Customer Reviews

On Being Catholic

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Thomas Howard is a former evangelical, turned Anglican, turned Catholic, and an editor-at-large for Christianity Today. His Evangelical credentials were very impressive, and so is his case for the Catholic Faith. Howard does not sling Scripture at the reader, nor does he attempt to do fundamentalist-style apologetics. Had he done this I probably would have put it down after the first page.

Howard's style reminds me a lot of C.S. Lewis'. When I first read of this comparison on the back cover I was dubious. However, his writing is laced with references to classical literature and a variety of philosophies. His knowledge of secular and Christian thought is quite impressive, as is his Latin and English vocabulary. Like Lewis, he seamlessly and clearly articulates his thoughts in a way that is quite beautiful without being superficial. Like Lewis, he also handles objections to his ideas as he writes, anticipating the objections various types of readers might have. While it is likely that Lewis will be read long after Howard, this is no reason to dismiss the importance of what Howard has to say.

For me, what makes his work so impressive is that he appeals to the deep need that humans have for tradition, religious encounter, symbol, sacrament, ritual, etc. Much of the book is based not on cold logic, but on human need and longing. A good example is when he explains the need that humans have for ceremony and ritual, and how eventually we "give external shape to what is in our hearts." He explains how when we internally remember a birthday, we give visible and external shape to this inner matter through common birthday rituals like candles, cakes, and presents. These rituals do not supersede the inner reality, but give meaningful shape to it. Being a former Protestant, he knows the common objections, and can understand the reasons why many Protestants fear and distrust the Catholic Church. He is then in a good position to answer these objections as well, and like Lewis, he uses Scripture and the Fathers without misusing them.

While addressing various Catholic topics (including Mary, Going to Church, the Crucifix, Tradition, the Mass, and more), he never resorts to attacks against other faiths. Most Orthodox (and to a lesser extent Anglicans) will find that he is really defending their Faith as well, since it is so similar to that of Catholics. As I read this book, I could sense his love for those elements of the evangelical faith that led him to the Catholic Church, and his love for Evangelicals. And it is not just the fake, "I love you so I scream the truth at you" either. Don't think he compromises the Catholic Faith though; he is traditional. When he deals with "Are Catholics Saved?" he explains how Catholics live and breathe the gospel in Mass (Divine Liturgy), in traditional prayers, in Confession, and so forth. He addresses the Protestant language of salvation that often seems foreign to Catholics, like the question "are you saved?" He assures his Evangelical readers that even if Catholics don't initially understand the question as framed, they are certainly "saved." This was a favorite chapter of mine.

Overall, this is a very compelling book that explains why being Catholic is the fullest Christian option, i.e. why the Catholic Faith appeals to humanity's basic and deepest spiritual needs. Of course while explaining his love for the Catholic Church, he also deals with common objections along the way. His explanations may even bring tears to your eyes. For example, the profundity of his language for the Mass as the "threshold that lies between time and eternity" captures quite well and quite beautifully the historic Church's position. If apologetics books (which of course have a place too) leave you cold, read this book. It gets at the heart of being Catholic!

Despite his being a prolific and engaging writer, Howard's books have only shown up willy nilly, here and there throughout the years. Students may have taken his classes at Gordon College or St. John's Seminary. He wrote an entertaining column in the New Oxford Review when that was still an Episcopalian journal. His biography, Christ the Tiger, and a beautifully written apologetics book, Chance or the Dance, went in and out of print in various editions. He gave seminars at the C.S.Lewis Institute held at Seattle Pacific University, and wrote a wonderful book on the novels of Charles Williams, published by Oxford University Press.

That doesn't exhaust where you may have come across Thomas Howard, but those are a few places I ran into him. He described himself once in the New Oxford Review as sitting on a cliff overlooking Rome, dangling his legs off the end, and wondering how long it would be until he jumped. As it turned out, not only Howard, but editor Dale Vree, and everyone else associated with that publication jumped--with the magazine shifting from lively Episcopalian discussions to lively Catholic ones. Eventually I followed Howard and another favorite writer, Malcom Muggeridge, and jumped off myself.

Fortunately, my sponsor gave me this book as a confirmation gift. I say fortunately, because Howard describes a worst-case church service of the sort I experienced as a new convert in a new church. If not for this book, I would never have gone back, and never found the sort of joy and belonging that follows the awkwardness and discomfort of exploring something new.

I gave this book to an Evangelical friend (who did not also jump off the cliff), and he said it was one of the best books he had ever read, and that it makes you excited about your own church, whatever communion you are in. I think this is Howard's gift. A great many people try to live as believers apart from joining any church (at least I did). Howard simply points out the benefits of the latter course. I think the title of the book is unfortunate, as this is really a book for everyone. Curious Protestants may read it to find out what is going on in the puzzling world of the Catholics, but Catholics will be equally enlightened about the diverse practices of Protestants. Howard comes from an Evangelical missionary background, and he is deeply thankful for and respectful of that heritage.

Howard writes two sorts of books--light, breezy ones and thoughtful ones with big vocabularies. Arguably, this book falls into the latter camp, although it is so beautifully written and wonderfully engaging that I'd suggest reading it with a dictionary rather than pass up the pleasure. A Catholic friend of mine preferred his easier book, If Your Mind Wanders at Mass, which covers some of the same ideas.

On Being Catholic works out some of the same themes as Evangelical is Not Enough, while yet rejoicing in things Evangelical. Howard wrote a lively article called 'Catholic is Not Enough" for the Catholic magazine, Envoy (posted at envoymagazine.com) celebrating what believers have in common. On Being Catholic isn't only about Howard's experiences in the Roman Communion; it's also about the universal (the original meaning of "catholic") faith expressed in the Creed. In that sense, On Being Catholic is, like C.S.Lewis' Mere Christianity, a book for everyone. "All our quarrels are lovers' quarrels," Bishop Fulton Sheen once said of Catholic-Protestant debates. Howard helps us see the common bond beneath all our differences, and rejoice in what makes us the same.

Howard was a shining star among Protestant Evangelicals until his conversion to Catholicism in the 1980s (described in his earlier book, _Evangelical is Not Enough_). This decision shocked his former compatriots, some of whom attacked him rather severely for it. Howard had already written several books on Christianity--some dealing with his hero, C.S. Lewis--and has continued to write books discussing aspects of the Catholic faith. This work is a beautiful and illuminating description of what it means to be Catholic, written by one who spent much of his life outside the Church. As a result, it has much within its pages that will benefit Catholics and non-Catholics alike. Howard's gift for making complicated issues clear has led some to call him "America's answer to C.S. Lewis."

Howard's approach to Catholicism is deeply rooted in his former life as a Protestant Evangelical, and indeed, he still has a great love and respect for that period of his spiritual development. This is by no means an anti-Evangelical book. Howard often prefaces each chapter by outlining the objections that Protestants hold regarding each topic, which allows him to illustrate Catholic beliefs with greater clarity while still retaining what is good about the Evangelical approach. The fact that he once shared these objections gives added weight and authority to his discussion and shows how deeply Catholicism has been misunderstood by many Christians. Howard's tone is always optimistic, always passionate, and always informative. He brings to this book a clear love for Christianity in general and for the Catholic faith in particular that readers of any faith will likely find contagious. Catholics will come away with a greater understanding of the beauty and grandeur of their ancient faith, while non-Catholics will learn what Catholicism is really all about. Each of its most important traditions is carefully explained and summarized, and Howard does not assume that the reader is already informed on the subject. The chapters on the Mass (in which Howard walks the reader through it) are particularly good, as are his wonderful chapters on man's religious nature and on the importance and meaning of the Crucifix.

If you have heard a lot of bad things about the Catholic faith but want to find out more for yourself, this book is an excellent place to start. Howard is a clear, insightful and penetrating writer of great learning who believes very strongly in his subject, and his enthusiasm is evident on every page. He brings with him all the excitement and wonder of a convert who has discovered for the first time the Catholic faith as it really is, finding that it is a far different thing from what he had always heard and assumed. This is a gloriously lucid and informative elaboration of what it means to be part of Christ's Church.

I've been reading a lot of heavy theology lately, a lot of patristic sources, a lot of Greek and Hebrew and Latin word studies, and a lot of philosophical arguments for the Catholic Church. This book gets past the technical, and into the experiential.

I'd not been exposed to Howard before this book, but I've since read his *Evangelical is Not Enough* and *Lead, Kindly Light* as well. I love his style. The way he strings his words together, the vocabulary he uses, and the reflective style would lead one to believe that he might very well be British, and that he might very well have been sitting in a big comfy chair with a cup of tea while he wrote this, and that he might even be C.S. Lewis, reincarnated.

If you're not a Catholic, this book will give a quick glimpse into the "family living room," and show you what Catholicism is all about from a practical view. If you are a Catholic, this book will remind you what it's all about, or, will give you a vision of what it all SHOULD be about in your own life if it's not already.

Yes, it's light on theology, in a sense. He DOES address the Mass, the Eucharist, Mary, etc., but not by saying, "Ok, well, let's look at this Greek verb here, conjugate the infinitive participial imperative tense..." Instead, he looks at these issues in light of the Incarnation, and shows how the Catholic Church only follows the logic of the Incarnation perfectly. He doesn't come at you saying, "Look, I'm going to prove something to you here," and so you're not on the defensive. When he explains it, you just sort of say, "Oh... duh, that makes total sense. How could it be any other way?"

Very comfortable book, like a good pair of slippers. You owe yourself a cup of tea, a warm fire, and a chapter of this book.

Having grown up in an evangelical protestant home, I recently began to look into the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church to expand my understanding of christianity. At the outset of this search, I found ON BEING CATHOLIC, a thought provoking and entertaining account of the core doctrines of Catholicism. Thomas Howard's literary style is engaging and at times, actually melodic. He expresses his genuine love for the church in a manner more reminisent of a love poem than a dry elaboration of doctrine and dogma. Having converted to Roman Catholicism from a similar protestant background as myself, his depictions of the rituals and traditions woven throughout the Roman liturgy created a deep hunger to incorporate these elements in my devotional life. It is rare to find a book that stirs the heart as well as feeds the mind as greatly as ON BEING CATHOLIC. In the tradition of CS Lewis and GK Chesterton, Howard has produced a work that makes faith a life encompassing adventure rather than an emotional leap into darkness.I would recommend his book to any person seeking to better understand what it means to believe in a world that has lost its faith.

This is a beautiful book that was instrumental in my decision to convert to Catholicism. With warmth and respect, Howard explains how and why Catholicism is different that Protestantism. Howard uses many poignant illustrations and analogies to make his points. Especially enlightening is Howard's treatment of the Catholic beliefs on Mary and the Communion of Saints. This is a aspect of Catholicism that especially troubles many Protestants and Howard's astute treatment of the subject should allay fears and dispell misunderstandings. In sum, this is a wonderful book and an excellent introduction to Catholic belief and practice.

As a cradle Catholic in the tumultuous and exciting process of re-discovering my own Catholic faith, Thomas Howard's book is an absolute treasure! I read this book with alternating tears of gratitude and tingles of awe, and whenever I put it down I had to pick it up again within minutes to get more. At first I was inclined to scoff at the comparisons of Howard with C.S. Lewis, but I found they are quite accurate. Howard has the passion, elequence and grace of Lewis combined with a love for the Catholic faith (but with no antagonism for non-Catholic questions or (mis)understandings). The review by David Thomas was spot-on when he compared this book to a love poem. I mean it quite sincerely when I say that every Catholic, and every person interested in the Catholic faith, would do themselves a great service by reading this fabulous and inspiring book.

When I converted from evangelical Protestantism to the Catholic faith, I knew it would be a cause for concern (to one degree or another) among my evangelical family members and friends.

Most adult converts are asked "why Catholic?", sometimes followed by rapid-fire objections (to Mary, images, Purgatory, confession, repetitious prayers, etc., etc.) based on misconceptions our evangelical brethren have been told about the Church. (Yes, told, and often from the pulpit; I was sitting in those pews, too.)

These days, when the question arises and before the litany of objections begins, more often than not I will suggest reading this book -- because Mr. Howard expresses the "why" so beautifully and completely.

To read this is to truly understand how "the Catholic Church constitutes that fullness toward which all other forms of Christian profession tend". There is no arrogance, no air of superiority; on the contrary, Mr. Howard speaks boldly and plainly, but there is also a note of appropriate humility here.

My purpose in recommending "On Being Catholic" to my concerned relatives is not to take myself off the apologetic hook, but rather an acknowledgement that a) Mr. Howard explains Catholicism to an evangelical audience with more clarity than I ever could, and b) he does it much more respectfully than some other authors.

I don't agree with other reviewers that this is not an apologetics text, unless we're defining Catholic apologetics as mostly chapter-and-verse defenses to sola scriptura evangelicals who without exception (it is assumed) put no credence in an argument that isn't liberally peppered with scriptural references and annotations. Let's give at least some of them a little credit for the ability to take in the "big picture", which Howard masterfully paints, and line it up themselves with what they know to be scriptural.

(Or, put another way, let's not presume to define what the Holy Spirit can and can't use to change hearts.)

Quite aside from its apologetics value, I've been told -- by cradle Catholics to whom I loaned this book -- that "On Being Catholic" is both an affirmation of their faith and a source of surprising illumination into one or more aspects of Catholic belief and practice that had been "automatic" for them, and is now much more meaningful.

Every time I read this, I receive new insight into my beloved adopted faith. The format makes it easy to focus on a particular aspect of Catholicism, and yet there is a fluid continuity throughout the book that makes it a very worthwhile cover-to-cover read.

On Being Catholic is one of the most beautiful, winsome books on Catholicism that I have ever read. Howard bridges the cultural and theological gap between Protestants and Catholics in a most appealing and gracious manner. I would recommend this book to anyone for whom the Catholic Church is a Big Unknown, whether that be a "cradle Catholic" or a seeker from another tradition. You will not be disappointed.

I was raised as a Protestant, and I have always been a little challenged by Catholic writings. I understand the words, and I share the Christian beliefs, but something about the assumptions, the paradigm, is different. However, having also grown up Protestant, Tom shares with me a history and a thought process that I can fully understand. And unlike the writings of some other converts (Scott Hahn, for example), Tom's books have only good things to say about the Protestant beliefs he has left behind (See Evangelical is not Enough, a previous book). For a Protestant who truly wishes to understand the Catholic Church, I can't imagine a better book than this one.
I read it first to understand the faith of my Catholic wife. After the third reading, I converted to Cathoicism.