Most Influential Catholic Apologist

[thessalonian]

first of all I would assume you are talking about contemporary apologists. Augustine, Aquinas, Belloc, and Neuman, Irenaus and many others were all great in their day and somewhat timeless.
Not really sure if any of these compare to Aquinas. Having said that I think if I look at it from my own standpoint, "The Lamb's Supper" was the greatest faith building book for me because it attached the head and the heart regarding the Eucharist. Also I look at how many other contemporary apologists such as Steve Ray, Jeff Cavins, Mattics, and others that Hahn helped in to or back in to the Church that have influenced me. I have to give him some of the credit for those as well. Keating is big as well though. Madrid has done a great service to the Church.

[phatcatholic]

awwww man, someone bumped this thread. quit playin w/ my emotions!!! i thought likos was back!!!

anyway, my choice is hands down, no question, w/o a doubt Dave Armstrong. he basically taught me how to do apologetics all by his self. his website is what inspired me to make the reference section. he pretty much tackles every argument anyone has ever put forth against catholicism. he's the man.

[sweetpea316]

I put Scott Hahn. But that's just me personally...and I havn't read any of the others yet.

I love his books though. Very good for someone new to it all.

[franciscanheart]

having not read all of these people im not sure its fair to say.

[p0lar_bear]

Frank Sheed, quite possibly the single most influential apologist of the 20th Century. And most of the people on that list would tell you the same.

[Era Might]

Frank Sheed definitely!

Edited August 16, 2005 by Era Might

[sweetpea316]

*Note to self: Read stuff by Frank Sheed...*

[p0lar_bear]

[quote name='sweetpea316' date='Aug 16 2005, 01:49 PM']*Note to self: Read stuff by Frank Sheed...*
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Start with "A Map of Life" or maybe "Theology and Sanity"

[Era Might]

"To Know Christ Jesus" is great too. It's an examination of the Gospels.

[thessalonian]

[quote name='p0lar_bear' date='Aug 16 2005, 11:29 AM']Frank Sheed, quite possibly the single most influential apologist of the 20th Century. And most of the people on that list would tell you the same.
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Amen!

[thessalonian]

It's funny. I used to be active on the steve ray site. Someone started a thread like this and there were many who were there converting or having converted to the Catholic faith. One of them said that one of the anti-catholics there was the greatest Catholic Apologist because of his negative spins he put on things that were so easily refuted by Catholics. Many of the others agreed that anti-catholicism and spins did much to sway them to the Church.

[prose]

Scott Hahn for me.

He writed in plain english, and I love reading his books.

I think I have given everyone I know a copy (or lent my copy) of Home sweet Rome.

[hope4thenew]

scott hahn...
nobody explains it quite like him...

[Laudate_Dominum]

I couldn't decide so I picked Dave Armstrong based on the fact that I post links to his stuff all the time.

[StColette]

You know what I just noticed about that list lol There are no women.


hmmm *starts thinkin* :

[heavenseeker]

i dont think iv heard of any of them so i dont know.

[StColette]

[quote name='heavenseeker' date='Aug 16 2005, 01:33 PM']i dont think iv heard of any of them so i dont know.
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lol doesn't mean there won't be at least one someday

[cmotherofpirl]

He is not Catholic but C.S Lewis tops my all time list.

[EcceNovaFacioOmni]

Peter Kreeft. His writings solidified my belief in God and Divine Revelation. He's almost like a present-day Aquinas. Few years ago when I began asking "why do we believe," I wasn't looking for reasons that Protestantism was in error, but a case for Christianity and revealed religion altogether.

I know Kreeft was converted by the writings of C.S. Lewis. I'm sure I'd be a fan as well but I've never read one of his books. This school year though, I'm going to have to read [u]The Great Divorce[/u].

Edited August 16, 2005 by thedude

[Cure of Ars]

[quote name='StColette' date='Aug 16 2005, 01:20 PM']You know what I just noticed about that list lol There are no women.
hmmm *starts thinkin* :
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Don’t take my not listing women as a sign that I was a male chauvinist pig. And if I was (I'm not saying that I was) it was 2 years ago and now that I have lived with my wife for 5 years she has been able to domesticate me somewhat. I even put the seat down when I can remember.


I should have listed Rosalind Moss and Kimberly Hahn.