A FAITH BRIEF: A LAWYER’S ARGUMENT FOR WHY FAITH PREVAILS OVER DOUBT

It is clear that what was once known as the West–let’s say Western Europe and North America–has largely abandoned its Christian roots and fallen into apostasy. In fact, it has succumbed to neo-paganism–a practical atheism that, similar to 18th-century Deism, relegates God (if he exists) to a peripheral role in one’s life. Increasing numbers do not believe it is rational to believe. The gods of technology, medicine, material security, and entertainment have largely replaced American denominational Protestantism, which fell victim to the cultural explosion of the Sixties. Since then denominational membership has plummeted year after year. Evangelical Protestants cling with good will to their Bibles and born-again encounters but are not stable. They have revolving ministers, no sacraments except Baptism, and no solemnity of worship, often congregating in what appear to be jet aircraft hangers. Such churches give no sign of the potential to create a culture whose hallmark is Beauty, a sign of God’s presence.

Law professor and novelist Patrick M. Garry, however, has written a book explaining why. Entitled: A Faith Brief, A Lawyer’s Argument for Why Faith Prevails Over Doubt, it is published by Kirk House.

Garry writes, “This book is about faith. Actually it is a book about finding faith despite an immersion in a life and culture of doubt, and about by first finding a way to dispel the doubt.”

His book is nondenominational in its approach, relying predominantly on philosophical and reasoned arguments to plead his case. Even though the book-jacket blurbs all seem to be Catholic, Garry’s book does not work to convince the reader by authority or Revelation; rather his aim is to detach the reader from a state of skepticism.

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http://www.catholicity.com/mccloskey/a-faith-brief.html

Fr. John McCloskey