Matthew J. Pinto - Did Adam & Eve Have Belly Buttons?: And 199 Other Questions from Catholic Teenagers (Revised Edition)

I started my own advertising business fresh out of college. I wanted success and I wanted it quickly. Working 60-70 hours a week for my first three years, the fruits of my labor began to show. I was on my way to wealth and recognitionat a young age.

Butsomething unexpected happened I wasgrowing discontented with the way my Life was going. Living only for personal gain, i felt empty and shallow. I was burning out at the ripe old age of

I turned to my Catholic Faith to fill the void. I searched out a young adult group at anearby parish- It was there that i crashedhead on into Catholic truth. Dynamic young Catholics showed me there was moreto life than material gain. I learned that I could gain the whole world and lose my soul in theprocess (Mark 8:36).

I wasted no time in embracing the Faith. Intense aboutmost things, I began an aggressive study of Christianity. That first year, Imust have read or studied over 1,000 hours. I replaced my time-management andmotivational cassette tapes with theology tapes by Bishop Fulton Sheen and Fr.Ken Roberts. I even stopped dating to clear my mind from alldistractions. I was on fire.

Forthe first time in my life I knew who I was. I was a child of God, a Christian, a CATHOLIC! I no longer felt a void in my life. My identity, confidence, and purpose were firmlyestablished. A short time later, I sold my business to work full-time forthe Church.

Why tell you all this? Since then I have seen many conversions similar to myown. Through my involvement with youth and young adult ministry, I have seen hundreds of teens and GenXers come to the same surety of faith after beingintroduced to the powerful, life-changing teachings of Jesus Christ and theCatholic Church.

Theseteens and young adults were taught clear Catholic truth and they respondedenthusiastically. The Faith was not watered down.

Contraryto popular belief, young people don't run from the tough teachings (or getbored in CCD class)when Catholic truth is presented clearly and with conviction. Young Catholicsare looking for a rock on which they can stand. They're looking for a firm foundation in a changing world. TheChurch's teaching offers this rock-solid foundation.

Withouta firm understanding of Catholic truth, our young Catholics will flounder. Theywill be unsure about who they are and what they stand for. Our young Catholicswill remain quiet at dinner parties when Uncle Louie bad-mouths the Church.They won't speak up when their friends promote pre-marital sexor contemplate abortion, or when non-Catholic missionaries come knocking on thedoor.

But withapologetics training (the art of defending or giving reasons for one's belief),Catholics, young and old, will speak up. They'll be ready to explain, share and charitably defend theFaith (1 Pet. 3:15).

This is a book ofCatholic apologetics. It was written to equip young Catholics and give themwhat has been given to me.

It's composed ofserious questions from actual teenagers, including, believe it or not, thequestion chosen as the title. I try to give serious answers and presentCatholic truth in a clear manner. By knowing and living the truth, our youngpeople will be set free from the spirit of the age (John 8:12), and will have amore abundant life (John 10:10).

The book's formatmakes it an easy read. You can read straight through or hop around to questionsthat most interest you. Use the book at your youth group, R.C.I.A. or otherreligious education classes.

Pray before youread. If you are sincerely seeking the truth, God will lead you there. Simplyask and He will respond (Matt. 7:7).

Matthew J. Pinto