Jacob's Ladder: Ten Steps to Truth

by Peter Kreeft

There are ten important questions everyone should ask; and the answers to these questions, which lead to ultimate truth, are a matter of reason, not of faith.Well-known Catholic philosopher and writer Peter Kreeft tackles each of these questions in a logical step-by-step way, like climbing the rungs of a ladder. Because questions are best answered by dialogue, Kreeft answers these fundamental questions in an imaginary conversation between two very different people who meet at the beach.

Kreeft's characters begin at the beginning, at the bottom of the ladder, which is the passion for truth. When it comes to the most important questions a person can ask, no mere interest in philosophical dabbling will do. The passion for truth does not stop there, however, but carries the reader from one page to the next in this thought-provoking adventure of the mind.

Among the topics, or "steps," that Kreeft's characters delve into include:

Do you have the passion to know?
Does truth exist?
What is the meaning of life?
What is love, and why is it so important for our lives?
If there is a God, what proof is there for his existence?
Has God revealed himself to us in a personal way?

And many other important questions and topics to help climb the ladder to the truth about life.

Genres: Philosophy, Catholic, Theology, Christianity, Religion, Fiction

160 pages, Paperback

First published February 28, 2013

About the author

Peter Kreeft is an American philosopher and prolific author of over eighty books on Christian theology, philosophy, and apologetics. A convert from Protestantism to Catholicism, his journey was shaped by his study of Church history, Gothic architecture, and Thomistic thought. He earned his BA from Calvin College, an MA and PhD from Fordham University, and pursued further studies at Yale. Since 1965, he has taught philosophy at Boston College and also at The King’s College. Kreeft is known for formulating “Twenty Arguments for the Existence of God” with Ronald K. Tacelli, featured in their Handbook of Christian Apologetics. A strong advocate for unity among Christians, he emphasizes shared belief in Christ over denominational differences.

Reviews

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Jacob’s Ladder: Ten Steps to Truth, popular Catholic philosopher and writer Peter Kreeft brilliantly tackles the truth of life via two fictional characters with different philosophies who explore ten important questions, which lead to truth. The two women meet daily on a beach, where their discussion begins at the bottom rung of the ladder, passion, and climb up the other nine rungs of the ladder – truth, meaning, love, principles, God, Jews, Jesus, Catholics, and authority – one step at a time, to discover truth.

The year is 1977 and the characters are Libby Rawls, a twenty-three year-old woman who has just resigned from the Massachusetts Department of Social Services and a slightly more mature woman of mixed race (My mind’s eye kept picturing her as a Queen Latifa/Halle Berrie/Elizabeth Taylor composite) who is known as “Mother” by the locals. Libby is already burnt out and cynical about her life as a young adult and needs some mothering, as well as some spiritual direction and “Mother” is the wise woman in her world God has chosen to direct her.

Peter Kreeft glides through the dialogue of these two characters, making them appear so real and appealing. My eyes were glued to each page, wondering what they would say next and what their reactions and responses would be to each point of discussion on the ladder. I was delightfully entertained and even amused, at times, by their activities, and enlightened by their conversation with one another. This is an inspiring book, which you need to read carefully and meditatively, letting the ideas presented open your mind and heart to the truth. Some of the questions it answers are: What is the meaning of life? What is love, and why is it so important for our lives? If there is a God, what proof is there for his existence?

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this imaginative, ingenious and illuminating book, which is filled with excellent explanations of life’s most crucial questions. It is a must-read for all those who seek the truth. I highly recommend it.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's hard to give a Peter Kreeft book anything less than 5 stars. Simply brilliant. Brilliantly simple. In conversation-style, Kreeft shows that the logical steps to belief in God and 100% loyalty to His Son's Church are really not that complicated. Intellectually, anyway. Emotions are another matter, of course.

[Steve Penner · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I have enjoyed Kreeft in the past and I generally enjoyed this one, the ninth rung of the ladder on Catholicism was rather off-putting if not offensive. He uses the same Lewisian argument on Christ's legitimacy for the Catholic church being the only true church. Thus the Catholic church is crazy, deceitful or what it claims to be--the only true recipient of Christ's authority. I don't vote for the third choice. It was an interesting argument in light of much of the rest of the book and Kreeft's assertions to be broadly ecumenical. Rather disappointing, at least on this point.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book had a very unusual writing style for a work of non-fiction. The narrative style was that of a conversation between two people. It gave me "food for thought" as I am frequently asked questions, this book answered. Practicing & lapsed Catholics alike have these types of questions all the time. They look for answers in bible study, at Mass, in confession & in seminars. I think believers & those "on the fence" will benefit greatly from reading this book.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Not only does it lead to 10 truths but demonstrates the importance of reasoning in religion and how the two are comparable. I will read it again sometime. So far this book is my favorite Peter Kreeft book.

[Jeff Breiwick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book - through dialogue 8. Dialogue 9 (and somewhat less so 10) was a "salesman's pitch" for Catholicism.

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good. Sometimes dry. I appreciated hearing his perspective.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book literally changed my life. It lays out belief in God up to Catholicism in 10 consecutive, logical arguments. Fantastic!

[Becca Brady]

Interesting fictional dialogue to help bring these concepts home on a personal level and shed light on the common intellectual and spiritual plight of our peers.

[Elkaza · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a little disappointed with this book, as I usually like Kreeft’s books, as, I could never really get into the story, or the characters. Sure, it’s a fiction tale, attempting to explain fundamental questions based around philosophy debate and truths that have shaped our western culture overtime. However, I felt rather bored and uninterested with the plot. Maybe, because I have all ready study these subjects and topics within my university degree. And, I already have a solid faith, not like Libby. Yeah, I was hoping a lot more with this book, and felt there should have been a few more chapters like how beauty is link to truth etc. Anyway, this book may be very useful to students who are starting off with their theology and philosophy disciplines. And, would make a great play. However, I felt my time was wasted with this book, even taking notes, attempting to make more more sense of it, but couldn't. So, as some say – That’s all.

[Jazzy Bui · Rating 3 out of 5]

As much as I appreciate some parts of the book, especially the part about love. The way it was written seems too much like a salesman's pitch.

[Philip · Rating 4 out of 5]

As is so often the case: the truths are simple, but the overcoming of the fear to climb, is not. This is a book worth reading, contemplating and practicing. Make the climb.

[cadfael · Rating 2 out of 5]

The mother figure in this book reminded me of my years in compulsory public education. Would not recommend.

[Rory Fox · Rating 3 out of 5]

Peter Kreeft sets out to answer the question of why anyone in the twenty first century could believe that Catholicism is ‘the truth, the facts, the divinely Authorized data.” (Kindle Loc 23). This is a clever book, skilfully weaving philosophical issues like scepticism and deconstructionism into an easily accessible dialogue format. Ultimately, however, its short 160 page format means that it just doesn’t provide the detail to rationally justify its conclusions.

For example, scepticism is dismissed as contradicting itself by saying that ‘I’m certain there is no certainty’ (273). Yes, Academic Scepticism was accused of this, but Pyrrhonist sceptics were so unsure of anything, that they were also unsure of their own scepticism. Dismissing just one type of scepticism does not ‘solve’ the problem of scepticism.

The central argument for theism proceeds with a form of Intuitionist Pascal’s Wager because the ‘heart has its reasons’ (426). Love is bigger than humans: you don’t make it, it makes you’ (1119). This means that you do not need a proof because if a scientist wants to marry an equation then that needs proof, but marrying a person needs courageous love, not proof (1150). Love is the leap of faith (1167).

Those set of claims make a lot of assumptions which need further justification. For example Pascal’s Wager is all well and good, but Pascal was a Jansenist, not an orthodox Catholic and so his argument does not necessarily work for Catholicism. He thought that not believing in God would carry the consequence of an infinite loss (ie eternal damnation), so wagering for faith was in your interest. Catholics do not believe that everyone is damned if they do not believe in God, so the question has to arise whether there is still the same impetus to wager in favour of faith?

And Leaps of (loving) faith do not resolve the issues, or provide a rational argument for belief in God. People can leap themselves into the dangers of destructive cults, so there is still a need for theistic argument to make sure that any leaping is morally prudent.

The argument to Christianity is essentially a version of CS Lewis’ claim that Jesus said he was God and he must be either a liar, a lunatic or God (1416). Yes, that is one set of possibilities, but it is also possible for people to be honestly mistaken without being mad or bad. So, other apologists will typically appeal to something like the Resurrection as a justification proving Jesus’ claims. However, there are also issues about the historicity of the gospels which need addressing. Jumping straight from ‘Jesus said…’ to ‘… therefore he is God…’ makes too many assumptions and jumps for it to be a convincing argument in favour of Jesus, or Christianity.

Assuming that Jesus is God (and that Christianity is true) the author claims that Catholicism is the true version of Christianity because its practices go back 2000 years whereas Protestantism was an artificial change of practices 500 years ago (1605). In particular, the author insists that Protestantism has an internal incoherence because it asserts that doctrines like the Trinity can be found in the bible, but not doctrines like the Eucharist (1718) and it has no criteria to rationally justify such different perspectives. This means that Protestantism is effectively a kind of fallacy of assertion.

Even if Protestantism is problematic in the way that the author suggests, that does not prove that Catholicism is true. A critic could respond by saying that they are both false, especially as the arguments for Jesus’ status are insufficiently detailed enough to justify Christianity, rather than a different faith.

Overall this is an interesting book which connects a range of ideas in thoughtful ways, but it is frustratingly incomplete: providing an impressionistic sketch of an argument, rather than the argument itself.