The HarperCollins Encyclopedia of Catholicism

Rating:
Summary: Excellent for research
Review: This book is an excellent resource for any Catholic looking to expand their knowledge about the Catholic Church. It is very concise and very complete and offers a wide array of topics. Everything from the Early Christian Church, through information on the different councils, to different religious movements, and the lives of the popes and saints can be found. Also included are some excellent photographs that span the history and culture of the Church. There are a few entries that only provided basic information, but other than that, it is intended as a general overview rather than a profound work. Every eager Catholic, young or old alike, should and must have a copy!

Rating:
Summary: Excellent for research
Review: This book is an excellent resource for any Catholic looking to expand their knowledge about the Catholic Church. It is very concise and very complete and offers a wide array of topics. Everything from the Early Christian Church, through information on the different councils, to different religious movements, and the lives of the popes and saints can be found. Also included are some excellent photographs that span the history and culture of the Church. There are a few entries that only provided basic information, but other than that, it is intended as a general overview rather than a profound work. Every eager Catholic, young or old alike, should and must have a copy!

Rating:
Summary: NOT! CATHOLICISM
Review: This book is titled incorrectly. It should be titled Catholicism NOT! This book received a scathing review from Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk when he was head of the US Catholic Bishop's Conference Committee on Doctrine. The major overall flaw is "doctrinal minimalism." The book presents dissenting theological opinions on such controversial issues as womens' ordination(NEVER) and homosexuality(ALWAYS EVIL) as if the faithful may choose which they prefer. The book is OBE'd. The 1998 change in Canon Law issued by the motu proprio Ad Tuendam Fidem with the attached doctrinal explanation Ab Ipsis Primordis, clarifies that the faithful must hold the magisterial position on these matters. Perhaps Encyclopedia of Heresy might be a good title.

Rating:
Summary: NOT! CATHOLICISM
Review: This book is titled incorrectly. It should be titled Catholicism NOT! This book received a scathing review from Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk when he was head of the US Catholic Bishop's Conference Committee on Doctrine. The major overall flaw is "doctrinal minimalism." The book presents dissenting theological opinions on such controversial issues as womens' ordination(NEVER) and homosexuality(ALWAYS EVIL) as if the faithful may choose which they prefer. The book is OBE'd. The 1998 change in Canon Law issued by the motu proprio Ad Tuendam Fidem with the attached doctrinal explanation Ab Ipsis Primordis, clarifies that the faithful must hold the magisterial position on these matters. Perhaps Encyclopedia of Heresy might be a good title.

Rating:
Summary: This book is NOT about Catholicism
Review: This book is very dangerous to read for both Protestants and Catholics because it does NOT contain the truth of the Catholic Faith. The entries are very highly unorthodox and inaccurate, extremely liberal and modernist. With its authoritative title, it deliberately misleads the reader into thinking it is an authoritative work condoned by the Catholic Church. I mistakenly bought the book wanting a reference book on Catholicism, but now keep it as a reference to see just what is being touted as Catholic doctrine by those within the Faith who are trying to destroy it from within.

Rating:
Summary: This book is NOT about Catholicism
Review: This book is very dangerous to read for both Protestants and Catholics because it does NOT contain the truth of the Catholic Faith. The entries are very highly unorthodox and inaccurate, extremely liberal and modernist. With its authoritative title, it deliberately misleads the reader into thinking it is an authoritative work condoned by the Catholic Church. I mistakenly bought the book wanting a reference book on Catholicism, but now keep it as a reference to see just what is being touted as Catholic doctrine by those within the Faith who are trying to destroy it from within.

Rating:
Summary: A Comprehensive Reference for the Thinking Christian
Review: This is a fine companion to McBrien's "Catholicism: New Study." McBrien has always been fearless in rising above elementary explanations for the relationship between man and God, and once again he takes us on a fantastic journey into both Catholic religion and Catholic theology. He takes you to the pillars of Chrisitianity, to its sensibleness as well as its spirituality. The piece on "hell" is only one example. Hell, the author of the piece writes, is not a place but a state of existence. "It is the the eternal loss of God.... While moral theologians have perhaps been careless over the centuries in designating certain actions as morally sinful, the church has never taught that anyone has, in fact, died in such a state..... It is not God who tortures the sinner, but the sinner who rejects God." There are countless more insightful treatments of Christian theology in this reference, and the inquiring mind will be forever flattered that McBrien and his writers never underestimate the reader.

Rating:
Summary: A Comprehensive Reference for the Thinking Christian
Review: This is a fine companion to McBrien's "Catholicism: New Study." McBrien has always been fearless in rising above elementary explanations for the relationship between man and God, and once again he takes us on a fantastic journey into both Catholic religion and Catholic theology. He takes you to the pillars of Chrisitianity, to its sensibleness as well as its spirituality. The piece on "hell" is only one example. Hell, the author of the piece writes, is not a place but a state of existence. "It is the the eternal loss of God.... While moral theologians have perhaps been careless over the centuries in designating certain actions as morally sinful, the church has never taught that anyone has, in fact, died in such a state..... It is not God who tortures the sinner, but the sinner who rejects God." There are countless more insightful treatments of Christian theology in this reference, and the inquiring mind will be forever flattered that McBrien and his writers never underestimate the reader.

Rating:
Summary: A must.
Review: This resource should be in every Catholic home. It is readable and able to be used by anyone high school age and older. You will find this to be one of the first encyclopedias you want to read as a novel.