Customer Reviews

The Christian Faith: In the Doctrinal Documents of the Catholic Church

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book is a classic collection of documents relating to Catholic beliefs, morals, and practices from 100 AD until the present (including many writings of Pope John Paul II). The contents are mostly documents from Church Councils, creeds, Papal decrees, and various other sources of Catholic thought. The sections are: Symbols and Professions of Faith, Revelation and Faith, Tradition and Scripture, The Triune God, Humankind and the World, Original Justice and the Fall, Jesus Christ, Mary, The Church, The Church and Churches, The Church and World Religions, The Church and Missions, Christian Worship, the Sacraments, Baptism/Confirmation, the Eucharist, Reconciliation/Anointing, Order, Matrimony, the Life of Grace, Principles of Christian Life, The Social Doctrine of the Church, Sexual Order and Respect for Life, and Christian Fulfillment.

The documents are translated into modern English from the original languages, and occasionally have notes, which are always helpful. The introductions to each document provide a nice historical background, and often, a helpful summary of each document. Otherwise, the documents (which are arranged chronologically) are allowed to speak for themselves. I was impressed with the wisdom contained within. They speak for the biblical and historical faith in a clear way, effectively working within each culture, without capitulating to the culture. The social teaching documents are especially interesting in this way, and show a great balance between standing up for what the Church considers right, without forgetting that mercy is always freely available from Christ. I was particularly glad to see many documents relating to potential reunion of East and West, as well as dialogue between the Catholic Church and Protestant churches.

Now I need to explain why I only gave it four stars. The reason is the quality of the book itself. My first copy had dog-eared pages and the binding was strange and uneven, even though it came sealed in plastic from the factory. I sent that copy back thinking it was a defective book. My second copy, sealed as well, also had similar issues. One page was pretty creased, although I could make out the words affected by the creases. A few other pages look like they came out of the presses a little crooked. It is obviously a publishing issue, perhaps only with a certain print-run, but nonetheless a little annoying. However, the price is right and I can overlook this issue seeing how amazing the material inside is. Anybody who is Catholic or wants to know more about the Catholic Church should consider getting this book. While some of the information may seem a little theologically advanced at times, it is well worth diving into.

What did the Council of Trent teach on the subject of justification? What does Humanae Vitae actually say about contraception? What are the earliest creeds (symbols of the faith) and how to they differ? How has the Church's teaching on the Eucharist been clarified through the centuries? How does John Paul II describe the proper relationship between faith and reason?

This tome, running nearly 1100 pages, is (-to steal from an old Army ad) "a great place to start" one's research into Church teachings. The entries are arranged thematically (-revelation and faith, Tradition and Scripture, the Triune God, the Church, sacraments, and so on) and the Index is good. (Not great, mind you, but good.) Several of JP II's encyclicals are included, so it's quite up to date. (The first edition of this work appeared in 1973; this, the Seventh Revised and Enlarged Edition, contains material as recent as 1999.)

The font is large enough for reading without eye-strain. (Many compendiums fail readers in this regard.) The margins provide breathing room for notes. The paper sucks highlighter yellow pale, but that's accepatable in such a large edition offered at a modest price.

One always wishes for longer excerpts from beloved documents, but the editors have done a matrerful job of providing an overview of the Church's authoritative teachings on the central aspects of the Catholic faith.

This is a great reference book for reading and studying original Church documents. When doing research it is a handy guide to the original documents. They are not all included in their entirety but you are able to read the important parts and then go back to other sources for more information. I am a graduate theological student and I have found this book to be of immense help when I am writing papers or researching topics. There is no substitute for reading the original documents when you want to understand a particular subject.
I agree with other reviewers that the print quality of the book is poor. I don't know if they wanted to save money, but both the paper and binding are inferior to most books. However, the content cannot be beat and the book is cheap when you consider the amount of information contained within it.

I wish I had found this book years ago. For any Catholic, theologian or lay person, this book is essential for you library. It takes every major doctrine of the church and lays out in historical order the various church documents associated with that issue.

A truly indispesable collection of the "Magsiterium" -- the teachings of the Catholic Church in an easily accesible, annotated format. This needs to be on the shelf of every Catholic who wants to go to the next level of his/her faith.

The book came in a timely fashion. I recommend this company and the book that I purchased. God bless you.

The book itself I like very much. The layout is good and its very "readable".
Judging from all the positive reviews it seems so many have not caught-on to the "discrepancies" between the expression of the Catholic faith before and after Vatican II. Fortunately, throughout this book the two are grouped together. Unfortunately, the editor injects comments in the subheadings in favor of the modernist heresies and against the traditional teachings of the Church. Two churches are present here for those with "eyes to see". Many have not realized that their Church has apostatized from THE FAITH ONCE AND FOR ALL DELIVERED.
Decide for yourself. But as for the book itself, a good book at a great price with lots of good info.

This is a very informative resource and reflects the many Church documents that mirror the teachings of the past 2000 years. It is topically organized and is a must for all who teach the Catholic faith and really a must for all Catholics and Protestants alike.

I dislike this book because some of the summaries contradict the Church documents they quote. The Church documents are not given in their entirety, but only a paragraph here and there. This book has the potential to sow seeds of doubt and dissent of authentic magisterial teaching.