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Summary: Great evangelization tool
Review: This book tells the stories of 11 converts to the Catholic Church. While conversion stories can by edifying in and of themselves, what sets these stories apart are the reasons behind their stories. What happens is that while we are strengthened in our faith by reading about another's conversion we also get an implicit dose of apologetics. Each person has their own personal reason for converting and each is coming from a different background; atheist, protestant, new-age, etc. This book is a quick and easy read and would make a great gift to give to a non-Catholic as an introduction to the Church.
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Summary: Surprised by depth
Review: This is a very good book. It has a series of faith vignettes and testimonials of people who converted to Catholicism from different social, intellectual, and religious backgrounds. They give their biblical, theological and personal reasons for their journeys. Their devotion to God shines through each page.
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Summary: Not surprised by the truth
Review: This is a good book. I almost left the catholic church so I could be spiritually fullfilled as a christian. At least thats what they said I needed to do. It just never felt right. You could turn the few negative reviews around and it would sound just like a "born again christian" telling us why we need their church. Thank god I have a mind of my own and searched the truth out. As someone who has been there and done that, I know they don't really want to know what the catholics are all about. They just like to put us down and try real hard to convince us that we will not go to heaven if we don't find god in THEIR church.
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Summary: Great for beginner apologists!
Review: Thanks, Mr. Madrid, for providing the interesting and inspiring stories of 11 who walked the road to 'Rome.' This book has been a great resource for my journey as an 'apologetics student.' It has inspired me, a cradle Catholic, to train myself to defend my faith.
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Summary: HAHAHAHA. Christ wasn't Catholic!
Review: This is a joke right? Christ wasn't Catholic, and the only truth and light I am going to live by is what is written in that good book, and spoken to me by the Holy Spirit who lives within me. I don't need the Catholic church's laws/man made teachings to govern my life. No thanks.
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Summary: All the Reasons...
Review: A great little book that can be read in short sittings, one delightful story at a time. If you have friends or family outside the Church, this book is a great tool - why reinvent the wheel, right? Let those who have been there tell their stories and provide all the reasons for becoming a Catholic!The stories range from the lay-person to the minister, from the wildly heathen to the devout Christian, from New Age hippies who found their way into the Church to pious Reformers who found their way into this same Church. This makes the book invaluable as a witnessing tool. Anyone who takes the time to read through all the stories will, at some point, find themselves saying, "This sounds a lot like me," and, "I've been there - I can relate." This book will warm your heart as you rejoice with the converts, and it will prove a great invitation to those outside the Church. Buy the book, read it, and then give it away!
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Summary: A Lesson For Both Protestants AND Catholics
Review: I learned two very important lessons reading this book. 1) Many protestants do not give the Catholic Church a fair shake. 2) Many Catholics are not helping the matter. In reading these eleven stories and other protestant-to-Catholic stories, it is apparent to me that protestants do not understand what the Catholic Church really teaches, and this misinformation is strengthened by the many Catholics who are unable or unwilling to defend Holy Mother Church. This is our own fault. If we Catholics continue to leave this void, then it will continue to be filled by even more falsehoods and misinformation about our faith. It is time for our brother and sister protestants to know the truth about Catholicism, even if they continue to reject it. It is time for Catholics to learn their faith more thoroughly, and to defend their faith more assertively. We have been off the playing field for too long. An excellent book which shows the errors on BOTH sides.
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Summary: A Decidedly Un-ecumenical Collection
Review: Seeming out of place in modern Christendom's era of ecumenical fellowship, SURPRISED BY TRUTH is an anthology of testimonials of conversion to the Roman Catholic Church. The authors seem to have little notion of the broad fellowship of Christian churches; instead, we are given essay after essay of unfair generalizations about Protestant Christianity ("Protestants tend to be very divisive people", etc) and melodramatic testimonials ("Once I was lost in the chaos of Protestantism but then Christ led me home to the One True Church of Rome!" etc). Interestingly, the book spends virtually all its time extolling Catholicism and attacking Protestantism; Eastern Orthodox Christianity is rarely even acknowledged. Although SURPRISED BY TRUTH is extremely well-written and contains some fascinating and compelling Catholic apologetic arguments, its overall tone is so negative and condescending towards non-Catholic Christians that only the most short-sighted Catholic ideologues will be able to take it seriously.
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Summary: The ONLY book that convinced me!
Review: This is the best apologetics book on the market. I had previoulsy read both Keating and Hahn and either the tone was too 'anti-protestant', some of the arguments too far-reaching or there wasn't enough compelling testimony but THIS book was the clincher! Buy it...You won't be disappointed!!!
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Summary: WOW! Just read all the reviews; they tell the story.
Review: What could be added? As a super-happy convert to the Catholic Church (former non-denominational/Pentecostal) I have been blessed not only by the book itself but by reading all the reviews posted here. Good grief; both the book AND all the reviews should be required reading. Not withstanding a couple of obvious "Catholic bashing" reviewers (just pray for 'em folks) I have never been blessed so much just by reading book reviews. Hey, read 'em all, then get your own copy and let's have Church!! Praise the Lord!!
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