The Bad Popes

Rating:
Summary: Great Book
Review: Interesting, funny, entertaining - this book has everything. I loved this book.

Rating:
Summary: Forgotten History
Review: One of the problems Catholicism has always had to battle is the notion that the Pope may appear to be a devil but when he is acting or speaking "ex cathedra" his words and deeds are said to be infallible. This is a story of such popes - those who led armies, who jocked for political position, who tortured, maimed, committed sacrilege so dreadful that it was only a whisper.

Yet, if one is a faithful Catholic, one would say that this is all just appearances - that they were REALLY the representative of Christ on Earth only they didn't act like it. It seems they never asked that ubiquitous question, "What would Jesus do?" It is hard to select the "worst" one...what is more awful - to massacre your opponent or to commit adultry on the throne? To lead a slaughter of "infidels" or join with Earthly political powers. Urban is a real winner, my candidate for Bad Pope of the Millenium but others are also listed.

This is not, by the way, an anti-Catholic tirade. If anything, the Church can claim to be truly divinely blessed for having survived these creatures.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting Reading for Catholics and Protestants Alike
Review: One quick glance at these bad boys and the reformation will make more sense. Well written and historically as accurate as the author was able to create, this book is not only filled with all those things that make an excellent movie, it describes a growing chasim between the church and Europe.

For Protestants this book will afirm the importance of speaking out against corruption.

For Catholics, this book will remind the reader of a dark period of history when corruption fractured the church to the very core.

For both. This is a history book. It is easy to read. It is not a book that attacks the Catholic church or lifts up Protestantism. Catholics and Protestant agree that there have been both good and bad popes. Both agree that these were among the worst. Both agree that the reformation was partially caused by both sides. This should not be viewed as a book that takes sides between churches.

Rating:
Summary: Lively history
Review: Whether or not you believe in the pope as the vicar of Christ, it is clear from history that his seat on Earth has been one of the world's most powerful thrones for many centuries. This is a collection of stories about that subject, and it absolutely rocks.

Chamberlin's writing style is clearly not your typical dry, professorial approach. The subject of this book lends well to an almost popular novel approach and, while Chamberlin manages to refrain from lasciviousness in spite of the often prurient subject matter, his vivid and well-researched commentary makes the characters (pardon the cliche) "come to life."

Catholicism has cleaned its act up in many ways, in spite of recent and ongoing scandals. Believe it or not, the more current headlines regarding priests etc. pale in comparison to the acts of many past popes. The desire to wield the power of the papacy has often caused the office to be a purely political goal of many, especially in the dark ages. The story of the ongoing struggles to gain that power, including such decidedly un-Christian types as the Borgias, helps explain (even for us Protestants) why, even today, many people use the past sins of so-called churches and believers as an excuse to avoid dealing with the reality of Christ. Some cannot see past the abuses of those who claim His Name (whether they really are His or not) to see His love, and these men are among those who bear most of the blame for that sad state of affairs. They were instruments of Satan, and these are their stories.

Rating:
Summary: Lively history
Review: Whether or not you believe in the pope as the vicar of Christ, it is clear from history that his seat on Earth has been one of the world's most powerful thrones for many centuries. This is a collection of stories about that subject, and it absolutely rocks.

Chamberlin's writing style is clearly not your typical dry, professorial approach. The subject of this book lends well to an almost popular novel approach and, while Chamberlin manages to refrain from lasciviousness in spite of the often prurient subject matter, his vivid and well-researched commentary makes the characters (pardon the cliche) "come to life."

Catholicism has cleaned its act up in many ways, in spite of recent and ongoing scandals. Believe it or not, the more current headlines regarding priests etc. pale in comparison to the acts of many past popes. The desire to wield the power of the papacy has often caused the office to be a purely political goal of many, especially in the dark ages. The story of the ongoing struggles to gain that power, including such decidedly un-Christian types as the Borgias, helps explain (even for us Protestants) why, even today, many people use the past sins of so-called churches and believers as an excuse to avoid dealing with the reality of Christ. Some cannot see past the abuses of those who claim His Name (whether they really are His or not) to see His love, and these men are among those who bear most of the blame for that sad state of affairs. They were instruments of Satan, and these are their stories.

Rating:
Summary: Great History, Fun Reading
Review: Whether you enjoy medieval history or not, this book makes for a great read. Chamberlin lets the history stay enlightening while keeping the writing light and entertaining. He pens a very colorful drama about these despicable men and, in the telling, provides a very informative historical background of European nations during the years following the descent of Imperial Rome. The book entertains while subtly educating along the way.