Customer Reviews

Catholicism: New Study Edition--Completely Revised and Updated

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(25)

 

 

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.

Yes, McBrien is a liberal theologian, and no, I am not theologicall liberal. Far from it. But this book is not like the editorials he writes for that left-wing Catholic rag National Catholic Reporter. He doesn't use the book as a platform to advocate for gay marriage or gun control or an end to celibacy among clergy--all of which (and much more) NCR does, and loudly. I read some of the negative reviews here and I have to wonder if these people are reacting to the book, or to what they already think about McBrien. What they seem not to realize--and what McBrien does--is that Catholicism is more than just catechism. Sure, if all you want to know is church doctrine, read the catechism. If you want a deeper look into the history of church doctrine and theology, and the environment in which is has existed and currently exists, though, read this book. It is a work for thinking Catholics. Everyone else should stick to their catechism.

Raised a Protestant I had always been taught that Catholicism consisted of kissing somebody's ring, praying to Mary, and paying penance. I now look back on my lacking religious education with dread. "Catholicism" did away with many of those stereotypes. While it was a good introduction to Catholicism, I feel it's not fully representative of the purest form of the religion. His use of "cocreators with God" applied to humans sounds as if he's stretching logic to its limits just to be able to say those words. Why? It's provocative. All in all, a good book, but have another catechism and Bible nearby.

This book is set up very well. It is easy to understand with chapters placed logically for someone wanting to learn about the Catholic Church. However, it only gets 4 stars from me, because of it's size. I think this would have been better formated as 2, or even 3 seperate books. (i.e. Catholicism, Part 1... approximately 600 pages, Catholicism, part 2) I say this as a warning to potential purchasers, as it is not easy to carry with you and read. Instead, you will have to read this one at home.

As for the individuals who seem so upset about the freedom of the author's thought, and opinion... one of the biggest complaints of the bishops (mentioned on the webpage posted below) was that McBrien refers to the virgin birth as "unlikely." That being said, having just read Daughter Zion, by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, a great theologian in his own right, he also refers to the virgin birth with the word "unlikely," though he also says, not impossible. Also, the bishops didn't say this was not to be read, but not to be read by the people they see as not intelligent enough (I didn't word that well, all apologies for my deficiency) to understand the complexity of opinion. (I believe they use the words, parishoners and undergraduate students) So, in other words, they're saying there are some tough concepts covered in this work. Come to this book, knowing the differences between opinion and fact.

When you read this, do not read it as a simplicist would read the bible. Instead, read it as an opinion, and well constructed history. This book is useful for Catholics and non-catholics alike. I didn't find the open-mindedness of this book to be over my head, and my degrees are in education, not theology. But, there is nothing wrong with not understanding every concept covered here. Overall, this is an enjoyable book to read.

McBrien has done a magnificent job in presenting the Catholic version of Christian theology. His book clearly illustrates the sincerity of the Church's scholars in reconciling faith and reason, and readers will be overwhelmed at how tightly Catholic theology is wound. The astounding aspect of this masterpiece is that it brings together the fundamental richness and diversity of Catholic thinking while showing the utmost respect for Protestant challenges and thought. In fact, McBrien clearly explains that "Catholicism is not some undifferentiated religious view .... but is a form of Christian faith alongside Protestantism, Anglicism, Orthodoxy, and Oriental Christianity." In Catholic theology, he points out, there can be many churches (Lutheran, Baptist, etc.)but one Body of Christ. One thing McBrien gives away, however, and he does so without realizing it, is that the Catholic religion has become, in some cases, separated from the theology on which it is based. For example, the Catholic Church's emphasis on the importance of the sacrements as redemptive instruments, and the restriction of ministry to the ordained seems to go against the traditions of Christiantiy and seems to put the Catholic religion out of sync with the theology on which it should be based. This book will earn the respect of all who constantly look for the marriage of reason and faith in religious principles. It will help them develop their own set of beliefs at the same time that they develop a respect for all religious thought.

This book is not about Catholicism. He disagrees with the Church on almost every doctrine and he left the Church and is a dissenter. The title is horribly misleading and you will waste your money if your looking for a book on the teaching and history of real Catholicism. This is liberal and liberation theology, which the church condemned, it also accepts abortion, contraception, feminism, women priests, denial of the sacraments and Church papal authority. Stay away from this book.

If you are looking for doctrinal formulas this is not the book for you. This book is more about why the Church believes what she believes than what (although there is plenty of what). If you are frightened by ambiguity and searching for certainty don't look here. Fr. McBrien's command of his subject is broad and comprehensive.

Those seeking knowledge and insight will find this book invaluable. Those looking to have their preconceptions comfortably affirmed will find no comfort here.

This book has failed to receive endorsement by the US Catholic Bishops. If you are looking for a book that will give you an accurate picture of what Catholicism teaches, this book will not provide an accurate picture. A much better choice for those looking for an authentic and encompassing picture of the Catholic Church would be the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Fr. McBrien takes a lot of flak from conservatives. I guess they don't want people to read his book. Ironically, it was precisely their loud complaining that initially brought this book to my attention. It's funny how things work that way.

If you are a very conservative Catholic, you should probably skip this one. When McBrien discusses the teaching against contraception, for example, he doesn't only provide the arguments in favour of the teaching -- he provides arguments against the teaching as well. And even worse, you might even get the impression that McBrien disagrees with the official teaching himself!

McBrien has been criticised for presenting official church teachings mixed together with alternative perspectives in a way that might "confuse" people. I think there is little danger of that, since he clearly distinguishes between them. Anyone intellectually deficient enough to be confused is not likely to pick up the book in the first place. It is difficult to shake the suspicion that people making this criticism are resentful of the fact that McBrien even acknowledges dissenting views at all.

As a religion teacher, I find myself consulting this book almost constantly. If you just want the teachings of the magisterium, buy a Catechism. If you are looking for a comprehensive overview of Catholic thought, this is the book.

For the Catholic who wishes to find an overview of the various streams of theological discourse on a variety of issues, you can't do much better than this. Fr. McBrien's rather even-handed approach to vearious issues is sure to infuriate very conservative Catholics (witness some of the flaming reviews posted here), but if his work is viewed as a survey rather than as another volume of the Catechism it is very valuable. I read this book to get an idea of the range of opinions, and then turn to the Catechism in order to discern the Church's official teaching.

This is by far the preferred text for studying "catholicism" by individuals and dissident groups who want either to claim that they themselves are "Catholic" despite their rejection of significant aspects of the faith, or want to recreate the historical Church in a form that now allows them their vices or modern ideologies. Cloaked in the garb of the scholar and intellectual, and casting the true teachings of the Catholic Faith with which he disagrees as the product of lesser intellects or the unenlightened, the major criticism it seems should be not so much that it presents a subtle apologetic of dissenters' proposed revisions of Catholicism (the world and history is full of those aspiring to do the same, history calls them heretics), but that it purports to present the Catholic Faith in a definitive way. This is intellectually dishonest, and therefore the greater problem with the book. Please, Fr. McBrien, at least let's be honest.
The review by the National Council of Catholic Bishops' (NCCB) Committee on Doctrine of this "revised" edition of the textbook -- easily found by an internet search of "NCCB McBrien" -- is well worth the read. They cite very specific examples of the subtle ways in which the textbook is formulated, at best incompletely, at worst to mislead.

simply internet search "NCCB McBrien" for their review