Thoughtful Theism: Redeeming Reason in an Irrational Age is more than a defense of the existence of God. It is an attempt to remind us that belief in God is at its root rational.

Drawing from years of experience as a priest and a teacher of philosophy, Fr. Younan presents the fallacies that often accompany thinking about a concept as difficult as God. While he carefully critiques the arguments given by Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, Lawrence Krauss, Christopher Hitchens, and others, he also counters the irrational expressions of many theists—from their rejection of evolution and the Big Bang to their use of religion for political purposes.

With clarity and humor, Fr. Younan presents the Five Ways of Aquinas, discusses the Big Bang and Evolution, the problem of evil, morality, and the complexities and abuses of religion.

Thoughtful Theism is an informative guide for constructive dialogue with both those who do and who do not believe in the existence of God.

Fr. Andrew Younan is a priest of the Chaldean Catholic Church who has translated much of the Chaldean liturgy from Aramaic into English. He teaches various courses in Philosophy, the Liberal Arts (Logic, Rhetoric, etc.), as well as Biblical Hebrew at John Paul the Great Catholic University in Escondido, California.

Endorsements:

“Fr. Younan’s foray into whether God does or does not exist is both entertaining and clear. He obviously has spent a good deal of time engaging his students and their questions. Not only can he articulate their objections (if they raise them) better than they can, but he provides sound reason in response. And reason and rationality are at the heart of his presentation. Thanks for bringing Thomas Aquinas’ own clarity back to the fore.”

—Most Rev. Earl Boyea

Bishop of the Diocese of Lansing

“Thoughtful Theism is one of the best responses to the New Atheism I have ever read. Fr. Younan writes in a lively manner that will have special appeal to young adults. He examines the arguments of the New Atheists with philosophical skill and linguistic precision. He exposes many straw men, false dichotomies, and unsubstantiated assertions in authors like Dawkins and Krauss, and he makes a very strong case that the atheists, not the theists, are the ones who are really irrational. Drawing heavily upon St. Thomas Aquinas, Fr. Younan challenges theists to use sound reason in support of faith. He shows that the existence of God is not at all threatened by the Big Bang, evolution, or the existence of evil. Thoughtful Theism is a great resource for those wishing to respond to aggressive atheism in an informed and rational manner.”

—Robert Fastiggi, Ph.D.

Professor of Systematic Theology,

Sacred Heart Major Seminary

“In this book, Fr. Younan carries out philosophy’s Socratic vocation of helping young minds to overcome sophistry and to transform mere opinion into knowledge. In this case, the aim is the all-important goal of knowing the existence of God by the light of natural reason. Fr. Younan sets out the classic arguments for the existence of God and with scrupulous fairness examines and rebuts the objections offered by the New Atheists and their contemporary allies. He does this with wit and a conversational style that makes this challenging material readily accessible to those who are coming new to the effort. Thoughtful Theism is a solid resource for the work of dispelling from our contemporary pseudo-sophisticated culture the fog of unbelief.”

—Most. Rev. Allen H. Vigneron,

Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Detroit

“In this engaging book, Fr. Andrew Younan offers hope and encouragement to believers who may be upset, disheartened, angry or simply confused by the barrage of books and arguments coming from the New Atheists. With something like the fervor of a personal trainer, Fr. Younan presents his basic message that belief in God is reasonable. He encourages his readers to think for themselves and not be intimidated by atheists. He admits that ‘thinking is hard work’ and gives us a lot to think about through his pointed rebuttal of the atheists, his careful explanations of arguments for the existence of God (including those of St. Thomas Aquinas), and his lucid account of the harmony of faith and contemporary science (including Big Bang cosmology and evolutionary biology). His book is a tonic for all who would like to think more deeply about their faith in God.”

—Michael J. Dodds, O.P.

Professor of Philosophy & Theology,

Dominican School of Philosophy & Theology