Can you all recomend some books?

[Tinkerbell222222]

Hello everyone...I've been studying Catholicism quite a bit recently, however it is rather difficult to find books that aren't attacking it in the Christian bookstores around here. I did find one book, Letters Between a Catholic and An Evangelical, that offers a more balanced view on some of the major issues that Protestants and Catholics devide on. However, it doesn't explain many things as well as I would like, since it is more of a debate than an introduction to Catholicism. (although, it has been quite helpful in clearing up some misconceptions I had)

So, could you recomend some books to me that might offer a good explanation of the Catholic faith and beliefs?

Thank you!

 

[Dream]

The Catechism of the Catholic Church would be a good one.

Anything you don't understand in it, come and ask it here.

 

[PolskiKrol]

Well, Cathecism of the Catholic Church is always dependable, but rather wordy;
http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/ccc_toc.htm
Depends on how good a reader you are

 

[InnerPhyre]

Anything by Scott Hahn is good, IMO

 

[Paul S]

The Catechism is a great resource, but it's more of a reference book than the sort of thing you sit down and read. It can be a bit technical, especially for someone who isn't too familiar with Catholicism. Get one anyway, and you can refer to it when you have specific questions about what the Church teaches.

A good introductory book is the Catholicism for Dummies, with the yellow cover. Avoid the orange Idiot's Guide to Catholicism, as there's some wrong things in there.

The books by Scott Hahn are also quite good. There's several, each on a different topic, including the Mass, Mary, confession, marriage, and I think a couple more.

 

[Dream]

A good introductory book is the Catholicism for Dummies, with the yellow cover.

I second that. I still use my book for reference.

 

[Tinkerbell222222]

Thank you all very much! I shall check out The Catechism of the Catholic Church and Catholicism for Dummies on Amazon, as well as see what I can find by Scott Hahn.

 

[krstlros]

Here are some of my favorites:

What Catholics Really Believe
Why do Catholic's Do That?
Liturgy Made Simple
Home, Sweet Rome
Why Is That In Tradition?
Where Is That In The Bible?
A Consis History Of The Catholic Church
Dogmatic Constitution On The Church (church docuument)
Constitution on Sacred Liturgy (church document)

 

[Filia Mariae]

Hi Hands and Feet,

I did find one book, Letters Between a Catholic and An Evangelical, that offers a more balanced view on some of the major issues that Protestants and Catholics devide on. However, it doesn't explain many things as well as I would like, since it is more of a debate than an introduction to Catholicism. (although, it has been quite helpful in clearing up some misconceptions I had)

I strongly recommend you disregard that book. It is put out by the vociferously anti-Catholic Harvest House Publishers and James McCarthy. He himself is bitterly ex-Catholic and is known for taking the words of Catholics and editing them to miscontrue the original intent. I've read the book and it is generally a poor presentation of Catholic beliefs. I apologize for sounding so negative but James McCarthy just sets off the warning bells and red flags.

So, could you recomend some books to me that might offer a good explanation of the Catholic faith and beliefs?

As others have said, the Catechism and anything by Scott Hahn. He has tons of books out. Rome Sweet Home is his conversion story, and he has books about specific topics. For instance, Hail Holy Queen is about Mary, Lord Have Mercy is about confession. A great book by him is called Catholic For a Reason.

You may also like Alan Schreck's Catholic and Christian or Kevin Orlin Johnson's Why Do Catholics Do That?

A great website resource is www.catholic.com

Thank you!

You're welcome!

 

[Tinkerbell222222]

I strongly recommend you disregard that book. It is put out by the vociferously anti-Catholic Harvest House Publishers and James McCarthy. He himself is bitterly ex-Catholic and is known for taking the words of Catholics and editing them to miscontrue the original intent. I've read the book and it is generally a poor presentation of Catholic beliefs. I apologize for sounding so negative but James McCarthy just sets off the warning bells and red flags.

Wow...I didn't realize that...Thank you for pointing that out...that makes me sad, though...I thought I found found a book that might actually be helpful.

Thanks also for the other suggestions and the website.
God bless!

 

[Paul S]

Here's a guide to the Mass, called Why Do Catholics Bounce on One Knee?

http://home.grigaitis.net/?doc=articles/guide.html

There's also a link to another document by the same author that goes into much more detail.

 

[bigsierra]

Catholic For A Reason - Multiple Authors, Edited by Scott Hahn

"By What Authority- an Evangelical Discovers Catholic Tradition" -Mark Shea

"Catholocism and Fundamentalism" by Karl Keating