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Books on Religion - Catholicism, Christianity
Posted on 8/28/17 at 7:33 am
Posted on 8/28/17 at 7:33 am
Can anyone reccomend some good books on Christianity and/or Catholicism? The history, the evolution the church and beliefs, etc.
I'm not necessarily looking for a Joel Osteen "You Can Do It" source. Moreso, I would like a scholastical, textbook-like approach written by an astute scholar on the subject. I'm looking for a pensive and historical approach. Something to induce a well-rounded, thoughtful approach that everyone can appreciate and enjoy.
I'm not looking persuade the incredulous or dissuade the faithful, I'm just looking to learn more.
I'm not necessarily looking for a Joel Osteen "You Can Do It" source. Moreso, I would like a scholastical, textbook-like approach written by an astute scholar on the subject. I'm looking for a pensive and historical approach. Something to induce a well-rounded, thoughtful approach that everyone can appreciate and enjoy.
I'm not looking persuade the incredulous or dissuade the faithful, I'm just looking to learn more.
This post was edited on 8/28/17 at 9:13 am
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Posted on 8/28/17 at 9:13 am to 12Pence
Depending on how basic you want to get, Church History in Plain Language and the Zondervan Handbook to the History of Christianity are introductions to the subject.
They are available for less than $10 on Christianbook.com, which also has reviews and excerpts. They also have more in depth books if you prefer, and seem to be running a big sale.
They are available for less than $10 on Christianbook.com, which also has reviews and excerpts. They also have more in depth books if you prefer, and seem to be running a big sale.
Posted on 8/29/17 at 4:41 pm to 12Pence
Church History in Plain Language by Bruce Shelley
The Roman Catholic Controversy by James White
The Zondervan "white books" that have been mentioned are decent as references.
If you want church history from a Protestant perspective checkout sites like Reformation Trust and Crossway.
Catholics don't write like Protestants write so I'm not sure where to find their stuff. They're not as big on scholarship.
ETA: oh how could I forget...anything by diarmaid macculloch (sp?) will be your best bet. He's the foremost authority on church history and he's a great neutral source. The only problem is that his stuff isn't entry level.
The Roman Catholic Controversy by James White
The Zondervan "white books" that have been mentioned are decent as references.
If you want church history from a Protestant perspective checkout sites like Reformation Trust and Crossway.
Catholics don't write like Protestants write so I'm not sure where to find their stuff. They're not as big on scholarship.
ETA: oh how could I forget...anything by diarmaid macculloch (sp?) will be your best bet. He's the foremost authority on church history and he's a great neutral source. The only problem is that his stuff isn't entry level.
This post was edited on 8/29/17 at 4:46 pm
Posted on 8/29/17 at 5:23 pm to bayoubengals88
quote:
They're not as big on scholarship.
I can't speak for who's bigger in this arena, but can say Catholics like Aquinas, Bonaventure and Augustine and the other "Doctors of the Church" provided the underpinning for not only modern theology, but also much of modern philosophy in general. There are numerous modern-day Catholic scholars, from the pope himself, to the many cardinals and other clergy dedicated to research and scholarship, to the many modern Catholic theologians and philosophers who hold posts at major universities.
There is literally an endless amount of Catholic theology out there. The foundation of the Catholic Church (the Catechism) is essentially a scholarly work backed by scripture and we even have our own word for Catholic scholarship and instruction (catechesis). One reason I'm Catholic today is due to how impressed I've become with the intellectual rigor of the Catholic Church going back centuries.
Posted on 8/29/17 at 5:41 pm to 12Pence
Here's a second vote for Diarmaid MacCulloch. His The Reformation should be required reading for all Protestants. One of the best historical works I've ever read on any subject.
Posted on 8/29/17 at 11:16 pm to 12Pence
Who Is This Man? by John Ortberg is a fantastic book, although it does lean towards apologetics. It ties together all of the cultural historical significance of Jesus and the many ways Christianity has shaped the modern world. Fascinating and insightful.
Posted on 8/30/17 at 8:53 am to RedStickBR
Redstick: your points are true, but the fundamental difference between Catholics and Protestants have caused Protestants to be the more prolific and visible writers since Wycliffe (~1380).
The Jesuits and their commitment to preaching/teaching/writing was a direct response to the overwhelming scholarship, confessions, and catechisms of Protestants during the first half of the 16th century.
Take Calvin alone...his 22 volume commentary on the Bible and Institutes of the Christian Religion are about as exhaustive of a systematic theology that anyone could want.
I'm not discounting Augustine or Aquinas's summa theologica (both who I'd say align more with modern Protestants), but since the split the volume of Protestant scholarship is undeniable...even into the 21st century.
Where's the Catholic MacArthur, Sproul, Piper, Packer, Edwards, Spurgeon, AW Pink...the list is hundreds of names long.
The Jesuits and their commitment to preaching/teaching/writing was a direct response to the overwhelming scholarship, confessions, and catechisms of Protestants during the first half of the 16th century.
Take Calvin alone...his 22 volume commentary on the Bible and Institutes of the Christian Religion are about as exhaustive of a systematic theology that anyone could want.
I'm not discounting Augustine or Aquinas's summa theologica (both who I'd say align more with modern Protestants), but since the split the volume of Protestant scholarship is undeniable...even into the 21st century.
Where's the Catholic MacArthur, Sproul, Piper, Packer, Edwards, Spurgeon, AW Pink...the list is hundreds of names long.
Posted on 8/30/17 at 10:54 am to bayoubengals88
Yes, that is fair. A lot of it owes to the centralized nature of the CC. We don't have as many lay scholars for sure. Just wanted the OP to be aware there's plenty of good Catholic material out there as well.
And I can't let you claim Aquinas and Augustine for the Protestants. You better be willing to trade someone really good if you want them
And I can't let you claim Aquinas and Augustine for the Protestants. You better be willing to trade someone really good if you want them
Posted on 8/30/17 at 11:34 am to RedStickBR
Hahaha! It's just that Augustine's stance on man, sin, and salvation is Protestantism 101, but I digress
Posted on 8/30/17 at 7:55 pm to RedStickBR
quote:
And I can't let you claim Aquinas and Augustine for the Protestants. You better be willing to trade someone really good if you want them
We need a religious draft.
Posted on 9/4/17 at 7:17 am to 12Pence
Beezone.com
Posted on 9/5/17 at 9:47 am to 12Pence
I'd recommend Apostle: Travels Among the Tombs of the Twelve, I think it's the type of book you are looking for. I really enjoyed it, I learned a lot of things I hadn't really known before and found the writing to be a good level of non-religious but not anti-religious (which can be a distraction).
This post was edited on 9/5/17 at 3:48 pm
Posted on 9/9/17 at 7:28 pm to 12Pence
Nothing that involves Jesus and Mary Magdelan having children whose descendent became kings and nobles of Europe.
To view the diversity of Christian belief in the early centuries, you can read some Apocrypha, Gnostic Gospels, the Didache, in addition to the New Testament. Lost Christianities by Bart Ehrman is interesting.
To view the diversity of Christian belief in the early centuries, you can read some Apocrypha, Gnostic Gospels, the Didache, in addition to the New Testament. Lost Christianities by Bart Ehrman is interesting.
Posted on 9/11/17 at 7:19 am to tigahbruh
Greatest story ever sold. S acharya.
Posted on 9/12/17 at 12:24 pm to bayoubengals88
quote:
I'm not discounting Augustine or Aquinas's summa theologica (both who I'd say align more with modern Protestants)
Go tell a Dominican priest that Thomas is more like a modern Protestant and get back to me. That's simply not accurate.
If the OP is looking for more theology than strict history, I'd recommend N.T. Wright's work, specifically on the resurrection or on the new testament epistles, or Cardinal Josef Ratzinger's trilogy on the life of Jesus of Nazareth. GK Chesteron's The Everlasting Man is also accessible theology. For Catholic philosophy, I'd recommend anything by JPII (Karol Wjotyla), Luigi Guissani, or Hans Urvs von Balthasar. There's also a ton of old writings by the early church fathers but based upon the OP that doesn't seem as applicable.
This post was edited on 9/12/17 at 12:27 pm
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