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Summary: The Ultimate Reference Guide For/On Roman Catholics
Review: It is always fascinating to study religion and the "norms" sanctioned by leaders of religious institutions. The Catechism of the Catholic Church is the ultimate, most easily digestible reference guide for and on Roman Catholics. A very, very handy handbook indeed.
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Summary: The Catechism of the Catholic Church
Review: This book is the first Catholic Catechism produced in over four centuries. The Catechism contains a very large number of biblical quotations. Some of them are given explicitly in the text, but most are given as references, mostly in footnotes. This book is the best companion to the Bible available. It is the most reliable and accurate. Since the explicit quotations given in the text are from the Revised Standard Version, the Catechism is best used in conjunction with this English translation of the Bible. I favor the Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocrypha (ISBN: 019528335X). (Some quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version.)
Besides the quotations from the Bible, quotes from the fathers of the Church and Canons from the Ecumenical Councils are used to illustrate the correct interpretation of the Biblical passages. A large library is necessary to follow all the quotations given in this book: while the basic text is easily understandable to the average believer, tracking down all references in the book can be a lifelong enterprise.
The Catechism is organized in the traditional way.
The first part covers the Profession of Faith (the Credo). A synoptic table shows the Apostle's Creed side by side with the Nicene Creed. The Catechism follows the Apostle's Creed step by step, with constant reference to the Nicene Creed, which is shared by all major Christian denominations.
The second part covers the Sacraments. The biblical basis for each is discussed. For instance, a very strong statement of the Divine (and hence, Sacramental) nature of Marriage is given by Matthew (19:6): So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder. This is a well-known passage, but still most Bible-believing Protestant Churches don't recognize Marriage as a Sacrament. The mistake of denying the Sacramental nature of Marriage is, of course, not just a biblical error, but also a tremendous historical mistake, one that has undermined the very foundation of Western Civilization: the Family. Because, if Marriage is not a Sacrament, it is just another contract, and then anything goes: broken families, serial polygamy, gay marriages, it all logically follows.
The third part covers Life in Christ. It mostly deals with the Commandments. A synoptic table gives the Ten Commandments from Exodus 20:2-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21, together with a Traditional Catechetical Formulation. The consequences of each Commandment are examined in detail.
The fourth part deals with Christian Prayer. It mostly covers the Lord's Prayer (Our Father!), given in Matthew 6:9-13. The Lord's Prayer is shown to be the summary of the whole gospel.
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Summary: An Essential Reference
Review: Have you ever had the opportunity to share your religious views with other, but you don't know where to start? This book is a perfect example on how 2,000 years of philosophy & theology have culminated into a comprehensive thesis on what we ask when we pray and, thus, the mysteries of our faith. Our own attitudes toward the truth can greatly benefit from these wise pages. Overall, it is a valiant effort and may it please God.
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Summary: A Protestant's Point of View
Review: Being a Protestant, yet deeply respectful and, at the same time, curious about the Catholic Church, I was looking to learn more about Her. Regrettably, there are many misguided people out there who have very one-sided, skewed, and often just plain incorrect views of the Catholic Church. Sometimes, as a Protestant who just didn't know any better, it was difficult for me to seperate the fact from the fiction.That's where this book came in. I found that if you want answers on something, go to the source. And the Catechism of the Catholic Church is just the source I needed. I found this book extremely useful in learning exactly what the Catholic Church believed without all that outsider bias. For anyone outside the Catholic faith who really wants to know more true, bare facts about what it is to be Catholic and hold Catholic beliefs, this is book is a great start.
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Summary: Mannys catholic experience
Review: The book Catechism of the Catholic Church is a real good informational book. You gain a lot by just reading this book. It answers some questions for example: Why prayer is so important in our lives or why some people critizise what we believe. By reading this book it can help you gain some knowledge that you havent inquired before. youl enjoy this book if your interested in learning about your catholic faith.
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Summary: Catechisim of the Catholic Church
Review: Unbelievable. As a lifetime Catholic for 43+ years and just made my spouse recently convert, I wanted to purchase a book that can tell us about the Roman Catholic faith in simple words. Unfortunately, this book is a huge turnoff and extremely difficult to read and comprehend. I do not think I can find any text in this book that I can understand. I would strongly advise purchasing this 'informative' book on the Catholic Church. I wish I can find a book that is more to my liking.
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