“A
remarkable book…by Michael Novak…who writes with verve and distinction about
God, man, and the world. Impressed by the scrupulous restraint with which
naturalist philosophers refuse to read their fears or hopes into the universe
and by the depths of their tragic humanism, he has made a fresh attempt to
restate the case for Christian theism and to meet the challenge of naturalism
without sacrificing or diluting his own faith.”
Sidney
Hook
Commentary
“This is a
lively and valuable essay in philosophy from which a reflective, religiously
concerned reader can draw immense profit…. Anyone who accomplishes this much is
well launched in philosophical work.”
James
Collins
“Among the
many books about the approach to faith in God that I have read in recent years,
I have found this the most convincing and also the most moving.”
John
C. Bennett
President, Union Theological Seminary
“Novak has
written a rich… relentlessly honest introduction to the problem of belief. It
is a deeply personal book, rigorous in argument and open-ended in its
conclusions. There can be no doubt that Novak has opened up a new philosophical
quest for contemporary Christian intellectuals.”
Kenneth Woodward
Washington
Post
“This is a
book to ponder, argue with, and enjoy.”
Frederick
Ferre
Critical Reviews
“The
author finds a natural alliance between those believers and those nonbelievers
who are faithful to understanding, against the hucksters who compete with them
for the American soul.”
Dallas
Texas News
“Belief
and Unbelief is an exciting essay. The pleasure gained from reading a tightly
reasoned argument is matched by discovering a profound biography of the spirit,
Mr. Novak’s blood pulses though his concepts.”
Fred
Denbeaux
(Boston) Morning Globe
“A
carefully reasoned, logically structured and vitally experienced attempt to
discover (or rediscover) ‘the avenue of knowledge’ that leads to belief in God…
the author’s treatment is sincere, honest, reasonable and compelling. It is a
provocative discussion that will stimulate both believer and unbeliever… the
generosity of his feeling for those on the side of unbelief is open, full and
sympathetic.”
Robert
E. McNally
Commonweal