“Ask a Priest: Are There Books That Prove the Existence of God?”

Q: Please recommend books for my son. He is in his 30s, a college graduate in business and philosophy, and states that he is agnostic. He was raised in the faith and attended Catholic elementary and high schools. He wants books or references that prove the existence of God and that God in fact loves us. I told him about Jesus dying on the cross for us. He states God never answered him when he was Catholic. He has been struggling with these issues for about 10 years. I’ve been praying for him and recently fasting. This is the first time he is open to reading whatever will help him see the truth. Thank you in advance for your help! – G.

Answered by Fr. Edward McIlmail, LC

A: You have the true heart of a mom! Your concern for your son is admirable, and your e-mail shows that your spirit of hope is alive and well.

You mention that you son thinks that “God never answered him.”

It is possible that God in fact answered your son, but in an unexpected or subtle way. Or perhaps the Almighty’s answer was no, and your son wasn’t open to that response.

In any case, it is a positive sign that your son is asking for the books. Your prayers and fasting might be meriting the grace that he needs to start moving toward a conversion.

Now, the Church doesn’t offer proofs about the existence of God in the scientific sense. It can offer solid philosophical arguments in favor of the Almighty’s existence. But strictly speaking, if this kind of thing could be proven, we wouldn’t need faith.

Nevertheless, a few resources that might help are:

— A CD, “Proofs for the Existence of God,” by Father Robert Spitzer, SJ

— New Proofs for the Existence of God: Contributions of Contemporary Physics and Philosophy, also by Father Robert Spitzer, SJ

— Five Proofs of the Existence of God, by Edward Feser

— How to Think About God: A Guide for the 20th-Century Pagan, by Mortimer Adler

— Also helpful could be this webpage on “Twenty Arguments for the Existence of God”

In the meantime, keep praying for your son. And if he needs nearby proof of God’s love, your son need look no further than his own mom.

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