The Andrew Klavan Show The Man Who Journeyed From Cancer Back To Catholicism w/Christopher Beha
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Mar 18, 2026 Christopher Beha, novelist and former Harper's editor, recounts his path from Catholic childhood to atheism and back to faith. He talks about illness, love, mystical experiences, and why secular philosophies felt incomplete. Short, reflective anecdotes explore how hope, community, and personal transformation led him to return to practicing Catholicism.
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Skepticism And Belief Are Complementary
- Beha argues skepticism and belief aren't opposites but complementary: skepticism questions human knowledge while belief fills the gaps needed for action.
- He notes pure skepticism undermines practical life because total distrust of reason forces living by faith in some form.
Twin's Near Death That Shook His Faith
- Christopher Beha describes his twin brother's near-fatal car accident during their freshman year and the family's prayers at the hospital.
- The survival outcome intensified Beha's struggle with the problem of suffering and fueled his drift away from the faith he was raised in.
Facing Cancer Without Prayer
- Beha recounts being diagnosed with stage three lymphatic cancer in his early adulthood and choosing not to pray during treatment.
- He felt pride in holding to his atheist stance through the illness, seeing it as a test of his intellectual commitment.
