr. Hahn has not just "done it again" as this book far exceeds what he's done in the past. As aptly summarized by other reviewers, the book is partitioned into three sections, each forming an eloquently persuasive apologetic appropriate for different groups: first, for unbelievers; second, for non-Catholic Christians; third, for Catholics themselves - though each of the book's sections has broad appeal and would prove beneficial to anyone reading them.
  
  For instance, in one of the most surprising and impressive passages of the first part of the book, Hahn makes readily understandable the traditional proof for God's existence from motion (sic!). Though Aquinas calls this proof "the most evident," lately, various factors militate to render it "most obscure." Using the metaphor of a train with no engine, Hahn deftly shows that, no matter how long - no matter how many cars are added, the train will not move unless there is a "first mover" (namely, the engine or, with regard to motion in the universe, God).
  
  I highly recommend this book for just about anyone - even high schoolers can benefit from it. It is useful for personal enrichment, for a course (in secondary or post-secondary school) on faith and reason, for an intro to Catholicism course, for parish adult-education programs, to give as a gift to friends and family members, and so on.
  
  This is, by far, one of Dr. Hahn's best works - and that's saying much, since his other books are full of profound insights and fresh, helpful explanations of otherwise difficult doctrines. ...more info
• "Powerful Reasons -- Powerfully Expressed"
  The term "apologetics" is often viewed negatively. Because of its etymological roots, many people view the word synonymously with "apology" in the common sense -- a labored defense of something done wrong, or a justification of that which cannot be justified. As practiced by certain individuals of disingenuous character, where beliefs are attacked either based on a false presentation of facts or upon personal bias against matters in question, this connotation is completely understandable.
  
  More properly, apologetics is (as is described in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary) the systematic argumentative discourse in defense (as of a doctrine), or a branch of theology devoted to the defense of the divine origin and authority of Christianity. Done properly, and accepted in the spirit of seeking truth, apologetics is the highest of the theological sciences.
  
  Scott Hahn, Professor of Theology and Scripture at Franciscan University of Steubenville, is an apologist of the highest order. A convert to Catholicism, former Presbyterian minister, and gifted writer, Professor Hahn has written a series of books on the Catholic faith. The books include such spiritual works as THE LAMB'S SUPPER: THE MASS AS HEAVEN ON EARTH, HAIL HOLY QUEEN: THE MOTHER OF GOD IN THE WORD OF GOD, and his journey to Catholicism, ROME SWEET ROME: OUR JOURNEY TO CATHOLICISM, co-authored with his wife, Kimberly Hahn.
  
  REASONS TO BELIEVE: HOW TO UNDERSTAND, EXPLAIN, AND DEFEND THE CATHOLIC FAITH, is a book of Catholic Apologetics in the finest sense of the tradition. Using his skills as a teacher, Professor Hahn offers a well-written, engaging, and reasoned look at the Catholic faith, using extensive scriptural sources, logic, and facts to present his defense of the Church. Unlike other so-called apologists (the pamphlet under the windshield), he does not hide behind personal rancor and invective. Instead, he presents his arguments for the Catholic faith in a thoughtful loving manner -- as one would expect or demand of a Christian. In its scant 240 pages, REASONS TO BELIEVE is not a substitute for Sacred Scripture, or Catholic Catechism. Rather it draws upon the complementary sources of Scripture, Tradition, and Magisterium to justify the faith. He presents powerful arguments indeed in simple prose, articulating divinely inspired truths in words that are comprehensible to the average reader.
  
  Reason and revelation are not incompatible. Natural and divine order are not compatible. The essentials of faith can be expressed intellectually and rationally. It is true theology -- faith seeking understanding....more info
• Deepening
  This book does not give you reasons to argue from in a bulling fashion but draws you into greater love and admiration for the truths you may be called upon to defend. It gives scholarly background in a synthecized way you can understand that leads your mind to say "Aha!" and your heart to say, "Yes."...more info
• Great book
  Another great book by Dr Hahn. Not as easy a read as some of his more personal books but definitely valuable. Many insights. ...more info
• For Beginners only
  This book is ok if you are either not a Catholic and curious, or a Catholic who is absolutely clueless about why we believe what we do. I bought this book thinking it would help me in the field of apologetics (should I come across a protestant who attacks Catholic doctrine: perpetual virginity, the Eucharist, etc). What I found, about fifty pages in, was that this was really an intro (and a watered-down intro at that) into the beliefs of the Church. One would be much better off with Karl Keating's "Catholicism and Fundamentalism." Or, if you are really hardcore, either Henry Denzinger's "The Sources of Catholic Dogma," or Jurgens' "The Faith of the Early Fathers" in three volumes. Both Denzinger and Jurgens provide excellent, the best I've come across so far, historical content, while Keating will teach you how to argue what you believe (mostly by presenting Protestant arguments and defeating them with the Catholic). This combination of books will prove very helpful for the Catholic who wishes to defend his faith against vicious anti-Catholic Protestanism--not attack the latter. You may also wish to supplement this with "The New Jerome Biblical Commentary" by Raymond Brown et al.
  
  All that being said, if you have never read anything at all about why Catholics believe what they do, this is NOT BAD. However, you can do better. ...more info
• Reasons to Believe
  Relying on Scripture, history, and logic, Prof 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. He does more than respond to our doubts. He shows us a God who has a plan for history and for each of our lives. Often we are asked to give an account of the hope that it is in us, to explain our Catholic faith. In this book Prof 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 book unravels mysteries, corrects misunderstandings, and offers thoughtful, straightforward responses to common objections about the Catholic faith. In this book Prof Hahn explains the "how and why" of the Catholic faith-drawing from Scripture, his own struggles and those other converts, as well as from everyday life and even natural science. Prof Hahn shows that reason and revelation, as well as 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 has a personality, a personal style, that is discernible and knowable....more info