accurate summary of what's facing the church
924102
James White's books are always enjoyable and informative to me and this one is no different. The church is facing some powerful realities and he outlines them well.
3625517
The main title is dopey. This book has nothing to do with prophecies originating from the Vatican.

It's actually a summary of the procedures, challenges and politics involved in the Church's response to allegations of miraculous events, faith healing, demonic possessions and other manifestations of the supernatural.

Chapters are devoted to major issues: exorcism, relics, apparitions, stigmata, various weeping and bleeding statues, etc. A particular focus is figuring out who ought to be sainted, which requires evidence of miraculous intercession.

Thavis handles this complex material with respect and balance. He provides ample room for the faithful to explain their point of view, but does not shrink from presenting the skeptical perspective. Paranoia, intrigue, coverups, conspiracies and outright fraud get suitable coverage.

Other books dive deeper into specific issues (the Shroud of Turin, Medjugorje, etc), but this is a good place to start.
4302007
Madrid provides a needed service with this book. He addresses the following subjects: 1) What is the Communion of Saints? 2)Classical Protestant Objections 3)"Me nad Jesus" Christianity Isn't Biblical 4)The "One Mediator" Argument and Other Objections 5)Praying for the Souls in Purgatory 6)The Testamony of the Early Church 7)The Veneration of Relics 8)Statues and Images 9)Does Honoring Mary and the Saints Offend God? 10)Epilogue 11)Appendix: Council of Trent Decree Concerning the Invocation, Veneration, and Relics of Saints and Sacred Images
This book has been given to many Protestant friends and has clarified a great deal for them. It is also very useful for Eastern Orthodox Christians, with the exception of the chapter on purgatory (Orthodox have a different understanding of the matter).
Other books of interest may include: Discovering the Rich Heritage of Orthodoxy, by Bell; Lossky's, Mystical Theology of the Eastern Church; The Experience of God, by Staniloae; The Encyclopedia of Early Christianity, ed. Ferguson. For a detailed account of Icons and their usage see, The Resurrection and the Icon, by Quenot. Enjoy!
4737157
I used this book for my Church History college class. It provides a good overview of the Christian church, highlighting key figures, councils, and beliefs throughout the various time periods. I appreciated the fact that I was able to read a chapter or two and have a good idea of what would be discussed more in-depth in my other textbooks for the class. Each chapter gave a good preview and quick look at each "era" in Christian history. The chapters are a fast read, and overall the book was enjoyable. Good value for a short summary of Christian history.
2564834
R.C. Sprout does what he does best here, teach. This is an accessible, clear presentation of the definition of the church.
1149467
Msgr. Kelly, well familiar with the key leaders in the American Church, chronicles developments here since Vatican II in great detail.  He observes that since the Council, people in key leadership positions too often hold views that are a distortion, if not an outright falsification of, the true aims of the Council.  Essentially, these views boil down to a denial to one extent or another of papal authority and Church Tradition, and the acceptance of relativism in faith and morals.  This change of view, so precisely opposite the strong orthodoxy that characterized the American Church before Vatican II, can be seen in Catholic colleges, seminaries, religious orders (especially the Jesuits), and (amazingly) among many bishops.  The results have been dire: a weakening of faith and optimism among the laity, fewer conversions and more "cafeteria Catholics", and great confusion as to the true direction and purpose of the Church.  Msgr. Kelly believes this battle between defenders of the Faith and those seeking a new faith has gone on far too long.  He looks to the Bishops and to Rome for leadership:  if they take a strong stand, rejecting half-measures, appeasement and laxity, they can do much to reclaim and reenergize the hearts and minds of the flock.  And, as Msgr. Kelly frequently reminds us, it is not merely a question of hearts and minds, but of souls.  Those who are taken in by the secular norms of our day, who attempt to reduce this battle to a political disagreement between "liberal" and "conservative" or between "freedom" and "obedience" make a grave error.  This is not a political dispute with merely material ramifications, it is a spiritual war upon which our eternal salvation rides.  This point of Msgr. Kelly seems much in need of making, since it seems that so many, even Church leaders themselves, seem so eager to miss it.
473283
Great summary of the role of elders in the church. I read this with my elders this past week. If anything he over plays his hand about this being the only way - but at least he is confident in his opinion.
1018850
Great piece of work on those claiming to be "prophets" and "apostles" (hint- there aren't any new ones) in the modern day "church."  I had some family members become involved in this odd movement, and take me to their very unusual church for a while until I left.  This book sums up why it is wrong, what odd beliefs many of them have, etc.  This is also good for people who might be in the pews scratching their head thinking "why is this person saying this?"  It is a good tool to give to people trapped in it.  Geivett and Pivec go into great detail about why there are no new apostles, etc.  They also expose many of the strange doctrines being taught, and some of the linkage between different "churches" who have the same ideas.
2049168
Kevin DeYoung is both clear, to the point, and fair to both sides of the issue. It is a helpful read to for anyone, but especially for the church goer who wants to understand the issue rightly.
3134233
Mr. Noll does a good job of explaining both sides with little bias of the communications that are currently going on between the Catholic Church and evangelicals.  This is the greatest social concern of our era, division in the Church, so I certainly look forward to seeing more works like this, as well as more dialogue between Christian faiths.  I didn't agree with all of his assertions, but the actual logs of dialogue are good for any to hear, Protestant or Catholic.
2679595
Although the text's approachability varies throughout the book, it is a well presented argument for liturgical worship.  The church has become a social club, not the worshiping community that God intended it to be.  The church has become like the world, not in the world.
1923306
Moreland does an excellent job outlining the issues which face the Western church today. He addresses the problems in academia and the culture war that has broken out as well as the focus of individuals and churches. It is cause for much reflection and consideration, both for the individual and where your church is.
4649812
This book is an excellent read for the serious seeker of truth of our origens in this world. These things are not spoken in the "Laodicean Churches", that are so rich and in need of nothing, God say buy gold from him. These stories were passed down word of mouth since Adam and suddenly they have been clipped from the bible, (The Canon revision, 325 AD)  there's a reason why; things have been edited and added which would make the church somewhat of a hybrid version of what the word of God says. For those who like to eat meat and tired of being Bottle fed by feel good sermons, please read this, it's a worthy book. Remember, this type of Church will be spit out of his mouth.
1696474
Due to the publishing date of this book, the reader must be careful not to use some of the facts and stats as current information. The editors did a good job providing for a good cross section of views from several different Practitioners. Also the reader should realize that many of the writers come from a similar denominational background. The historical and theological sections are very useful and provide the background for doing further research in the field of Missiology.
1493829
The author wrote a book about the very real flight from mainline protestant churches to churches that still stand for something. Everyone hasn't left. Episcopalians, for instance, will put up with any degradation of the Faith in order to continue to reap the social benefits of being an Episcopalian. My favorite illustration of Episcopal pew-theology is from a friend talking about her rector: "I just wish ++++ would stop talking about Jesus so much and talk about God once in a while." (!)

The author is up front. He says he is an occasional Presbyterian, and by the end of his study has not changed.

What verifies his stance for me and makes the book special is that he is reporting what THEY, his interviewees, say and think, not what HE thinks.

Sure, most of it is old stuff. The repudiation of the Nicene Creed by mainliners is, by now, old stuff.

Shiflett is describing a very serious turn in the life of our culture and our civilization for those who have ears to hear.

He is only reporting. He doesn't ask you to heed.
3048602
and become the seat of the Antichrist. The Church will be in eclipse." - Our Lady of La Salette

If you could only find time to read one book on the history of the Catholic Church, and are content to learn that history by focusing on the Church's councils, this is your book. This book is easy to read and a pleasure to read. It's very much a reference book as there is so much information.  And, if you could only read one book on the current spectacular heresies of the post-Vatican II "church", this is your book also. In addition to a lively and clear discussion of the twenty (legitimate) councils of the Church before Vatican II, there is provided sufficient information on Catholic dogma to make it clear that, like the thirty (illegitimate) robber councils before it, Vatican II was a false robber council promulgating error that has brought the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church into eclipse. Why? Because its "teachings" contradict prior Catholic teaching - despite the fact the Catholic Church always has taught that Catholic dogmas do not change, because truth cannot change.

"The apostasy of the city of Rome from the vicar of Christ and its destruction by Antichrist may be thoughts so new to many Catholics that I think it well to recite the texts of theologians of greatest repute. First Malvenda, who writes expressly on the subject, states as the opinion of Ribera, Gaspar, Melus, Biegas, Suarez, Bellarmine, and Bosius that Rome shall apostatize from the faith, drive away the Vicar of Christ, and return to its ancient paganism. Then the Church shall be scattered, driven into the wilderness, and shall be, for a time, as it was in the beginning: invisible, hidden in catacombs, in dens, in mountains, in lurking places. For a time it shall be swept, as it were, from the face of the earth. Such is the universal testimony of the Fathers of the early Church." - Henry Edward Cardinal Manning, The Present Crisis of the Holy See, 1861

Unlike Hilaire Belloc's&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Characters-of-the-Reformation/dp/0895554666/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Characters of the Reformation</a>, which provides vignettes of key players during the Protestant Reformation of 1517-1715, this book describes two millennia of the Roman Catholic Church's "tumultuous times" in combat against heresy and apostasy, against enemies within and without. The great strength of this book is it places the current crisis in its proper setting of macro-history rather than in a misleading setting of myopic Orwellian "breaking news" sound bites. See also on this topic:

1.&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Our-Lady-of-Good-Success-History-Miracles-Prophecies-DVD/dp/B00320P9BU/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Our Lady of Good Success History, Miracles & Prophecies (DVD)</a>
2.&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Popes-Against-Modern-Errors-16-Famous-Papal-Documents/dp/089555643X/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Popes Against Modern Errors: 16 Famous Papal Documents</a>
3.&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/The-Destruction-of-the-Christian-Tradition-Updated-and-Revised/dp/0941532984/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">The Destruction of the Christian Tradition, Updated and Revised</a>
3972716
Recent trends in the United States seem to point to a constantly lowering importance of religion in public life.  Yet religion persists as an important factor in elections and in policy making.  Grappling with the question of the interactions of faith and politics does not compare in importance to larger, eternal mission of the church, but political life is unquestionably an element of the temporal mission of the church.

In Five Views on the Church and Politics, Amy Black brings together five scholars who describe and discuss their own traditions' views.  Each of these contributes a chapter, to which the other four offer brief responses: Thomas Heilke (Anabaptist), Robert Benne (Lutheran), Bruce Fields (the Black church), James K.A. Smith (Reformed), and J. Brian Benestad (Roman Catholic).

As you might expect from this type of book, each chapter feels just a bit brief.  Each contributor covers the high points of his tradition, while providing extensive sources for those who want to dig in.  The responses highlight the differences among the traditions.  I was left with an impression of varied traditions that have distinctive ways of saying the same things.  Of course, there are differences among these five traditions, but there are many more similarities.

Five Views is a very useful volume for readers looking for a brief synopsis of these five traditions.  Black couches each in categories drawn from Neibuhr's Christ and Culture.  She points out that "these traditions overlap in many significant ways, have borrowed from each other's teachings over time, and continue to learn from one another and change from within."  Five Views did little to dispel my notion that while theological and scriptural traditions certainly inform denominational views on politics, the reverse is also frequently true.  Sometimes those who shape a denomination's position use theology and scripture to defend a political perspective.

At the very least, Five Views will be a useful book for seminary classes on Christian ethics.  But one hopes that lay people and clergy will use Five Views as a starting point for reflecting on their own traditions and the theology behind their own political views.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!