Rating: 
Summary: Worth the money
Review: Of the many texts available on providing evidence to the non-Catholic for Catholic doctrine, Stephen Ray's texts are among the best researched and in-depth texts available, while still being easily readable. Also to mention- it is interesting how most of these reviews are plagued by a mysterious "reader" who will not give his name and only trumpet how horrible Catholicism is, without giving adequate reasons for his dislike of any texts beyond "it's not in the Bible". I seriously doubt our reader has even opened this, or other Catholic texts. Likely an indoctorinated anti-catholic, parroting others, I challenge him to find a Catholic forum and prove his position (www.catholicboard.com, www.flyfreeministries.org, www.phatmass.com).
Rating: 
Summary: Too much misinformation to be credible
Review: On the positive side,the story of Mr. Ray's journey is reasonably well told. However, there is a fundamental error in logic he makes by imputing his experiences within the Baptist church to all Protestant churches. For example, he states that baptims and communion are "no longer called sacraments by Evangelicals and Fundamentalists. (p27). I've attended 4 different churches in 4 different states over the past 20 years and never experienced this (or many of the other assertions made, such as "cavalier" treatment of the Bible, p48). His citation of the Westminster Confession is incorrect. He misses the point of "solo scriptura." If you have changed from Protestant to Catholic and wish to justify your decision, this book is for you.
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Summary: A good case is made for that old time historic Christianity
Review: Steve Ray has made a strong case for the doctrines of baptismal regeneration and the real presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist. It is recommended reading for Protestants of churches that teach that these sacraments are merely symbolic. It doesn't seem to promote only the Roman Catholic views, but it seems to me that his book can also be used to promote the doctrines of other old time denominations such as Eastern Orthodox, and even the historic views found in some Lutheran and Anglican churches. The heavy use of foot notes makes the reading clumsy. I think it would have been better if Steve had included much of the footnoted material into the text.
Rating: 
Summary: A well-documented, engaging look at conversion and doctrine.
Review: Steve Ray is one of my very favorite Catholic authors, and his excellent "Crossing the Tiber" has impressed me every time I've read it. His discussion of non-Catholic Christianity is charitable and fair, and his study of baptism and the Eucharist is quite thorough. As someone who came home to the Catholic Church after being an evangelical Protestant, I could closely identify with the story of the Ray family's conversion process. Great stuff!
Rating:
Summary: Phenomenal Research
Review: Steve Ray, in his first effort, has clearly demonstrated a great love for Truth. Steve puts forward support of the Catholic understanding of Baptism and the Eucharistic in a readable and highly scholastic manner. The work is a fine contribution to the Christian faith. It begins with a conversion story quite enjoyable to read and is completed by a truly revealing review of Baptism and the Eucharist. Catholics will be strengthened in their faith. Protestants will be treated to a fine explanation of matters which often divide Catholics and Protestants. Buy the book. It is worth the read and don't pass up the footnotes.
Rating:
Summary: A Conversion Story & A Whole Lot More
Review: Steve Ray, once a fundamentalist Baptist, and now convert to the Catholic faith has written an excellent conversion story. When Steve converted his whole family converted with him. This is the story of that conversion. As with most conversions, Steve did a lot of soul searching. He also did a lot of research. Part of Steve's research into the Catholic faith appears in a very readable, but comprehensive, form in this book. Aside from a conversion story, this book is also a thorough treatise on baptism and the eucharist. Steve's remarks on these topics are concise and heavily supported by scripture. Steve also provides a wonderful commentary on how the early church fathers believed in the Catholic understanding of the Lord's Supper (Eucharist) and baptism. As Cardinal Newman, a convert from the Anglican faith, once stated, "To be deep in history is to cease to be protestant." These words bode true for Steve Ray. Sometimes it can be a hard pill to swallow when you realize that your suppositions that the Catholic faith had engineered their position on baptism and the eucharist to conform with pagan belief and custom is utterly false and not proven true by scripture or early (i.e., 1st & 2nd century) church history. Steve does a great job of refuting these suppositions. Steve swallowed this bitter pill and the result was his conversion and this excellent and well thought out book. The treatment of the eucharist and baptism is thorough so take your time in reading this. Most importantly, this book is a charitable presentation of Catholic truth. Steve Ray, like many converts to the faith, does not find it necessary to denigrate the faith of protestants in order to make his points. His argument is forceful because it is well made and has the ring of truth. Most protestants, I think, would enjoy reading this book. A good book for all.
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Summary: Wow ! When will the study on the other 5 sacrements come?
Review: Steven did an outstanding job researching this book ! It was given to me as a gift over a year ago and I finally finished reading it. I have bought it for 5 friends, and have just bought his newest book. If you read this book like you should, and not as a novel, you will gain a wonderful insight. If you look through the scripture while reading this book it will take you a long time to learn everying, but a time well spend. It is not a weekend read, but nor is your spirtual life. Buy the book and have your faith grow. Rick
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Summary: Former baptist
Review: Stumbled across this book by accident or maybe it was divine providence. I was a very happy southern baptist until I read this book. Then I was horrified. This book very plainly laid it all out for me and I found myself reading everything I could get my hands on after this to back up his claims. I am now in RCIA. That is the year long class you must go through to convert to the catholic church. My entire family is converting. Praise God for this book!
Rating: 
Summary: new answers to paradoxes
Review: This bible christian has researched the history of Christianity and proved to me that Christ is true to his word. Tired of personal interpetations and contradictions read this. It has extensive footnotes that varify every discovery.
Rating:
Summary: Footnotes alone are worth the money
Review: This book is the first one I ever read on the subject of catholicism. It is the single most influential book in my conversion to the catholic church from the southern baptist church. What makes this book different from other conversion stories is the massive amount of footnotes and research backing up everything. For that reason it doubles as both a story/testimony and as an encyclopedia of sorts. I don't recommend reading this book unless you are ready to go where God leads you.
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