I don't know, but I love love love that you're asking. Good, good Dad.

"The God Delusion" by Richard Dawkins is the alpha and omega on the subject. Apart from the superior science, the book is unbiased and extremely entertaining. There is no compitition.

Rated.

Sorry, typo, "competition."

Dawkins is one of the so called "modern atheists" - not unbiased at all. His book is one of those my son is seeking the other side of... though mid sized B did say Dawkins was better than Hitchens, whose book he found an unreadable polemic against religion.

and, thanks, Carrie, for the kind thoughts.

For a perspective that blends cutting-edge anthropology with an openness to religious experience, try Barbara King's "Evolving God." If you think he might relish the challenge of a faith-specific perspective, I recommend Hans Kung's "Why I Am Still a Christian." Finally, Sara Miles tells her wonderful story of conversion to Christian service in "Take This Bread."

Armstrong writes densely. Her works are packed with information and insights, but reading them is a relentless slog.

Brian: I don't recommend any book. Most books that are written as either a condemnation of faith or as an apology for it are appealing to the head.

Faith comes first not from the head but from the heart. I tried it the other way for 50 years. It didn't work for me, and I have actually never met anyone who came to understand faith that way.

One simply can't "understand" faith by reading a book. I read hundreds, thousands of them hoping to find faith by reasoning my way to it. It can't be done. St. Anselm said that religion is "Faith seeking Understanding." Notice the order of the words.

I think one has to want to experience faith, to get involved with a faith community, to hear the stories or the faith, and come to claim them as your own to even begin to have a sense of it.

If he really wants to understand "the other side" offer to go to a solid liberal church with him for a while. See what you both think of it, talk to one another about how you feel about it, join a Sunday school or Bible study class together and listen to the sermons, enjoy the music, immerse your selves in it and ask questions, not just of each other but of the leaders of the church you are visiting.

I am not trying to discourage you from trying to "learn", but to dissuade both of you from thinking that faith can be decided upon one way or the other by reading a book, or two, or even twenty.

If he has specific questions I will be glad to try to answer them as best I can. He or you can just send me a PM.

Monte

How about that one by Francis Collins? He's the guy behind the Genome Project who is completely behind both evolution and God. I forget his book, but I think Obama just named him head of some major science thingy, so that's another reason to read this man's work. I actually read the book I'm talking about, so it's kind of silly that I don't remember. You can look it up by his name.

The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief. Francis Collins.

From what I remember, its strength was in its eloquent description of evolution.

wow, great suggestions. so many its hard to sort them all out.

Lainey, i know he looked at Collins' work as a possibility, but decided that, like Monte said, something which tries to PROVE faith is not likely to help him. He's more interested in something which explains faith to him, and rebuts the skeptics. THEN he might be open to trying church again, as Monte wisely suggest Our church IS a liberal Protestant one ( the preacher is working on a phd in education, thesis "The Educational Value of video games").

ironically, when he was young & I took him to church, we'd come home & he'd set up a "pulpit" and "preach" to his little brother.

I am flattered that my faith encourages him to question his self professed atheism, but do not want to push too hard.

I'd love some cross comments on the alternate book suggestions.

Hey Brian, not sure if you get The Diane Rehm show (but you can always get it online and listen to archives), but I notice that today she has a program on called The Future of Faith. Sometimes, listening to stuff like that is provocative, getting one's thoughts moving and embracing new ideas.

"He has recently read several books arguing against the existence of God.

Fair minded person that he also be,he now wants to read something from 'the other side'."

Might I humbly suggest that he go out and *look* for pointers to the existence of God? Reading other peoples interpretations is fine, but... these other authors *aren't* mid-sized B.

The only person, ultimately, who can answer the question of God's existence to his satisfaction is mid-sized B.

As well, I would suggest he read widely... and for a long time. *Then* he'll have *his* answer.

I can't really recommend anything. But I'm pretty sure he'll be disappointed by their arguments. You won't become a believer through logic.

I kinda have to agree with the folks who say you can't read yourself into faith/belief. By its very nature, faith is irrational, or perhaps a-rational or extra-rational. It is a thing wholly outside of the realm of the mind and logic.

I don't have any.

But I know plenty of folks whose minds I respect who DO.

Monte's suggestion (find a nice liberal church and go for a while) seems quite sensible.

thanks all for the support and suggestions.
Mid sized b is a pretty smart young man - in a third year university program on full ride academic scholarship, math major, taking a lot of english lit & philosophy. He's not willing to explore 'do I have faith?' unless he can overcome the 'existence of god is illogical' hurdle...baby steps.