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Did Adam & Eve Have Bellybuttons...And 199 other questions from Catholic Teenagers

Did Adam & Eve Have Bellybuttons...And 199 other questions from Catholic Teenagers

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Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great Q&A Catechism for Teens
Review: Matthew Pinto's "Did Adam & Eve Have Belly Buttons?" is a terrific way for teens to learn the Faith in bite-sized morsels. Covering everything from Sacraments to the Creed, he provides straightforward answers to a range of questions. The book contains Catholic Truth, not the "Catholic Lite" one may find elsewhere.

Buy the book. "Did Adam & Eve Have Belly Buttons" is an excellent Confirmation gift. But you might consider reading it yourself first--you'll be surprised by what you learn.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: dumbed-down at best, offensive at worst
Review: Pinto's book is to Catholicism what rabid nationalism is to true patriotism. While claiming to equip young Catholics to defend their faith, he in fact gives a white-washed, totally subjective version of church history which will give them zero credibility with their non-Catholic friends.

The rise of Protestantism simply cannot be understood without acknowledgment of ills perpetrated by the church, from the Crusades to the Inquisition to the sale of indulgences and the failure to act against the Holocaust. Just like every other Christian church, Roman Catholicism has had the truth of Christ's teachings distorted at times through human sinfulness, and Pinto does Catholic youth no favor in pretending otherwise. The assertion that only Roman Catholicism comes from Christ, and all other Christian denominations were founded by men, is an insult to the intelligence of all believers who follow Christ.

I agree with other reviewers that Pinto's teen panel is either fictitious or comprised of the least intellectually curious teens on the planet. Honestly, a Christian teenager not clear on the distinction between Old and New Testaments (Question #24)? Or, consider question 131 about eating meat on Fridays in Lent. Real teenagers would ask "I always abstain from meat because I'm a vegetarian--does that make me holier than people who only abstain on Fridays?" "Why is meat forbidden but fish is okay?" "Is it really worse to eat a simple ham sandwich than a dinner of shrimp and lobster?" A real answer from Pinto would have acknowledged that this custom of the church is based on a particular cultural dietary pattern that emphasizes meat as the main course, and thus an entirely arbitrary choice for practicing spiritual discipline.

I laughed out loud at question #46, asking why Protestant kids are better versed in Scripture than Catholics. How can Pinto exhort Catholic teens to read and study the Bible without acknowledging that until recently Catholics were told NOT to read the Bible, but only hear it at Mass and let the priest explain what it means? And, the argument that "Protestant Christians have only the Bible to concern them" while Catholics have to learn more is both incorrect and incredibly patronizing.

Finally, I found Pinto's answer to question #13 about God allowing disease nothing short of misogynistic. In his example, God might allow an abusive husband to lose his health because then "he may come to see the true beauty of his wife, and may reconcile himself to God and his spouse." So--the point is for the abuser to find his wife beautiful, rather than realize he has been committing a horrible sin in abusing her, whether he finds her beautiful or not? And, an abused wife should cheerfully nurse her abuser now that he's no longer healthy enough to abuse her?

Today more than ever, Catholic youth need to understand and value their faith while working with all Christians to show Christ's love in the world. So, if your Catholic teenager has any intelligence and power of critical thinking, skip this book and talk with them instead!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Best book for teens with questions on the Catholic Church.
Review: Teenagers ask tough questions, and then they want short answers. Matt Pinto, not so long out of his own teenage years, delivers. This is the book I recommend be put in the hands of any teen who wants to know in brief terms what the Catholic Church is, why it believes what it believes and why it does what it does, and what difference it all makes to folks like you and me. I recommend the book strongly, and suggest it as an excellent gift idea for parents, grandparents, and Confirmation sponsors. END

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Excellent reference on the Catholic faith
Review: This book is an excellent reference for anyone who has questions about the Catholic faith. It deals with a wide range of topics, including a few which are usually not mentioned in Catholic books, or which many well-meaning Catholics may have mistaken ideas about. Although the title may seem a bit silly (but a good question), I highly recommend this book as a book to look up questions on the Catholic faith. Also, although the questions are asked by teenagers, I think that adults, too, can benefit from this book.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Excellent reference on the Catholic faith
Review: This book is an excellent reference for anyone who has questions about the Catholic faith. It deals with a wide range of topics, including a few which are usually not mentioned in Catholic books, or which many well-meaning Catholics may have mistaken ideas about. Although the title may seem a bit silly (but a good question), I highly recommend this book as a book to look up questions on the Catholic faith. Also, although the questions are asked by teenagers, I think that adults, too, can benefit from this book.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: You have to read this!!!
Review: This book is beyond excellent! When I bought it at first I felt kind of crazy b/c I was 22 and I thought the book was for a younger age group. Yet I heard so many good things about the book I went ahead and bought it. I then realized that this book is for all ages. The questions that are answered in this book are questions that people of all ages ask. This book would be excellent to have in bible study or CCD classes. Everyone should read this book. Catholics that read this book can better defend their faith and people from other religions who read this book will better understand what Catholics believe. This book is well written and easy to understand. You can skip around or read from beginning to end like me. Either way you won't be able to put this book down!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Excellent source for youth!
Review: This book made us realize how much our children were missing from the CCD program in our parish. When the arguments about going to church and why study the bible need to be answered - this is the book you need. It is funny but respecfull and worthwhile reading.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: This book is full of it
Review: This book tells catholic teenagers that the baby who is aborted may go to hell. And the homosexual needs "healing" This book defines catholic as the "true faith" Teenagers don't need to be brainwashed.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Wonderful book on apologetics
Review: This book, even though the title says its for Catholic teenagers, is for all Catholics and those considering the Catholic faith. This is a great book if you feel you need to learn more about where the Church stands on certain issues, giving references to Scripture, the Catechism, and various other Church documents. If you are constantly bombarded with questions from inquiring Protestants, this book with help your answers.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Wonderful book on apologetics
Review: This book, even though the title says its for Catholic teenagers, is for all Catholics and those considering the Catholic faith. This is a great book if you feel you need to learn more about where the Church stands on certain issues, giving references to Scripture, the Catechism, and various other Church documents. If you are constantly bombarded with questions from inquiring Protestants, this book with help your answers.


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