Book Review: “Why We’re Catholic:” An argument for the faith

When it comes to faith and religion, there are devotional books that appeal to our emotions, and there are scholarly books that present profound truths. There seems to be some type of book to answer any questions that a believer might have. “Why We’re Catholic: Our Reasons for Faith, Hope, and Love” by Trent Horn is first and foremost an argument for the Catholic faith.
 
The title of every chapter begins with “Why We” and ends with one of the many topics Horn presents: “Why We Believe in the Trinity” and “Why We Baptize Babies.” In each chapter, all through the book, Horn’s approach is pure logic and at the same time is Scripture-based.
 
He starts from square one with “Why We Believe in Truth,” distinguishing between objective truth and subjective truth, and concludes by saying, “It is contradictory to say it is true there is no truth.” Then, he settles down on “Why We Believe in Science,” which allows him to move into the idea of a creator. Here, he offers a classic “first cause” argument. Firstly, “Whatever begins to exist has a cause for its existence.” Two, “The universe began to exist.” Three, “Therefore, the universe has a cause for its existence.”
 
This kind of logical development is found throughout the book. It would be very difficult for anyone to refute his reasoning, and this makes his arguments very persuasive and convincing.
From postulates about God, Horn moves into looking at Jesus. In “Why We Believe in the Resurrection,” he debunks the idea that people who saw Christ after his death and burial were hallucinating.
 
He points to psychologist Gary Collins who wrote that “by their very nature, only one person can see a given hallucination at a time. They certainly aren’t something that can be seen by a group of people.” Horn cites Luke 24:36-41 and 1 Corinthians 15:5-6, verses that “confirm that groups of Jesus’ disciples claimed to see him after his death.”
 
In “Why We Aren’t Bible-Only Christians,” he looks at Sola Scriptura, the Protestant notion that “all Christian teaching, doctrine, should come from the Bible alone,” as Trent explains it. Very simply, he points out that “The first Christians didn’t learn their faith from the Bible because none of the books of the New Testament had been written yet.”
 
Trent’s scholarship is seen in his use of the writings of the Church fathers in support of his explanations. He gives us Clement, the fourth pope, to explain “the reality of apostolic succession.” He includes Saint Augustine “on being Catholic” and Saint John Paul II “On Mutual Sexual Joy.”
 
The book avoids being overly philosophical by including many short stories of brave Catholics like Father Thomas Byles, the chaplain on the Titanic, Saint Damien of Molokai and Korean War chaplain, Father Emil Kapaun.
 
Trent looks at all sorts of topics that are tied to our Catholic faith. He writes about Purgatory, praying to the saints, and Mary. He does not avoid sensitive questions like “Why We Protect Life” and “Why We Believe in Spite of Scandal.”
 
Catholics who are sure of their faith could enjoy reading this book to confirm what they already hold true and to expand their knowledge on various topics. Those who need a little convincing, will find this book an enlightening God-send.
 
“Why We’re Catholic” will leave all its readers feeling deeply satisfied to be members of this authentic and beautiful Catholic Church.
 
J.E. Helm is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.