Evangelizing Is Good and Proselytizing is Bad

The Magis Center for Faith and Science


The Magis Center was founded by Robert J. Spitzer, S.J. On its website, it says

Our Mission: To explore and share the close connection between reason and faith as revealed by new discoveries in physics and philosophy.


Fr. Spitzer is promoting the arguments for God's existence based on the Big Bang and the so-called "fine-tuning" of physical constants. These are modern versions of two of the "five ways" from Thomas Aquinas. The "first cause" of Aquinas is what caused the Big Bang, and the "designer" of Aquinas caused the mass of an electron, the universal gravitational constant, and many other constants to have values consistent with the origin and evolution of life. My metaphysics teacher in college was Norris Clarke, S.J., and I was taught that these arguments are fallacious.

On June 12, 2015, I reviewed one of his books and posted my critique on amazon.com and ezinearticles.com (Fallacious Arguments That God Exists). I also reviewed to like-minded books about God's existence (Brer Barr and Brer Rabbit and Heresy and Pseudoscience). I also wrote an article (Why People Think God Caused the Big Bang), and published it on Academia.edu. In this paper, I attempt to explain why the arguments based on science are irrational. I also suggested the psychological reason so many people to think the arguments make sense. The Review of Metaphysics declined to publish the article but the editor in a letter dated January 8, 2016 said,

Dear Dr. Roemer,Thank you for the opportunity to read your essay, “Why People Believe God Caused the Big Bang.” It is well crafted and I am sure would command an appreciative audience. Unfortunately, given its present commitments, the Review is not in a position to accept it.John C. McCarthy, Editor


United States Conference of Catholic Bishops


Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith


Archdiocese of New York


Departments of Theology at Catholic Universities


Pontifical Council for the Promoting the New Evangelization


Ave Maria Radio: Build the Church, Bless the Nation


Order of Preachers


Pontifical Academy of Sciences


First Amendment Lawsuit Against Columbia University


National Association of Scholars


Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy


National Association for Science Education


BioLogos Foundation


Correspondence with Philosophy Professor at the U. of Central Arkansas


Correspondence with Richard Dawkins and Jerry Coyne


Interview on Ave Maria Radio on Lawsuit against Columbia University


Bishops and Cardinals


American Philosophical Association


Misconduct Complaint Filed Against Judge P. Kevin Castel



New York Civil Liberties Union and Attorney Grievance Committee