Invaluable for Catholics who get tongue-tied in defending or sharing the Faith
935524
We all have friends, co-workers, and family members whom we would love to welcome into the Catholic Church. And we all have those awkward and sometimes painful discussions with them, when contentious or controverted issues come up in conversation and we don't quite know what to say or how to say it.

Thankfully, Devin Rose has written a book that eases the way for us.

I read the entire book, easily, in two nights. As I read, I became excited about how valuable it will be for those who search for a way to reach their non-Catholic or anti-Catholic family members and friends -- people who love Jesus Christ but do not understand, and in some cases despise, the Catholic Church.

I love this book because it is practical, clear, and systematic. With a clever mariner theme (we are navigating the Tiber River, after all, on our way to Rome!), Devin sets us on our journey by "surveying the depths" -- a short but excellent primer of the different Protestant branches and beliefs (so that we don't talk to a Baptist or a Pentecostal as if he were a Calvinist or a Lutheran, for example).

Then, Devin sails us through the common issues that are bound to surface when we talk to our Protestant friends, co-workers, and family members about the Faith: The question of the canon of the Bible; the Protestant pillars of sola scriptura (the Bible alone) and sola fide (faith alone); the Protestant belief in perspicuity (the idea that the "plain meaning" of the Bible is "clear" to any Christian); whether salvation can be lost; the truths about baptism; the objections to the papacy, Mary, and the "pagan superstitions" of the mass.

Devin also sets straight the course regarding the Inquisition and the Crusades; guides us on when to introduce the Church Fathers (and also the actual beliefs of the Reformers!) to our friends; navigates the moral issues of divorce and contraception; shows us how to speak frankly about the priest scandals -- and much more.

He does all of this while giving real life examples of his own interactions with friends and co-workers over the years. There's nothing better than being able to "see" how all this goes down in real life. You'll be equipped on the most practical levels, including advice on timing, suggested reading, and end-of-chapter tips and summaries.

What I love the most, aside from the clarity and accessibility, is Devin's insistence and focus on the preservation of and deepening of the relationship with the person we're engaging, even suggesting prayers that can be prayed together. Friendships should never be put in jeopardy just to score points in a debate, or to "win" a theological argument. If we approach our friends and family as if they were projects and not human beings with free will and inherent dignity, we push them further from the Church and harm the Body of Christ. And that makes us a jerk. No one likes a jerk, and jerks make terrible evangelists. :)

Great job, Mr. Rose! I can say without hesitation that every Catholic should have this book on his or her shelf!
3618199
As a convert of 35 years to the Catholic faith, I recommend this book highly. I was raised as a fundalmentalist but searching for much more. This will help converts defend the faith to family and friends who try to tear down Catholic teachings.
479698
Do you have a loved-one who emotionally resists the Gospel? Do you have an academic friend who attempts to refute Christianity every time you socialize with him? Do you witness on college campuses or the marketplace and get stumped by the questions from non-believers? If you answered in the affirmative then Greg Koukl's (MA in apologetics) outstanding book "Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions," is the apologetic resource you need.

Koukl unfolds the biblical warrant for evangelism and apologetics as he instructs the reader to utilize some essential elements of successful communication:

- Knowledge (know your case)
- Wisdom (rightly applied truth- an excellent tactic)
- Character (Christians should exhibit the Fruit of the Spirit and fine virtues.

Be effective, be winsome, and have a contagious attitude as you speak the truth in love. The efficient and scriptural witness must be built on God's word as it conforms to the specific unique individual one is engaging.

One of Koukl's most potent apologetic tool he dubs the "Columbo" tactic (ask thoughtful and leading questions)

Forasmuch as Questions are:

- Non-threatening
- Useful for they build relationships as they maintain the conversation
- Educational because the apologist learns from his interlocutor
- Ways to limit vitriol and pugnacity
- Instruments that steer the conversation to essential topics.

The author instructs the reader in critical thinking and in some basic logical fallacies. Additionally he confutes universalism, skepticism, and evolutionary thinking including theistic evolution. This volume is strong on technique, facts, and addressing the heart of the budding apologist. "Tactics" is written for non-academicians in an instructional and flowing style; great for high school and college students as well as Christians who yearn to improve their witnessing performance for the glory of God.

Erudite apologist James Anderson recommends this volume: "It's a great little practical book on Apologetics. It offers ways in which you can faithfully engage the unbeliever as it helps you identify the assumptions behind the unbeliever's outlook. Makes it amendable to presuppositional approach. I recommend it."

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2326618
This book is not for the faint of faith because it places Truth ahead of Charity, as it should be, and therefore casts a critical eye on the watered-down implementation of the changes of Vatican II.

Romano Amerio's book has been ignored for many years, so it's so exhilarating to rediscover it in English in this era of Benedict XVI.  Not only does the book chronicle from many printed and oral sources where Vatican II's application fails, Iota Unum is also a veritable catechism, moral theology and apologetics tool for those who want to know Catholic Truth from the  spurious "love" feel-good post-Vatican II culture that holds the Church captive until now.

I love it that Amerio never left the Church despite the heartbreaks.  This book, the English edition of which is published by Sarto House, a publication of the SSPX, should help pave the way toward reconciliation between the LeFevbrists (the "independents," "integrists," "conciliarists," etc.) and the Vatican.  I also think the chapter on the Liturgy should have been placed up front, since it's the most important for lay readers, but a book like this should be thoroughly read and studied and not just skimmed.

An earlier review of Iota Unum says that Amerio didn't have much of a sense of humor, but I guess that's all right considering the serious topic of his tome.  But I did find a few places where I just could not help but laugh out loud - In the footnotes, where at times the English translator had to set the author straight in correctly interpreting the quotes and putting them in context.

So the translator, too, shares in the five-star rating for making the English edition technically superior to the Italian original.
280076
Martin's text is a must-read for Christian, especially Catholic, evangelists as it challenges the widespread conception that pretty much everyone is going to be saved. In this work Martin takes two very important Catholic intellectuals to taskRahner and Balthasarand argues persuasively that a proper reception of Vatican II must involve renewing our understanding of the possibility of damnation for those who culpably reject the gospel.  While continuing to have immense respect for the great theologians Martin critiques, I have had to revisit my assessment of their soteriology in light of Martins thorough analysis

In sum, Martins work is a timely reminder that the true spirit of Vatican II is to be found within its texts in their entirety.  To be sure, Lumen Gentium represents a development with regard to how the Church views the status of non-Christians.  However, LG 16 also soberly reaffirms the real possibility of damnation and thus the need for Christian missionary activity.  The Church today needs a properly balanced pastoral strategy cognizant of both the universal action of the Holy Spirit and the pervasiveness of sin which poses a real threat to salvation.
3828696
This is one of the best books to come out of the Ancient Faith Ministries publishing arm, and it is a rare bird of a book. Orthodoxy in the Anglophone world hasn't always been the most engaging of other faith traditions, apart from people telling their conversion stories, or the occasional official dialogue among clergy of several faiths. And for that matter, Orthodoxy is often not treated with seriousness by other Christian confessions, and is sometimes dismissed as a sort of exotic Roman Catholicism with no pope.

In this regard, Fr. Andrew breaks new ground and seeks to respectfully engage major Christian confessions, theological "cults," and non-Christian religions. The book is hefty, though accessible. There are no footnotes, but that doesn't mean it doesn't pass the test of properly cited and vetted material, as Fr. Andrew is a bright thinker, and he includes references and citations within the body of the text. As a second edition, this book went through the scrutiny of public and private feedback before being redrafted to nearly twice the length of the original. Most of his claims that do not contain citations are widely known by adherents of those faith traditions, and are easily recognizable by the adherents.

And while it is possible to read it cover to cover with great benefit, it can also be sampled in sections. A priest friend of mine says he uses it as a handbook when counseling with mixed-faith couples in his pastoral ministry, so he can understand a little bit of where the non-Orthodox spouse is coming from. I have used it to look up basic differences in perspective between Orthodoxy and the faith traditions of my past or of my friends and family, and have found it serves well for that usage.

One of the strongest editorial changes made in the second edition was to treat Pentecostalism with its own chapter, rather than lump it in with the rest of Protestant and Evangelical Christianities. Due to historical lineage, this movement is usually treated as a subset of Protestantism, but reading Fr. Andrew's chapters show numerous significant differences in emphases of spirituality and doctrine, justifying a separate treatment.

The book is *fair*, and seeks to address "heterodox" faiths according to their own terms. The book is *respectful*, and free of the polemics that sometimes emerge in comparative religion conversations. Yet the book is *honest*, and also seeks to address those faiths with a clear Orthodox comparison and evaluation.

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in comparative religion, but I would especially recommend it to those Orthodox Christians who want to understand their friends, relatives, and neighbors who are not Orthodox. Similarly, for those interested in understanding Orthodoxy better, this is a really great place to get to know Orthodoxy in sort of a compare and contrast format with other traditions they may be more familiar with.

Full disclosure: I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Fuller disclosure: The author has become a friend of mine since the publication of the first edition, and I offered feedback on drafts of several chapters, and consequently am acknowledged in the book. Any significant criticisms I might have offered in this review were addressed already by the author prior to the book's publication.
2786444
52 questions are posed along with their answers.  Written in the question and answer style of the Baltimore Catechism, only this book really grabs the reader, and holds their interest.  I think this book will be of great interest to any Catholic that invests any amount of time into religion.  This reader has seen many quick perusals of this book turn into a regular reading session.  The questions are posed, many that are commonly heard and the book's answer becomes irresistible.

The Church's views on Extraterrestrials, Angels, civil divorce, etc, are all discussed within this book. `

The author is a well-known apologist, very knowledgeable.  This book has a lot of bang for the buck, really quite an eye-opener text
3975599
Forget about the infamous volume presumptuously entitled "Catholicism" by Richard McBrien of Notre Dame that distorts the faith. Scott's book gives you a real guide to Catholicism. He doesn't get bogged down in polemics and argumentative apologetics. He presents the Catholic faith as a whole in its passionate urgency about our destiny and the destiny of the world. Scott accurately presents Catholic teaching. He is orthodox. In addition, Scott sprinkles the book with quotations from great Catholics and from the Scriptures so that you are exposed to the best. For non-Catholics, the book is a great overview of Catholicism. Catholics should not hesitate to give this book to non-Catholics and to those entering RCIA. Long-time Catholics will also do well to read it to remind themselves of what they may have forgotten or taken for granted.
2528979
Actually, my title is a bit misleading since Dave has contributed a number of articles to my magazine "Hands On Apologetics" over the years. However, Dave's Magnum Opus has finally arrived and if you are interested in learning more about Catholicism, I highly recommend this book.
Dave Armstrong is no ordinary apologist. His expertise is in the details and that is what makes "A Biblical Defense of Catholicism" so valuable. Dave provides information and arguments from angles that you normally do not find in other Apologetic text books.
Dave Armstrong is indeed a "best-kept-secret" within Catholic Apologetics. However, I believe that this book (and the one to follow) will quickly remedy that situation.
116815
The book contains the vast majority of Scripture references ever used to support over six-dozen Roman Catholic teachings. It is intended for those making inquiries about the Catholic faith, for RCIA programs, for catechetics, and for apologetics. Full-text excerpts from the Revised Standard Version of Scripture are presented and are interspersed with short exegetical remarks intended to provide the reader with an understanding of how the various Scriptures provided support the teaching. In addition, several short essays on the relationship between the Church and Scripture, the nature of God's covenant, Scripture translations, how the canon of Scripture was established, and how the Church has historically interpreted Scripture are presented.
It is structurally somewhat similar to "Scripture By Topic" and "Faith of the Early Fathers," although it is unlike the two previous books in that it contains commentary to assist in understanding. Commentary is kept to a minimum - roughly 60-70% of the book is simply Scripture, organized by topic. There is some, though very little, reference to non-Scriptural early Christian authorities and to Magisterial documents. It is designed to be a one-stop shopping resource for answering over 90% of the objections which sola scriptura Christians have concerning Roman Catholic doctrine. With this book, you can sit down with a friend and walk with them straight through the Scriptural background on any topic, or sit down and discover on your own exactly how rich Catholic Scriptural teaching is.
Topics covered include: Authority (Apostolic Succession, Church authority, Papal authority, Tradition),  Christian Unity (the need for unity, the Mass, etc.),  Sacramentals (statues, ashes, incense, holy water) Sacraments (all 7 sacraments, both in their Old Testament prefigurements and their New Testament fulfillments, including ancillary topics like contraception, abortion, divorce, calling a priest "Father," celibacy, and the reason for it all - ! divinization), Saints (The communion of saints, Christ: the one mediator, etc.) Mary (all Marian doctrines and dogmas, including perpetual virginity, sinlessness, mediatrix of all graces, co-redemptrix, assumption, queen of heaven and more) Prayer (the Scriptural basis for the Rosary, litanies, the Hail Mary, the sign of the Cross, the Memorare, the Hail, Holy Queen, the Sub Tuum Praesiduum), Scripture (private interpretation, sola scriptura, the official Roman Catholic interpretation for ALL Scripture passages which have an official Roman Catholic interpretation, and the Church's view of Scripture, obtained by quoting official Church documents, etc.), Salvation (once saved, always saved, salvation by faith alone, imputed righteousness, salvation by works, purgatory, indulgences, hell, mortal and venial sin, etc.) The Trinity (Holy Spirit is God, Procession, equality, Christ: fully human, fully Divine, brothers of Christ, etc.)
All this and more besides. Orthodox Catholic content, adhering as closely to the Magisterium as I know how. The author (me) is a graduate student in theology, catechetics emphasis, at Franciscan University, Steubenville, OH.
1883458
In the first 15 pages of this book, the legendary Archbishop Fulton Sheen has managed to concisely outline of the most convincing reasons why there is a God and why it is Jesus.  For that reason alone, this is the perfect book to pass along to unbelievers and skeptics who are looking for answers.  Sheen also manages to explain the Beatitudes, slippery concepts which all of us Cradle Catholics learned in grade school but may not have learned well.  In addition, he weaves together Jesus' public life, passion, death and resurrection with scriptural passages that I always found a bit puzzling  (like why Jesus calls his mother "woman" both at the wedding feast and from the Cross, and why he calls his apostle Peter "Satan").  And he does all this in a fairly quick and easy read.  This is a must for every Catholic's library.  The cover art and paper quality in the Angelico Press edition is spectacular --  as is the bargain price!
4077485
For any one who has come from a "fundamentalist" background in to Catholicism, and are still fuzzy and or are still uncomfortable about Catholic teaching and theology, this book is a definite read.  Actually this book is a definite read for anyone who wants a better handle on the Catholic faith (instead of relying on hearsay, or listening to anyone who believes that Catholics who aren't "saved" aren't really a christian).

I received this book on a Friday afternoon, and was finished with it by the next afternoon, I could acutually put in to two words how I felt when I finished reading it, "blown away".  Coming from a fundamentalist background, Mr. Currie wrote this as an explanation to his family and friends in the "fundamentalist" style of writing, (which he explains quite clearly in the forward), which for Catholics reading this book might be an "in the face" kind of feel.  I came from the same type of background he did, so the language was pretty easy for me to follow (I am still trying to get the hang of the Catholic language).

For Catholics, this is a joyful affirmation of who we are and "what it is and why's" we celebrate the Mass, scripture and tradition.

For Protestants who are seriously thinking about becoming Catholic, this book will be extremely helpful in 1. Easing any doubts and questions, and 2. being able to help you explain or defend yourself to family and friends.

For Protestants who want a better understanding of their Catholic Christian bretherin, this book will help you understand Catholicism better, however, it will challenge the ideology of your theology.
3976492
I am a convert to the Roman Catholic Church and this book was a large factor in my conversion.  The Catechism of the Catholic Church beautifully articulates Catholic thought and duly challenges the reader to examine the often unconscious moral beliefs we have formed from popular culture.  I dare anyone to read this book with an open mind, carefully and thoughtfully, and not be moved by its words and its teachings.
4156488
I was received into the Catholic Church last March at the Easter Vigil.  My Catholic faith had become a central part of my life, but I was having a difficult time sharing my faith with my best friend who is an Evangelical Christian.  We had shared our faith so much in the past, but I found myself wanting to avoid her because she never quite understand what I was talking about because of her misconceptions of the Catholic Church.

I didn't want to lose her friendship and I wanted her to be able to understand where I was coming from.  I bought this book and read it before I gave it to her because I know what kinds of books she will read and what ones she will give up on.  It was a easy book to read, very straight forward, it did a lot of comparing between the authors Protestant faith and the Catholic faith, which I think will be beneficial for those trying to understand the Church.

I gave my friend the book and she was actually very excited about it, my prayers had been answered.  I am not trying to get her to convert, I am only trying to develop an understanding between us so that we can still share our faith with each other.  The fact that she wanted to read the book has already helped the healing process.
2276942
I read this book during the first two weeks of Lent, and it has born fruit in helping me read Scripture more reverently.
Fr. Casey starts by contrasting modern literacy with the monastic experience: we are surrounded by words (e.g., wander around the immensity of Amazon's website!) and much of the content is in soundbites. We get quick news summaries, advertisements, and so forth, which can be often read in a few minutes or less. Medieval monasteries would often only have a relative handful of books, which were often hand-copied over a period of years. If the monastery were to get a new book, it had to be for the ages, of great importance.
Fr. Casey is quite balanced in that he does not suggest that the Medieval times were necessarily balanced--he is just as happy for modern ages as anyone--but says that we can learn from this older, slower way of reading. Following this perspective, he takes us through the discipline of lectio divina, "sacred reading", and the pattern of slow, reflective reading.
The book challenges, as Casey is supportive of St. Benedict's maxim that once you select a book for lectio divina, that you follow through till the end, and not switch books in the middle. This is to respect that Biblical texts are often structured in unfamiliar ways, and the full meaning does not come out till you finish the book. It is also to stay humble: we are not going to cut off God's word when it is convenient, but let it take us where it wants while we journey with a particular book of Scripture.
That said, there is an entire chapter on various distractions and barriers that people may encounter while prayerfully reading Scripture--Fr. Casey is clear that this book is not Gospel itself, and that different people will need to adapt his ideas to their own lives. Like a good athletic training, he wants us to push ourselves and grow, but does take into account individual circumstances and limitations.
Casey gives a number of references for good study Bible editions and other English-language books and commentaries, giving one some concrete starting positions as well as good general advice.
On the whole, I found him a very balanced, friendly guide, and recommend this to people who want to read the Bible more deeply and prayerfully.
880750
Don't let the somewhat combative nature of the title fool you. Collins and Walls have presented a thoughtful, grace-filled discussion of substantive differences between Roman Catholics and Protestants. The book is hefty but reads quickly. The writing style is engaging and avoids becoming bogged down in theological verbiage (As both authors are premier scholars, this could have been a heady read).

The stated intention of this book is not to convert Roman Catholics to Protestants. Instead, it highlights differences between the traditions with careful and logical descriptions. I imagine some Catholics will be offended. I also imagine some Protestants will wish the authors were more combative than they are. Instead, Collins and Walls invite readers to use their own God-given ability to reason why they believe what they do. Whether the issue is Mariology, ecclesiology, the Eucharist, or others, the authors have definitely done their homework.

Collins and Walls are committed, evangelical Christians who are not afraid to ask tough questions about their own traditions. However, they also invite Roman Catholics to ask tough questions, as well. I'm an evangelical Christian with extensive experience with Roman Catholic communities. As I read this book I found myself asking real questions about my own beliefs. By the end of the book, however, I felt strengthened in my own theological tradition.

I pray for substantive unity in the global church. This book highlights how it could happen - but also the issues that may hinder that reality. For that reason and others, "Roman but not Catholic" is worth every penny.
4950680
This book is excellent. We started it as part of Confirmation prep for one of our children. My husband and I have both enjoyed it as much as our 14-year-old. It is very thoughtfully presented, true to the Catechism but not in any way out of touch or stuffy. The question/answer format is very useful. You can pick it up and put it down reading bite-sized chunks ... which is kind of what you have to do because it's so full of thought-provoking info. Highly recommend for anyone looking to learn more about their Catholic faith.