Rating: 
Summary: Suitable For Anyone!!
Review: Okay. So, I'm a student at a Catholic college. I got confirmed last year, and this was one of the books I chose to read. Not dry, by ANY stretch of the imagination.... He has a great sense of humor, but keeps from being irreverent... Intriguing material included lead me to a better understanding of the Catholic faith, and made me want to learn so much more! After Confirmation, I lent (get it? Lent!!) this book to our priest. He hasn't given it back so far... I think that's more than enough praise for this piece!
Rating: 
Summary: Accomplishes It's Purpose
Review: It is ironic that many of the poor reviews for this book would likely be considered complementary by the author. It was precisely his purpose present the Catholic Church as the One, True Church (at the expense of offending Protestants). In fact, in order to understand the Church, as Johnson wishes us to do, we must understand this most fundamental aspect of Catholicism. Leaving this out with some kind of ecumenical sensitivity would prevent him from explaining just why Catholics do what they do. Taking offense at this is not an excuse to shut off your brain from considering his point. To explain Catholicism, with its rich and complex tradition, in 250 pages is impossible. However, Johnson provides a usefull and witty survey of Catholicism. For a Protestant reading this book, Catholic practices won't seem nearly as wacky. For a Catholic, Johnson gives a glimpse at the true fullness of thought that is involved in everything in Church liturgy.
Rating:
Summary: Good Book!!!!
Review: I read this book, and being a Catholic found it to be very informing, especially when I was in and out of the faith. This book sparked my interest again, bringing me back to the faith. I love this book and owe alot of my life to this book. It is really an easy book to read. I enjoyed all the chapters. It is just what a lost soul needed. I reccommend this book to any Catholic that is second doubting the faith.
Rating: 
Summary: Polemical, Anti-Semitic, and Fundamentalist
Review: I found this book on the shelf of an Italian-American friend, and as a non-Catholic, I thought it would help me appreciate the nuances of the Old World faith. But if this book represents the current state of Catholic thought - and Pope JP2's recent Catholic Fundamentalism suggests that it does - then we're all in deep trouble. Protestants are called "heretics." Jews and Protestants conspired together to pervert the Scriptures. The Catholic Church is the only true Church, and outside its totalitarian structure, there is no salvation. Marian apparitions are taken at face value. Thirty years of ecumenism have left no mark on this author's faith. You may as well read the Baltimore Catechism or the Douay Rheims Bible - two deep embarassments for modern Catholics - as read this piece of polemic tripe. Of course, the author can't make these charges against Jews and Protestants using the TRUTH. Therefore, he gleefully resorts to lies. Here are a couple: - Jews met in Jamnia in the early second century to "remove" the deutrocanonical books from the canon and distort the Masoretic Text of the Old Testament to obscure the Church's true teachings. Protestants adopted this purposefully-corrupt canon to support their "heretical" teachings. - All other Christian churches separated from the Catholic church, and the Catholic church is the one real church. Let's dismantle these lies one-by-one. First, there is no evidence that the Jews ever "truncated" their canon. The deuterocanonical books themselves (e.g., Sirach) say that the Jewish/Protestant canon of OT books is the authoritative list. The author of 2 Maccabees expressly says that his book is NOT inspired scripture. There is no evidence that Tobit, Judith, or other books were ever included in the Septuagint - their supposed source - before the time of St. Augustine, who was the first major personality in the church to argue for their inclusion in the Scripture. The Jewish philosopher Philo said the Septuagint DID NOT include these books when it was originally translated. Jerome, who translated the Latin Vulgate, said these books were not inspired. The idea that the Jews determined their canon at the "Jamnian council" in the second century is a myth that was proposed for propaganda purposes in the 1870s. There is no record of any such council in history. The truth is that Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, etc. were declared to be Scripture at the Council of Trent. The Roman Catholic Church added this books to the Bible; the Protestants did not take them away. Of course, this theory is highly Anti-Semitic, and Anti-Semitism is one of many historical STAINS on the Catholic church. - Not all churches descend from Rome. The Eastern Church was never under Rome's authority, and has its own distinct lineage from the early Christians. The Coptic, Ethiopian, and other churches have no historical relationship with Rome. Also, there is no record of any Catholic churches becoming "Baptist." The Anabaptist line of churches (Baptist, Mennonite, Waldenese, etc.) appears entirely independent from the Catholic church throughout history. Indeed, it was openly acknowledged at the Council of Trent that the Anabaptists had been a pain in the Catholic Church's side for the previous 1200 years (when the Catholic church was formed under Constantine). The Catholic church's claim to be the one true church is a claim of THEOLOGY, not HISTORY. It's apparent that the Catholic Church has slid down a slippery rail toward Fundamentalism, triumphalism, and intolerance. The great strides toward TRUTH that Catholicism has made in the last 30 years are about to be washed away by this fundamentalist resurgence in the RCC. I pray for American Catholics who have tasted something better - dark days are ahead for you.
Rating:
Summary: Great historical perspective
Review: If you're interested in understanding the roots of customs and traditions in the Church, this book is a fine place to start. Not only does Johnson artfully outline and explain complex Church practices, he provides many historical asides that are enlightening and just--fun. For example, when discussing the colors of vestments, he goes into fascinating detail on the development of purple as the color associated with imperial power in the Roman empire and why the Church adopted the practice. The book is highly readable and well organized. Some reviewers have noted the book's decidedly pro-Roman Catholic slant, but passages that might bother some readers don't crop up that often and needn't deter you if you're interested in this subject.
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Summary: Great for Apologetics!
Review: This book explains the traditions of the Church extremely effectively! While Protestants may find the book slighty offensive, I would suggest this book to any Catholic who has asked "Why" about the actions of the Church.
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Summary: Brush Strokes of a Master
Review: If Catholicism were a giant canvas, Kevin Orlin Johnson could be considered a modern day Michaelangelo. The broad yet detailed picture he paints covers everything from basic doctrinal explanations to music at mass and just about everything in between. New or younger Catholics will learn the meaning behind an assortment of rituals, symbols, and beliefs while more experienced Catholics will learn fascinating details about their daily practices. Arguably among the top 10 Catholic 'explanation' type books availiable today.
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Summary: What A GREAT Book!
Review: I would highly recommend this book to any one who is interested in the Catholic Church. I married a Catholic and began attending Mass with him. Most of what was going on I didn't understand at all. I bought this book because of the title and the light hearted approach the author took in explaining the Catholic Church. After reading this book, I converted to Catholic Church. This book give me a great understanding of the faith and history of the Catholic Church. With the knowledge that this book gave me, I now have a better understanding of my church than some "cradle" Catholics. I would recommend this book to any one who has an interest in the Catholic Church. Weather you are a Catholic or not. Plus, it is fun to read, Mr. Johnson explains his topics in lay terms. Very easy to understand and enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: Fact check!
Review: I thought I might get this book for a fellow protestant who has always had a curiousity about the RC church. I flipped through it first, curious what would be said about the ordination of women and couldn't believe my eyes. Johnson states that Christ did not ordain any women (which is up for grabs since he didn't per se ordain any men either!) and more offensively that *no Christian church ever has*. I know the RCC claims to be the one true church, but come on! He goes on with a blanket statement that protestant churches don't "ordain" because their ministers don't claim to administer a sacrament--wrong again! Both the Lutheran and Episcopal churches ordain women and believe that baptism and the eucharist are sacraments. No rating for this book, because I didn't feel I could trust it after this passage. How can anyone claim to write an introduction to Roman Catholicism with such a lack knowledge about other Christian denominations??!?
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic!
Review: Ignore the negative reviews and buy this book if you are a Catholic, like me, who wants to know more about the inner workings (and outer symbols) of the faith. But the book doesn't stop there--the reader is given much more than just "Why Catholics Do That" as the author provides a pithy chapter on Tradition and its place in our belief system. Indeed this book is in itself a much more rounded view of Catholicism and makes for an EXCELLENT companion to the new "Catechism of the Catholic Church". This book will NOT answer every question that non-Cathoilics may have, but by the title alone, it does not purport to do so. I highly recommend it to fellow Catholics and to anyone who wants to gain a better understanding of the Faith.
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