Great Book for Catholics and Non-Catholics
340475
Anyone who believes in the truth should buy this book. I have had the pleasure of giving away some copies.
1524642
I actually bought the book on the strength of some of the reviews here. I'm neither a Catholic nor a Christian, in fact, but I found the book to be a real eye-opener. About what? -- About the rift that's been developing in the Catholic Church ever since Vatican II. This book should be of interest to anyone with an passing interest in religion, and in Catholicism in particular.

When I was a student (at Indiana University) two things happened, that touch upon the subject matter of this book. (1) I was hit on  by an openly gay, and rather persistent Catholic seminarian. I remember the earring he had on, with a cross on which there was an image of a crucified Jesus. I still remember just how stunned I was at the thought of a gay seminarian. Up to that point it seemed to me to be a contradiction in terms. (2) I remember a nun (a novitiate, I believe) handing out pamphlets in the Student Building at IU. I stopped to look over the pamphlets and chat with her. At some point, during the middle of the conversation, she told me, with a very grim face, that the Pope (John Paul II) was the antichrist. Up to that point, I thought I had some faint idea of what the Pope means to devout Catholics, so this really surprised me: A nun who claims the Pope is nothing less than the antichrist incarnate. These two events stayed in my mind, and I brought them up every time I had occasion to meet a Priest, which isn't very often. :-) What I found noteworthy, though, was that not a single Priest knew what to make of these: They haven't heard of gay seminarians, and "maybe that nun was crazy". Their answers didn't ring true, but I had no other source of information. But slowly, over the eyars, I managed to accumulate bits of information. I read about the sede vacantists, Bishop Lefebvre, the Society of Pius X, etc, and things began to fall into place.

I don't want to make any claims as to the authenticity of the descriptions in the book. Many of the people Father Martin mentions are only thinly veiled and easily identifiable by anyone with minimal interest in uncovering more details. But the book will explain a lot of things about the Catholic Church, that an outsider like myself would not ordinarily be able to understand. The book transmits very clearly the sense of frustration, alienation, and anger some Catholics feel about the changes the Church has been undergoing. It also explains various changes in the Church itself.

Even if each and every one of the hard facts in the book is false (which is not the case, IMO), the book is still valuable because it communicates very well the frustrations, emotions, aspirations, anger, sense of confusion, and lack of consistent direction. As a cultural and religious barometer, the story reflects reality. As to the rest -- it will be up to Catholics to make up their minds about that one.

I don't think the book is Great Literature, in the same sense of War and Peace or Anna Karenina, but I don't think this was Father Martin's purpose. He had something important to say about the state of the Church in this day and age, and his way of saying it is as good as any. The books is well-written, captivating, and communicates well the ideas at the base of the Vatican II controversy.
4528831
Highly recommended for anyone interested in the Catholic faith, learning about the Catholic faith, or a person wanting to better understanding of Catholicism. It is well written and covers most topics that are asked of Catholics to defend on their faith. I love the references it lists and even has excerpts that one can read. It gives a great starting point for diving deep into some of the questions in the book.
3283103
This is a very down-to-earth book that I really enjoyed.  It brings up some problems currently facing the Catholic church which could be offensive to some readers.
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
2202909
I was always curious about Catholicism but was embarrassed to ask....this book was very helpful, funny, but respectful.
Everything I thought I knew about the Catholic church was wrong. Very good book.
2738306
What a great book ! I grew up Catholic and was taught the rosary as a child but never really prayed it much. I never realized  how many people received answears to their prayers by praying the Rosary. After reading only a few true submissions stories of these people, I ordered a second copy for my Mom. She loved it also and even lent it to a friend who loved it. Mom just told me that we needed to get a copy for my 87 year old Grandmother! It is rare in these days to be uplifted by true stories  but if that is what you are looking for, This  book is for you. I recently told a Christian ( non catholic ) friend about the book and she asked to borrow my copy. I can't wait to  see what she thinks. I think that many non catholics would also love this book !
2019320
I'm taking Catholic classes as my husband and I are planning on having children.  The teacher of the RCIA class recommend this book and it is a great book even for adults wanting to learn more about the bible.  The bible can be hard to understand.  I also bought this book for a friend's son on his first birthday.  She loves reading him a different story every night before he falls asleep.
3899214
Coming from a non catholic, this is a great read and has cleared up many miss conceptions I had about the catholic religion, I had many similarities with the author and feel like it has lead me in the right direction. I will share this book with my family and friends and they too will enjoy.
690565
Thank you for writing this book, Karl Keating! You hit the nail right on the head with this hot and timely apologetics book! Filled with Biblical quotes and scriptural presentation for most major Catholic beliefs.

If you're a Catholic who has been hammered by the usual silly Prot nonsense, this may be a good book for you to start off with. For me, it's an easy and enjoyable read. If you've never picked up the Bible before, start there first, it's a Catholic book, first published by Rome.

If you're a Protestant, this may be a good start for you to understand the scriptural basis of Catholic beliefs. Hopefully, from now on, you can know what the Catholic Church teaches, other than what your pastors say that the Catholic Church teaches. In my earlier days, I've have held long discussions with "Bible teachers" from many Prot denonominations. Not a single one of them is honest or know what the Catholic Church teaches but they continue to teach their lies anyway. Apart from recommending definitive documents from the Council of Trent or asking you to read the Baltimore Catechism, Karl's book may be a good start for you, depending on how much you already know or don't know. First of all, this book is an easy-read, written for the common man, not dry at all, not just for academics.

If you're a persistent bigot of whatever form, you probably won't understand anything anyway. Sin clouds the intellect.

I highly recommend the 3-volume "Radio Replies" set by Fathers Rumble and Carty, published over a generation ago by TAN Book Publishers. They'll answer most FAQ from all anti-Catholic quarters, not just Prots. For contemporary writers, check out Scott Hahn, Jesse Romero, "This Rock" magazine or recommendations from the organization called "Catholic Answers".

Peace!

Recommended reading:

<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Where-We-Got-the-Bible-Our-Debt-to-the-Catholic-Church/dp/0895557967/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Where We Got the Bible... Our Debt to the Catholic Church</a>

<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Rome-Sweet-Home-Our-Journey-to-Catholicism/dp/0898704782/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Rome Sweet Home: Our Journey to Catholicism</a>

<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Reasons-to-Believe-How-to-Understand-Explain-and-Defend-the-Catholic-Faith/dp/0385509359/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Reasons to Believe: How to Understand, Explain, and Defend the Catholic Faith</a>

<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/The-Usual-Suspects-Answering-Anti-Catholic-Fundamentalists/dp/0898707730/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">The Usual Suspects: Answering Anti-Catholic Fundamentalists</a>

<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Radio-Replies-Volume-One/dp/089555089X/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Radio Replies: Volume One</a>

<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Radio-Replies-Volume-2/dp/0895550903/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Radio Replies: Volume 2</a>

<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Sins-of-the-Fathers-A-Live-Debate/dp/B000ERK65I/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Sins of the Fathers: A Live Debate</a>

<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Upon-This-Rock-St-Peter-and-the-Primacy-of-Rome-in-Scripture-and-the-Early-Church-Modern-Apologetics-Library/dp/0898707234/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Upon This Rock: St. Peter and the Primacy of Rome in Scripture and the Early Church (Modern Apologetics Library)</a>

<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Crossing-the-Tiber-Evangelical-Protestants-Discover-the-Historical-Church/dp/0898705770/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Crossing the Tiber: Evangelical Protestants Discover the Historical Church</a>

<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Born-Fundamentalist-Born-Again-Catholic/dp/089870569X/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Born Fundamentalist, Born Again Catholic</a>
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!
1819939
Excellent articles on various issues and persons of the Catholic faith.  I would recommend it for both Catholics and non Catholics.
1551169
I loved this book so much that I bought a more in depth book on Catholicism. He had practical, down to earth answers to common questions and objections. I was well organized. I frequently read quotes from it to my husband since he loves theology. It does an excellent of explaining the Catholic faith in a respectful way.
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.
3684103
Written by an anonymous Monk in the 1300s, you will find this book to be very different than many other Catholic reads. As a Catholic, I found this book to be refreshing and thought-provoking, and yet even more proof that there are so many different sides to Catholicism, Catholic thought, and Catholic practice. At times, the book has a very Eastern feel to it- almost Buddhist-like- and yet at other times, it has much more of a classic-medieval-Christian feel...

However, please be forewarned: (1) Even though this version of the book is translated into modern English, the sentences can still be rather long, and are not very concise at times (at least when compared to most modern English writing). So you may find yourself having to re-read some sentences, and/or contemplating the meaning of what you just read- which for me was worth the effort, but may not be for everyone... We are not talking brain-surgery here, but I think you get the idea. (2) This book was written a very long time ago, in a different age with different outlooks on the world- and I think there are strong indicators in certain chapters that the author assumes his readers will (for the most part) be people who are in some religious order of some sort from his time period. Consequently, some readers may find this book interesting, but not that practical for every day use in their lives. However, I also think that there is a large set of people, (especially many Catholics), who will find this book, in addition to being a fascinating read, to also (with its different approach) be very useful in their quest for deeper spirituality.

Sample (from one of the more concise paragraphs): ...Do not hang back then, but labor in it until you experience the desire. For when you first begin to undertake it, all that you will find is a darkness, a sort of cloud of the unknowing; you can not tell what it is, except that you experience in your will a simple reaching out to God. This darkness and cloud is always between you and God, no matter what you do, and it prevents you from seeing Him clearly by the light of understanding in your reason and from experiencing Him in sweetness of love in your affection. So set yourself to rest in this darkness as long as you can, always crying out for Him whom you love. For if you are to experience Him at all, insofar as it is possible here [that is, in this existence], it must always be in this cloud and in this darkness...

There are many chapters, but they are very short. Most will find reading a chapter a day a very realistic goal. I hope you enjoy this highly regarded classic as much as I did!
2089080
This is one of the best books on Catholicism I've ever read.  It's packed with a lot of information about everything from the mass to church teachings on many topics.  I picked it up at a bookstore (sorry, Amazon!) and couldn't put it down.  The writing is informative and even entertaining, but still respectful of the church (the author is a priest).  So now I'm ordering another copy for my nephew for his graduation.  The only feature I wish they added was a list of books for further reading on some of the topics (like the Shroud of Turin).
981170
Really enjoyed this book.  Her faith journey is very inspiring and she writes in a 'easy to read' way.  Great for someone who is unsure and has questions about the Christian faith.  She 'investigated' her way into the Catholic Church!