Rating: 
Summary: An Indispensible Reference
Review: I have had a well-thumbed, brightly highlighted copy of the 1981 edition of this book on my shelf for years. It's often off my shelf and in my hands as I reference it (always my first source) for answers to questions profound or simple. Concepts, history, definitions are presented clearly yet thoroughly, and this is no easy task when it comes to complicated theological arguments. Father McBrien treats the reader as an intelligent fellow traveler on his same road, and for that this poor pilgrim is very grateful.
Rating:
Summary: An Indispensible Reference
Review: I have had a well-thumbed, brightly highlighted copy of the 1981 edition of this book on my shelf for years. It's often off my shelf and in my hands as I reference it (always my first source) for answers to questions profound or simple. Concepts, history, definitions are presented clearly yet thoroughly, and this is no easy task when it comes to complicated theological arguments. Father McBrien treats the reader as an intelligent fellow traveler on his same road, and for that this poor pilgrim is very grateful.
Rating:
Summary: Indispensable resource for religious education
Review: I have used Fr. McBrien's book for over five years and continue to underline and reflect on the many valuable insights and accurate documentation. His ability to synthesize and incorporate is nothing short of sheer genius. It is a very readable book for serious inquiry into religious education.It was very helpful in my obtaining my MRE (Master Degree in Religious Education) from Loyola. I particularly like the way he noted the death date of each person referenced, e.g. St. Augustine (d. 430)...very helpful.
Rating:
Summary: An Excellent, Accurate Survey
Review: If you're expecting merely another cathecism of this book--as often people are--you'll be disapppointed. If, however, you want a sound, accurate, and scholarly survey not just of Catholicism iteself, but of the environment in which it grew, and continues to exist, this is a great book. McBrien, a priest, and professor of theology at Notre Dame, objectively examines many, many spiritual and theological forces at work within and without the church, since its inception through the present day. These forces, naturally, include many Protestant, and even secular influences. At the end of each section, McBrien provides useful lists for further reading, should you want to explore certain ideas further.
Rating:
Summary: Encyclopedic work
Review: If you're interested in thinking about Catholicism and the various movements within it, this is a great place to start. It has a wealth of discussion of controversies over the last few centuries, and every chapter has a long reading list in case you're interested in further research. If you've already made up your mind about these controversies, though, you should probably pass this one up.
Rating:
Summary: Encyclopedic work
Review: If you're interested in thinking about Catholicism and the various movements within it, this is a great place to start. It has a wealth of discussion of controversies over the last few centuries, and every chapter has a long reading list in case you're interested in further research. If you've already made up your mind about these controversies, though, you should probably pass this one up.
Rating: 
Summary: A Disservice
Review: In "Catholicism", McBrien reads like one of the many anti-Catholic authors writing today, not a Catholic priest. The work presents the Magisterium and the papacy as merely man-made alternatives to the opinions of theologans. Anyone looking for Catholicism here will not find it--at least not as it is preached and practiced by the vast majority of the 1 billion Catholics worldwide.
Rating:
Summary: Catholic, in the best sense
Review: In response to the many negative reviews of this book, I wish to highlight the general theme of the book: God's Truth exceeds the grasp of any finite mind; nevertheless, the Catholic Church has managed to focus our attention and devotion on many aspects of that Truth. We, who are Roman Catholic, are privileged to have those aspects laid out for us by the Church-- more so than other people who are not Catholic. The Church's main intellectual task is to rethink its teachings as new understandings of Reality become known to us. Praise God: the Church continues to help us grow in understanding of Truth as time passes. The only realistic danger is that alleged new understandings that purport to help us understand the "how" of God's grace without changing the basic "what" of the traditional teachings, may logically actually change those teachings so that what results is a "new Gospel" rather than "the Gospel of Jesus Christ--now and forever". This book does not espouse those kind of "hows" although it does include some of them. God calls me to be a Roman Catholic in the 21st century. This book defintely encourages me to remain a Catholic.
Rating:
Summary: Richard McBrien is a great teacher, priest, and writer.
Review: Let's face it, religion makes some people mean. McBrien isn't one of them, but some of his critics certainly are. None of his critics possess a fraction of his scholarship. We have used this book in our local parish Rites of Christian Initiation for Adults program and have found it most helpful. Those Catholics who wish Vatican II had never happened will dislike much of what McBrien has to say, but they dislike a lot of what the Pope says, for example, that the Jews' destiny is not to become Christians. "The Jews are our brothers, and our older brothers," John Paul II said. God bless him and McBrien, brilliant, reasonable, loving, giving Catholics.
Rating:
Summary: Unorthodox and modernist
Review: Maybe a better book title would be, "Everything OTHER THAN Catholicism." Outspoken Pope-John-Paul-II-hater Richard P. McBrien at his usual Church-critical high. His book does not only lack scholarly references; he even cites *heretics* such as Hans Kung. Besides, he presents such issues as abortion, birth control, homosexuality, and women's ordination as optional for each Catholic to follow, or he is simply so ambiguous about it that it is hard to figure out which stand he's taking. In short, this book should be your last reference to turn to if you really want to know Catholicism. The book does not have an Imprimatur or Church approval, and it is no surprise. Indeed, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops has continually criticized and silenced McBrien's theology.
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