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wwatts1734's review against another edition
4.0
Back in the 1980s, young Catholics were leaving the Church at a tremendous rate in order to join Evangelical Christian congregations that literally thrived on these conversions. Some denominations, such as the Assemblies of God, have congregations today comprised of some 80% or more ex-Catholics. Why did Catholics leave the Church at such an alarming rate in those days? Part of it was poor catechesis on the part of the Catholic Church in the 1960s and 70s, which resulted in an entire generation of Catholics who don't understand their own faith. And part of the reason for these conversions was the purposeful targeting of Catholics by these Evangelical denominations, and these marketing campaigns often consisted of misleading or downright slanderous accusations of Catholic beliefs.
In 1988 Karl Keating wrote "Catholicism and Fundamentalism" as a response to this exodus. On the one hand, it highlights the Evangelical organizations that target Catholics and try to persuade them to leave the Church. But the main thrust of this book is to discuss the Catholic faith, to catechize the uncatechized Catholics who are inclined to leave, and to present the faith to Evangelicals who have been taught to believe that the Catholic Church is the Whore of Babylon, the Anti-Christ of today. In this effort this book is a great success. It is a very readable presentation of the faith, and it answers many of the most common objections to the faith in a very readable and enjoyable way. It is very easy to read and in places hard to put down. In this sense, I would recommend this book to people who either do not understand the Catholic faith or who have wrong ideas about it.
On the other hand, this book is very dated in a lot of ways. Keating spends much of the first half of the book discussing and repudiating the major Evangelical organizations of the 1980s who targeted Catholics. Today, very few of these organizations still exist, and those who do still exist are irrelevant. In the 21st Century, the threat posed to Catholics by Evangelicals is minimal. The major threat to the faith today stands squarely in the secular realm. Catholics today are not leaving the Church to be Evangelicals or even to join the mainline Protestant denominations. They are leaving the Church to join the world, take up the sexual revolution, accept social teachings that are opposed to the teachings of the Church, or simply to live a narcissistic life. To this end, this work should be updated to examine the major reasons why young Catholics either leave the Church or no longer practice the faith. So, while "Catholicism and Fundamentalism" may be a nice historical interest into why Catholics used to leave the faith, it is hardly relevant in explaining why young Catholics today leave the Church.
Regardless of its shortcomings, I would highly recommend that anyone read "Catholicism and Fundamentalism" who is interested in the Catholic Faith and its defense.
In 1988 Karl Keating wrote "Catholicism and Fundamentalism" as a response to this exodus. On the one hand, it highlights the Evangelical organizations that target Catholics and try to persuade them to leave the Church. But the main thrust of this book is to discuss the Catholic faith, to catechize the uncatechized Catholics who are inclined to leave, and to present the faith to Evangelicals who have been taught to believe that the Catholic Church is the Whore of Babylon, the Anti-Christ of today. In this effort this book is a great success. It is a very readable presentation of the faith, and it answers many of the most common objections to the faith in a very readable and enjoyable way. It is very easy to read and in places hard to put down. In this sense, I would recommend this book to people who either do not understand the Catholic faith or who have wrong ideas about it.
On the other hand, this book is very dated in a lot of ways. Keating spends much of the first half of the book discussing and repudiating the major Evangelical organizations of the 1980s who targeted Catholics. Today, very few of these organizations still exist, and those who do still exist are irrelevant. In the 21st Century, the threat posed to Catholics by Evangelicals is minimal. The major threat to the faith today stands squarely in the secular realm. Catholics today are not leaving the Church to be Evangelicals or even to join the mainline Protestant denominations. They are leaving the Church to join the world, take up the sexual revolution, accept social teachings that are opposed to the teachings of the Church, or simply to live a narcissistic life. To this end, this work should be updated to examine the major reasons why young Catholics either leave the Church or no longer practice the faith. So, while "Catholicism and Fundamentalism" may be a nice historical interest into why Catholics used to leave the faith, it is hardly relevant in explaining why young Catholics today leave the Church.
Regardless of its shortcomings, I would highly recommend that anyone read "Catholicism and Fundamentalism" who is interested in the Catholic Faith and its defense.
michael_kelleher's review against another edition
4.0
I really thought this book was a great answer to a lot of anti-Catholic rhetoric out there. I did have a few problems though - I felt that Keating was a little too dismissive of Fundamentalist beliefs, and often set up straw men of his own. I think the information on Catholic beliefs is good, but consider his summaries of Fundamentalist beliefs to be a little bit lacking in charity.
marcy_kelleher's review against another edition
4.0
I really thought this book was a great answer to a lot of anti-Catholic rhetoric out there. I did have a few problems though - I felt that Keating was a little too dismissive of Fundamentalist beliefs, and often set up straw men of his own. I think the information on Catholic beliefs is good, but consider his summaries of Fundamentalist beliefs to be a little bit lacking in charity.
mahtiel's review
4.0
very informative if not at times a bit too exhaustive on fundamentalist arguments than the actual catholic clarifications. overall it is a great start into this specific area of apologetics.
kat2112's review
4.0
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.--1 Peter 3:15-16
It should be the duty of every brother and sister of Christ to be prepared to defend one's Catholic faith, particularly in a time where much attention is focussed on the mystery that shrouds the twenty-first century. Are we living in the "Last Days"? Who will rise to power as the Antichrist mentioned in Revelations? Are we, as Catholics, doing right by God?
As one of the nation's many, many K-8th grade Catholic students, I thought once I graduated from Sacred Heart Catholic School in Jacksonville, Florida I no longer needed to advance my religious education. I had a Bible, I attended services and kept to God's Commandments and Sacraments and left it at that.
Once away from the protective shell of my parents' home, however, I became exposed for the first time anti-Catholic environments. I discovered Jack Chick and his merciless comic strip attacks on my faith, and recently two Jehovah's Witnesses arrived at my doorstep waving a pamphlet depicting a woman groveling before a statue of Mary. The caption underneath read "idol worshipper." I was stunned. For twenty-five years I was certain I a was a "good Christian", praying to Jesus for strength and wisdom and abiding by His rules, only to learn that many factions insisted I was living a lie.
Catholics questioning their faith, like myself, will want to arm themselves with knowledge of apologetics, and the logical place to start would be with Karl Keating's Catholicism and Fundamentalism, an excellent resource for clarifying and strengthening one's Catholic faith in Christ. Keating, the founder of Catholic Answers, has written this book with two purposes in mind: to point out those most guilty of anti-Catholic behavior and to provide the means of successfully defending the motives of the Catholic Church.
Catholicism and Fundamentalism is well-researched and presents well-defined arguments for the succession of popes, veneration of Mary, Eucharistic adoration, and other factors that separate Catholic and Protestant faiths. Arguments against the Fundamentalist position of sola Scriptura are also discussed, as are tips on how to become a top-notch Catholic apologist.
Whether you are trying to defend your faith or learn precisely what the Catholic position is, Catholicism and Fundamentalism is the ideal book in which to rediscover faith in Jesus Christ and His church.
It should be the duty of every brother and sister of Christ to be prepared to defend one's Catholic faith, particularly in a time where much attention is focussed on the mystery that shrouds the twenty-first century. Are we living in the "Last Days"? Who will rise to power as the Antichrist mentioned in Revelations? Are we, as Catholics, doing right by God?
As one of the nation's many, many K-8th grade Catholic students, I thought once I graduated from Sacred Heart Catholic School in Jacksonville, Florida I no longer needed to advance my religious education. I had a Bible, I attended services and kept to God's Commandments and Sacraments and left it at that.
Once away from the protective shell of my parents' home, however, I became exposed for the first time anti-Catholic environments. I discovered Jack Chick and his merciless comic strip attacks on my faith, and recently two Jehovah's Witnesses arrived at my doorstep waving a pamphlet depicting a woman groveling before a statue of Mary. The caption underneath read "idol worshipper." I was stunned. For twenty-five years I was certain I a was a "good Christian", praying to Jesus for strength and wisdom and abiding by His rules, only to learn that many factions insisted I was living a lie.
Catholics questioning their faith, like myself, will want to arm themselves with knowledge of apologetics, and the logical place to start would be with Karl Keating's Catholicism and Fundamentalism, an excellent resource for clarifying and strengthening one's Catholic faith in Christ. Keating, the founder of Catholic Answers, has written this book with two purposes in mind: to point out those most guilty of anti-Catholic behavior and to provide the means of successfully defending the motives of the Catholic Church.
Catholicism and Fundamentalism is well-researched and presents well-defined arguments for the succession of popes, veneration of Mary, Eucharistic adoration, and other factors that separate Catholic and Protestant faiths. Arguments against the Fundamentalist position of sola Scriptura are also discussed, as are tips on how to become a top-notch Catholic apologist.
Whether you are trying to defend your faith or learn precisely what the Catholic position is, Catholicism and Fundamentalism is the ideal book in which to rediscover faith in Jesus Christ and His church.
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