Does God Exist?: A Socratic Dialogue on the Five Ways of Thomas Aquinas

I'm a 16-year old senior high school student that's interested in knowing the works of Aquinas. But what I struggle with the most in reading his works is language. For me, I find him so complicated simply because I don't understand the language he uses. But boy! This book made the 5 ways so simple that I would recommend this to anyone interested in Natural Theology, especially to the young ones like me. Not only is it simple, it's also entertaining and not boring. More power to you both, Mr. Fradd and Mr. Delfino!

Matt Fradd and Robert Delfino do a masterful job of explaining and defending dense, philosophical arguments in an exciting and interesting dialogue format. The dialogue is not forced and reads like a genuine encounter between two intellectuals interested in talking about God.Along the way, Fradd and Delfino combat all of the common objections you are likely to hear in response to St. Thomas' Five Ways. To name a few:- If everything has a cause, then what caused God?- How do we know the first cause is God?- Couldn't there be multiple Gods?- These arguments don't show the Bible is true.- How do we know all five ways are pointing to the same creator?Fradd and Delfino interact with popular atheists like Richard Dawkins, Lawrence Krauss, as well as the esteemed atheist philosopher J.L. Mackie. They show how their objections, especially Dawkins, miss the mark very badly. Also, they bring in the helpful work of other Thomists to supplement Aquinas' commentary in the summa.The chapter on metaphysical jargon is extremely helpful, especially to those who are new to the subject. It's also nice that they include a summary chapter of the 5 ways apart from dialogue format.Overall, this book is the most interesting, engaging, and exciting way of learning the Five Ways of St. Thomas Aquinas.

Matt Fradd and Robert Delfino’s book is a great introduction for those, perhaps not as well versed in the heavy philosophical jargon utilised in Aquinas’ Summa Theologiae, it presents the 5 Ways of St Thomas in an interesting and easy to understand format. Definitely well worth reading, it does an excellent job at explaining the 5 ways and I can not recommend it more for anyone seeking to understand the Angelic Doctor’s arguments for God’s existence.

Perfectly challenging, but easy enough for anyone to follow.I came away with a better understanding of why it;s not "God of the gaps," but instead "scientism of the gaps." In other words, atheists I speak with often refer to the "science may one day show us how something came from nothing," but the use of reason by Thomas Aquinas, and as presented in this book, prove why that cannot be the case.

It’s an excellent introduction to Aquinas’s 5 ways, using dialogue between a Thomist and an atheist in a coffeshop. If you’re interested in engaging the 5 ways but overwhelmed by technical jargon or whatever, this is a good entry point.

As one who did his Ph.D. dissertation on Aquinas's Second Way, this book is great! I wish I had it back then, if for no other reason (though there are other reasons) than for the great, down-to-earth illustrations of the otherwise complex philosophical points.

Great book! Wonderful summary of the Five Ways! Just wish it had a more inviting cover to entice younger readers—as that’s who seems to be the target audience. Have already given away multiple copies.

I have always understood the Five Ways in my own head, however, this book has given me the tools and vocabulary to explain it to my children. It breaks down these concepts into simple and comprehensible terms. It also brings up other arguments that I haven't heard before.