Table of Contents
Introduction ix
1 Answering Atheism 1
The Shocking Rise of Atheism 2
Is There Evidence for God? 5
The Kalam Argument 8
The Contingency Argument 12
The Moral Argument 16
Expert Interview with Robert Spitzer, S.J. 23
Tips for Talking with Atheists 24
Recommended Books, For Reflection and Discussion, For Practice 26
2 Evil and Suffering 29
The Best Objection to Christianity 31
The Threefold Problem of Evil 35
The Logical Problem of Evil 36
The Evidential Problem of Evil 38
Expert Interview with Peter Kreeft 42
The Emotional Problem of Evil 43
Answering the Best Objections 46
Talking Points and Tips 50
Recommended Books, For Reflection and Discussion, For Practice 53
3 Trusting the Gospels 57
Three Key Principles 57
Why Do People Doubt the Gospels? 61
Who Really Wrote the Gospels? 66
Did the Gospels Change Over Time? 71
Legend or History? 76
Expert Interview with Brant Pitre 82
Answering the Best Bible Critics 83
Recommended Books, For Reflection and Discussion, For Practice 90
4 Explaining the Eucharist 95
What Catholics Believe about the Eucharist 96
Where Is That in the Bible? 100
Eucharist in the Early Church 106
Expert Interview with Joe Heschmeyer 110
Answering the Best Objections 111
Talking Points and Tips 116
Recommended Books, For Reflection and Discussion, For Practice 120
5 Abortion 123
Understanding the Abortion Issue 123
The One Key Question 129
Trot Out the Toddler 134
Expert Interview with Trent Horn 137
How to Discuss the Hard Cases 139
Answering the Best Pro-Choice Objections 146
Tips and Strategies for Discussing Abortion 152
Recommended Books, For Reflection and Discussion, For Practice 156
6 Same-Sex Marriage 161
Today's Most Controversial Issue 162
What Is Marriage? 165
Why Marriage Matters 169
Three Marriage Facts 172
Expert Interview with Ryan T. Anderson 176
Responding to Same-Sex Marriage Slogans 177
Getting the Marriage Conversation Right 183
Recommended Books, For Reflection and Discussion, For Practice 187
7 Transgenderism 191
Why Transgenderism Matters to You 193
Understanding Transgenderism 198
The Catholic View of Transgenderism 203
Expert Interview with Dr. Michelle Cretella 207
Five Questions to Ask Transgenderism Advocates 208
Answering the Best Objections 214
Tips for Talking with Transgender People 219
Recommended Books, For Reflection and Discussion, For Practice 224
Conclusion 229
Acknowledgments 231
Notes 233