Synopses & Reviews
Hailed as a new classic in faith exploration, this remarkable book offers a rare chance to eavesdrop on a conversation between a believing father and a skeptical daughter about God, faith, and morals. World-renowned theologian Michael Novak accepts a unique challenge when his twentysomething daughter Jana sends him a long fax filled with practical questions about life and religion. His answers -- warm, wise, and unfaltering -- serve as guideposts to faith at a critical time in his daughter's life. For her part, Jana is not interested in a scholarly essay but in straight and honest replies; she challenges what she doesn't understand, and she never hesitates to bat back an answer she doesn't like.
The result is a lively, thought-provoking dialogue that addresses the concerns of Jana's generation while also taking on the questions of the ages -- from the purpose of religion in our lives, to how "good" must a Christian be, to the problems of suffering, compassion, and the existence of God. Enacting as it does the difficult passing on of a noble tradition, Tell Me Why offers an illuminating path for anyone searching to embrace or deepen their faith.
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Rabbi Marc Gellman, coauthor of How Do You Spell God? A wonderful book....If all families had fathers like Michael Novak, all our children would be pious; if all our families had children like Jana Novak, all our parents would be wise.
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National Catholic Register ...one of the most compelling religious books of the past year.
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Jack Kemp This is the best explanation of traditional beliefs, Christian and Jewish, my wife and I have read in a long time. This is what the country should be talking about on the eve of a new century -- uplifting, nourishing, and inspiring to all.
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Patrick Glynn, author of God: The Evidence Tell Me Why is nourishment for the soul -- a book to cherish and share with your loved ones.
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Richard John Neuhaus, editor-in-chief, First Things Why hasn't this been done before? Obviously, it was an idea awaiting Michael and Jana Novak. Parents and children all over America should turn off the television, read this book, and then embark together on a similar conversation into the things that matter most.
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Michael Medved, author/film critic/radio commentator Tell Me Why offers a priceless experience to discerning readers: listening in on an intimate but profound fatherdaughter conversation covering the most important issues of life and faith. All parents -- and children -- of every religious community can gain from this wise and eloquent book.
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John Cardinal O'Connor A poignant story of honesty nurtured by love, the formula for enduring faith.
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Mary Ann Glendon, Harvard law professor Quite literally a godsend to those of us who are trying to communicate our deepest beliefs to smart, good-hearted, but skeptical young adults. Its subtitle should be: "Everything you want your son or daughter to know about God, faith, and morals, but were afraid you couldn't put into words."
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Elliott Abrams, president, Ethics and Public Policy Center Tell Me Why is a sparkling conversation between a father and his daughter about the deepest issues in life. As a father and as a Jew I found it compelling reading about the most serious issues of faith and morality. But this is no theology text -- it's a spirited debate that you will want to join. Read this, have your kids read it, and let the sparks fly.
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Ralph Reed, Jr., President, Century Strategies Michael Novak is a national treasure, and this book reminds us once again why. In the finest tradition of C.S. Lewis and other great defenders of faith, Tell Me Why is a stirring and stimulating discussion of every person's need for a relationship with God and His church in a secular age.
Table of Contents
CONTENTSJana's Challenge Arrives
I FOUNDATIONS
1 Why Does Religion, Any Religion, Matter?
2 Why Are There So Many Different Religions?
3 What Is God Like?
4 What Does It Do for Me, Whether There Is a God or Not?
II PARTICULARS
5 Why Is Our Family Catholic?
6 Can I Pick and Choose What I Believe?
7 But I Cannot Take the Bible Literally!
8 What Do We Mean by Hell? And Heaven?
III PRACTICALITIES
9 What Is Christian Sexual Love?
10 On Womanhood: Marriage, Friendship, Children
11 What About Abortion?
12 Do I Need to Be Mother Teresa?
The Last Word: Jana
Dad's Reading List for Jana
Acknowledgments
Index