recommendations for books

[bkallen14]

I have posted once before that I have just recently been interested in joining the catholic church coming from a protestant background. My conviction has made me want to know more about the early church, history, tradition, etc. I just got done reading Rome Sweet Home and was wondering if anybody could recommend some interesting books for me to read to have a better understanding of the Church and my Faith. Ones that really go into history.

Thanks,

kara

 

[MParedon]

Building on a Solid Foundation
Bakh, Bakho, Daou

The Great Heresies
Hilaire Belloc

Early Christian Writings
Translated by Maxwell Staniforth

One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic
Kenneth D. Whitehead

Four Witnesses: The Early Church in Her Own Words
Rod Bennett


Hope I helped

 

[plainswolf]

Church History: This one covers it all from the beginning up to the 20th century http://www.tanbooks.com/index.php/page/shop:flypage/product_id/149/category_id/17/

Where we Got the Bible: Excellent source on how the Bible as we know it today came into being. http://www.tanbooks.com/index.php/page/shop:flypage/product_id/122/category_id/9/

This will answer a multitude of questions concerning the Doctrines of the Catholic Faith. Very short and right to the point, and easy to read. Cites the Scriptural examples and explains them: http://www.tanbooks.com/index.php/page/shop:flypage/product_id/311/

J.M.J.
Mark

 

[SamInService]

I'd also recommend this one--
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A...58/sr=2-1/ref=pd_ka_b_2_1/103-2370029-7680657

I read it about a year ago, and it was a fantastic introduction to how the very earliest Christians in the first couple of centuries dealt with Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition, the sacraments, politics, the arts, etc. A very enjoyable and accessible read.

God bless,
Sam

 

[Skripper]

A common struggle for folks coming from a Protestant background is the papacy. An excellent historical book on this is Upon This Rock

 

[nyj]

Radio Replies - 3 Volume set

If Your Mind Wanders At Mass

 

[NDIrish]

I've heard great things about "Triumph: The Power and the Glory of the Catholic Church: A 2,000-Year History"

 

[Skripper]

Radio Replies - 3 Volume set

Awesome book! For those who don't know about this book, what makes it so unique is that it is written strictly in a Q and A format and covers virtually every imaginable "objection" to Catholic teaching. The book is a compilation of answers provided by Fathers Leslie Rumble and Charles Carty from a radio show they used to host back in, I think, the 1940s (thus the name of the book). They constantly fielded questions and objections from Protestants to various Catholic teachings, on air. What also makes the book really good is that it has an index in the back listing all the different topics, with page numbers referring the reader to the specific pages that provide questions, objections and answers to whatever topics the reader may be curious about. The format is also great in that one can read either the entire book, or only those areas of interest. I can't recommend this book enough. Thanks, NYJ, for posting this.

 

[Alexis OCA]

Get your hands on this:

This Is The Faith
A Complete Explanation of the Catholic Faith
By: Canon Francis Ripley

Originally published in 1951, the book covers the nature of God, the nature of man, the meaning of life, the nature of religion, the sources of Faith, the necessity of prayer, the duty of belief, the consequences of sin, the Commandments of God, the Holy Trinity, belief in Christ, the Redemption, the supremacy of the Pope, the Mystical Body of Christ, the Sacraments, the Mass, the priesthood, devotion to Mary and the Saints, what happens after death, the devotional life of a Catholic.

 

[Maggie893]

In addition to these great suggestions, I would add The Lamb's Supper by Scott Hahn because the Mass is so integral to the Catholic faith. Also Catholicism and Fundamentalism by Karl Keating. This book was pivotal in helping me understand how I developed my biases against the Catholic Church while I was a protestant.The Cathecism of the Catholic Church is of course a must have for reference for you as you study terms. One of the toughest issues that face a protestant looking at Catholicism is the language. When a Protestant says the word salvation it's not the same as a Catholic saying it. A comparable word for the protestant word salvation in the Catholic church would be redemption. So it's important that you have resources to help you work out the language barrier. And of course we're always here!

 

[krstlros]

"The Concise History Of The Catholic Church"

 

[Veritas]

Get your hands on this:

This Is The Faith
A Complete Explanation of the Catholic Faith
By: Canon Francis Ripley

Originally published in 1951, the book covers the nature of God, the nature of man, the meaning of life, the nature of religion, the sources of Faith, the necessity of prayer, the duty of belief, the consequences of sin, the Commandments of God, the Holy Trinity, belief in Christ, the Redemption, the supremacy of the Pope, the Mystical Body of Christ, the Sacraments, the Mass, the priesthood, devotion to Mary and the Saints, what happens after death, the devotional life of a Catholic.

I actually have one of the original first printings of this book. I found it at a used book store and was surprised that the price was higher than the published cover price. I was told that it was a "rare" book and therefore, more expensive. "One man's trash is another man's treasure"!

 

[Diane_Windsor]

Early Christian Doctrines -- by John Norman Davidson Kelly

The Early Church (Penguin History of the Church, 1) -- by Henry Chadwick

Both are available at Amazon, and both are widely read.