Rating: 
Summary: An excellent book on thinking about religion
Review: Thinking about religion is an overlooked activity. Many people accept or reject religion without having applied themselves to the difficult task of evaluating both faith and their particular faith. Other individuals think they understand religious conviction without ever having investigated a church or reasoned through a faith's claims. They are quick to accept a superficial (generally secular) analysis of religion. For anyone asking questions about God and religion this book is a fabulous beginning. The format of a dialogue encourages the reader to think critically about the text's claims and the argument for those claims is compelling. Some non-Catholics (already familiar with Michael Novak and his background) might wonder whether reading this book--clearly written by a Catholic--makes any sense for them. But I found that despite my own often different religious convictions (Latter-day Saint, or commonly, Mormon) we shared an enormous amount. They were not trying to mount a critical defense of Roman Catholic theology but a critical analysis of faith. More importantly the Novaks approach other religions from a very sympathetic viewpoint--an uncommon virtue. Anyone who has enjoyed C.S. Lewis and G.K. Chesterton will enjoy this book. That is high praise, but the authors deserve it.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent book on thinking about religion
Review: Thinking about religion is an overlooked activity. Many people accept or reject religion without having applied themselves to the difficult task of evaluating both faith and their particular faith. Other individuals think they understand religious conviction without ever having investigated a church or reasoned through a faith's claims. They are quick to accept a superficial (generally secular) analysis of religion. For anyone asking questions about God and religion this book is a fabulous beginning. The format of a dialogue encourages the reader to think critically about the text's claims and the argument for those claims is compelling. Some non-Catholics (already familiar with Michael Novak and his background) might wonder whether reading this book--clearly written by a Catholic--makes any sense for them. But I found that despite my own often different religious convictions (Latter-day Saint, or commonly, Mormon) we shared an enormous amount. They were not trying to mount a critical defense of Roman Catholic theology but a critical analysis of faith. More importantly the Novaks approach other religions from a very sympathetic viewpoint--an uncommon virtue. Anyone who has enjoyed C.S. Lewis and G.K. Chesterton will enjoy this book. That is high praise, but the authors deserve it.
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