Product Description
From the basic ideas and terms, to its structures and practices, this book offers a plain-speaking introduction to Roman Catholicism. It covers:
- Roman Catholic beliefs and traditions
- practices and devotional life – rituals, prayer, mass
- Church structures and authorities – from Vatican to parish church
- Church hierarchies and people – from bishops to the laity
- the role of the Church in society.
With a glossary, further reading sections and an appendix on the history of the Papacy, this is the perfect guide for anyone wanting to understand more about Roman Catholicism.
Tags: Catholic, Roman Catholicism, history of the papacy, roman catholic beliefs
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I agree with the above review. Although I am not an expert either, I rather tend to look at the source when reading religious books. Here the author is a good-intentioned person, a retired librarian, trying to summarize on his own 2000 years of Church issues trying to explain for instance why the Nicene creed is indeed the “official” creed while there were so many other versions and discussions about it (so what?)and he even says that “there are a great many problems with it (the Nicene creed) as a guide to Christianity” and that it is “very difficult to understand” (??). (I personally don’t find the Nicene creed difficult to understand at all!) These comments are personal comments, aren’t they? Not the Catholic Church’s comments. And here is the main problem with this book. At least I would have had the book peer reviewed (which I am afraid would have meant turning it down I suppose).
In my opinion, the best real eye opening of Catholicism is still the official “Catechism of the Catholic Church”.
Any attempt to define the “basics” of Roman Catholicism, or any religion or denomination for that matter, is a daunting task, as M. Walsh admits in his introduction. Where do you begin? How much do you include? Of course, a great deal depends upon the intended audience and the author’s opinion of what constitutes “basics.” Walsh seems a capable author and Routledge a first-rate publisher. Unfortunately, I have serious misgivings about this book. Inquirers especially should be warned that the text may contain some “basic” errors. I say “may” because I did not take the time to seriously engage and evaluate the entire text.
I did, however, concentrate on one area about which I am qualified to speak. As a Roman Catholic permanent deacon with an advanced degree in theology, I was drawn immediately to Walsh’s various comments (there are several)about deacons. In some cases the information is seriously incomplete. In other cases it is factually incorrect. The first objection may be countered by space limitations. The second, however, can have no excuse except that in Walsh’s case he may be writing from a strictly British experience where history and practices may differ from those in other countries. That excuse, in this case, bears no weight because the book’s intent is to address the entire Church, not as it exists in one country or another.
On this basis alone potential readers should be very cautious. One problematic topic certainly casts doubt about similar problems elsewhere. There are a multitude of books available on the same subject with the same intent. This effort is not one to be considered.