Moneybags Posted June 9, 2007 Share Posted June 9, 2007 I am creating a list of book recommendations for people seeking to learn more and convert to Catholicism. Here is the current list. What do you suggest I add to the list? And, FYI, I have personally decided not to put anything by Scott Hahn on the list. I want good, orthodox books suggested. Thanks. [b]List:[/b] Catechism of the Council of Trent (very complex but it teaches the Faith) My Catholic Faith by Angelus Press (193 chapters covering everything you need to know about the Catholic Church) Baltimore Catechism (simple to understand; highly recommended) The Catechetical Instructions of Saint Thomas Aquinas (complex) The Confirmed Catholic's Companion: A Guide to Abundant Living Catholicism for Dummies by Fr. John Trigilio and Fr. Kenneth Brighenti (Highly recommended) This is the Faith by Canon Francis Ripley (Also highly recommended) A Biblical Defense of Catholicism by Dave Armstrong Fundamentalism and Catholicism by Karl Keating Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N/A Gone Posted June 9, 2007 Share Posted June 9, 2007 [quote name='St. Benedict' post='1291194' date='Jun 8 2007, 10:59 PM']I am creating a list of book recommendations for people seeking to learn more and convert to Catholicism. Here is the current list. What do you suggest I add to the list? And, FYI, I have personally decided not to put anything by Scott Hahn on the list. I want good, orthodox books suggested. Thanks. [/quote] What do you have against Hahn? I think that he is very effective for a convert. Calling Hahn "unorthodox" be fightin words round these parts. That being the case, I disagree on many of these books you decided. [b]Catechism of the Council of Trent (very complex but it teaches the Faith)[/b] -I would replace this with the new adult catechism. It explains the catechism in a way that is very understandable to a new convert, using very good stories. Plus, it is based on the most recent catechism. Where as, for some reason, you gave an older one. [b]My Catholic Faith by Angelus Press (193 chapters covering everything you need to know about the Catholic Church)[/b] -never heard of it, not to be prideful, but that alone scares me. [b]Baltimore Catechism (simple to understand; highly recommended)[/b] -already addressed catechisms. [b]The Catechetical Instructions of Saint Thomas Aquinas (complex) The Confirmed Catholic's Companion: A Guide to Abundant Living[/b] [b]Catholicism for Dummies by Fr. John Trigilio and Fr. Kenneth Brighenti (Highly recommended) This is the Faith by Canon Francis Ripley (Also highly recommended)[/b] why again? Never heard of these ("for dummies" worries me) [b]A Biblical Defense of Catholicism by Dave Armstrong[/b] -I strongly agree here. [b]Fundamentalism and Catholicism by Karl Keating[/b] -No, never. WAAAAAY too aggresive for a convert. Remember, with a convert you are bridging their proto faith with the newfound catholic faith. You need white gloves and baby food. That being said I would include more basic things that not only include theology, but practice, and devotion. Before you said no Hahn. Before I suggest other books I would like to hear the reason so I do not offend you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldenchild17 Posted June 9, 2007 Share Posted June 9, 2007 [quote]My Catholic Faith by Angelus Press (193 chapters covering everything you need to know about the Catholic Church)[/quote] Definitely a must. And I agree with Rev... on the Keating book. I think he's definitely a little too rough for a convert to read, I don't think I'd find it a very good witness personally if I was considering conversion. He's a smart guy no doubt about that, but there are plenty of other more "mild" sources to offer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moneybags Posted June 9, 2007 Author Share Posted June 9, 2007 (edited) FYI: I am making this list not only for converts but also for lukewarm Catholics to use in order to learn more about Catholicism. [quote name='Revprodeji' post='1291222' date='Jun 9 2007, 12:24 AM'][b]Catechism of the Council of Trent (very complex but it teaches the Faith)[/b] -I would replace this with the new adult catechism. It explains the catechism in a way that is very understandable to a new convert, using very good stories. Plus, it is based on the most recent catechism. Where as, for some reason, you gave an older one.[/quote] I have decided that the Council of Trent, being one of the greatest councils in the Church's history, has a better catechism than the CCC 2nd Edition. The Catechism of the Council of Trent teaches the Faith completely with a lot of deep thought. I have decided not to put the new CCC on my list [quote][b]My Catholic Faith by Angelus Press (193 chapters covering everything you need to know about the Catholic Church)[/b] -never heard of it, not to be prideful, but that alone scares me.[/quote] I hear that it is an excellent book. Goldenchild also thinks the same. I'll keep it on the list. [quote][b]The Catechetical Instructions of Saint Thomas Aquinas (complex) The Confirmed Catholic's Companion: A Guide to Abundant Living[/b] [b]Catholicism for Dummies by Fr. John Trigilio and Fr. Kenneth Brighenti (Highly recommended) This is the Faith by Canon Francis Ripley (Also highly recommended)[/b] why again? Never heard of these ("for dummies" worries me)[/quote] I was given "This is the Faith" when I was in RCIA. It is awesome. The "dummies" series are also very good. The Catholic for Dummies book teaches the Faith really well. If you haven't read it, I highly suggest that you do. [quote][b]A Biblical Defense of Catholicism by Dave Armstrong[/b] -I strongly agree here.[/quote] Good. I'll keep it on the list [quote][b]Fundamentalism and Catholicism by Karl Keating[/b] -No, never. WAAAAAY too aggresive for a convert.[/quote] Since I didn't read it yet, I didn't know that. Thanks. I've removed it from the list. [quote]Before you said no Hahn. Before I suggest other books I would like to hear the reason so I do not offend you.[/quote] I also don't mean anything offensive by what I am going to say. However, I am a proud Traditional Catholic. And some people with beliefs like mine have called Hahn a "charismatic Catholic with a modernist slant". I have read his book on Opus Dei and own his book called "Reasons to believe" but have not yet read it. My opinion on him changed after reading this: [url="http://www.catholiccitizens.org/press/contentview.asp?c=39930"]http://www.catholiccitizens.org/press/cont...iew.asp?c=39930[/url] Edited June 9, 2007 by St. Benedict Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnydigit Posted June 9, 2007 Share Posted June 9, 2007 how about having the Impramatur stamp? not absolutely necessary to inspire but it might be worth mentioning for those who want to make sure they are reading something legit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EcceNovaFacioOmni Posted June 9, 2007 Share Posted June 9, 2007 [quote name='johnnydigit' post='1291352' date='Jun 9 2007, 01:13 PM']how about having the Impramatur stamp? not absolutely necessary to inspire but it might be worth mentioning for those who want to make sure they are reading something legit.[/quote] Just wanted to mention that the Dummies book has a nihil obstat and imprimatur. The title throws people off sometimes to what is actually a good book. It is written by two priests who are on EWTN. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N/A Gone Posted June 10, 2007 Share Posted June 10, 2007 Being that you are a trad you might not agree with the books I recommend. That being said, I think Theology for Beginners by Frank Sheed is a must Born fundamentalist Born again Catholic by Dave Currie is a "friendly" version of the keating book. And perhaps the best non-academic explaination of the eucharist I have read. btw, I consider that link to be prejudice towards converts. I am a convert and I have had situations where older catholics act as if I have a scarlet letter on myself because I was formally trained as an evangelical. lets have a challenge. I will put a team of converts together, you put a team of trads together. I would put the converts against the trads any day. We had to fight to get were we are. We are the immagrants in the poor country that came to the land of milk and honey. We appreciate it more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moneybags Posted June 10, 2007 Author Share Posted June 10, 2007 Realize that I am not a cradle Catholic. I went through RCIA at a young age, coming from a non-demoninational protestant background. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ragamuffin Posted June 10, 2007 Share Posted June 10, 2007 Surprised no one has mentioned [i]By What Authority?[/i] by Mark Shea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N/A Gone Posted June 10, 2007 Share Posted June 10, 2007 [quote name='St. Benedict' post='1291558' date='Jun 9 2007, 08:54 PM']Realize that I am not a cradle Catholic. I went through RCIA at a young age, coming from a non-demoninational protestant background.[/quote] Interesting you are a trad that has issues with protestants. Alot of the book you recommend is going to be based on the background of the person and what issues they are still going through. If authority is an issue there are academic works, and there are easy reading ones (Steve ray comes to mind) but it is a case-case thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sojourner Posted June 10, 2007 Share Posted June 10, 2007 I read a lot of Scott Hahn to get started. It was a good intro, not so tough-to-understand or rigid so as to be uninviting, but still meaty enough to draw me in and get me looking for more. He started me on a path that's landed me squarely in orthodoxy, too, not flirting with unorthodoxy. I'm happy about that, for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldenchild17 Posted June 10, 2007 Share Posted June 10, 2007 (edited) [quote]lets have a challenge. I will put a team of converts together, you put a team of trads together. I would put the converts against the trads any day. We had to fight to get were we are. We are the immagrants in the poor country that came to the land of milk and honey. We appreciate it more.[/quote] That's one of the saddest things I've read in a long, long time... Edited June 10, 2007 by goldenchild17 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnydigit Posted June 10, 2007 Share Posted June 10, 2007 [quote name='thedude' post='1291360' date='Jun 9 2007, 11:39 AM']Just wanted to mention that the Dummies book has a nihil obstat and imprimatur. The title throws people off sometimes to what is actually a good book. It is written by two priests who are on EWTN.[/quote] i didn't realize that. kinda funny yet serious at the same time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moneybags Posted June 10, 2007 Author Share Posted June 10, 2007 I haven't read these. Does anyone else recommend the following books: By What Authority? by Mark Shea. Born fundamentalist Born again Catholic by Dave Currie Theology for Beginners by Frank Sheed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laudate_Dominum Posted June 10, 2007 Share Posted June 10, 2007 [quote name='St. Benedict' post='1291772' date='Jun 10 2007, 07:10 AM']I haven't read these. Does anyone else recommend the following books: By What Authority? by Mark Shea. Born fundamentalist Born again Catholic by Dave Currie Theology for Beginners by Frank Sheed[/quote] Those are all solid. :-) Along those lines you might like: Reasons to Believe, Scott Hahn Crossing the Tiber, Steve Ray The Spirit of Catholicism, Karl Adam Deus Caritas Est (God Is Love), Pope Benedict XVI Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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